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How Pilates, playing in China shaped former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa entering third season with CT Sun

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How Pilates, playing in China shaped former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa entering third season with CT Sun


When Connecticut Sun forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa joined Guangdong in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association this offseason, the former UConn standout couldn’t communicate with most of her teammates or coaches except through a translator.

She wasn’t just the only American or only English speaker: She was the only player on the roster who wasn’t from China.

“The language barriers, just like understanding your teammates, getting used to being the only import over there definitely had its own challenges at first,” Nelson-Ododa said. “The pace of play there is different. There’s no defensive three seconds, so it’s just little things like that when you’re playing. You kind of just have to adapt to it, and then coming back to the States it’s like all the little things again.”

Connecticut Sun’s Olivia Nelson Ododa passes to Connecticut Sun’s Nia Clouden, right, during an exhibition basketball game against the New York Liberty at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Jessica Hill/Special to the Courant)

The game was also drastically different from the one she was used to in the WNBA. Players are smaller on average in the WBCA, but the undersized guards play at a pace Nelson-Ododa wasn’t used to seeing from the post players she dealt with in the U.S.

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“It’s completely different, but I think it was really cool to try different offensive things and use that time to really work on things I want to try and use here,” Nelson-Ododa said. “And it helps too, when you’re in in-game situations versus just regular training here at home, so being able to kind of experiment with things in games like that definitely helps a lot.”

Alyssa Thomas averaged a near triple-double last season as the team’s centerpiece, and coach Stephanie White intends to lean even further into a position-less play style in her second season at the helm. Playing in China helped build Nelson-Ododa’s versatility, and as one of just three returning players without a guaranteed contract, making herself more compatible with White’s system is critical to establishing her value for the Sun.

“The guards are super small and quick, so I feel like my ability to guard players over here, to guard on faster players is definitely better, just because I’ve had to work on that over there,” Nelson-Ododa said. “Having to switch onto guards over there, I think that definitely helped adapting to (defending) people with a quicker pace and faster feet.”

Olivia Nelson-Ododa takes a shot during the Connecticut Sun's first day of training camp on April 28, 2024.

Courtesy of Connecticut Sun

Olivia Nelson-Ododa takes a shot during the Connecticut Sun’s first day of training camp on Sunday. (Courtesy the Connecticut Sun).

‘It was a game changer for my body’

The WCBA is grueling compared to most international leagues — it plays 32 regular-season games, just eight fewer than the WNBA — but Nelson-Ododa feels stronger than she ever has returning to the Sun. Kristine Anigwe, who briefly joined Connecticut in the middle of last season, introduced Nelson-Ododa to Pilates, and the 6-5 center immediately fell in love.

“I feel like it hits those little muscles that we don’t get to use in regular weight training. It’s cool to introduce myself to different parts of my body I didn’t even know existed,” Nelson-Ododa said. “I’m getting sore in places I didn’t know I could get sore. I think it’s helped a lot with my core, things I remember last year I was really lacking … because I was working my abs, but it’s a difference between working your abs and your core, like really getting inside and working on that. It’s boosting my hip stability, things like that that I was like, personally lacking. I could do a whole tangent on it.”

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Before she left to play overseas, Nelson-Ododa briefly returned home to Atlanta to recover from the WNBA season. With regular access to a Pilates studio in the city, she was participating in the cross training workout three to four times every week. Though she has less regular access to the machine required for Pilates now, it’s a routine that she has tried to maintain both overseas and since returning to Connecticut.

“I think it was a game changer for my body, so I’ve continued to do it. I felt major differences with it,” she said. “It’s my new hobby. I’m stuck on it … I just tried to get in as much as possible over there in China, but they do have very strict workout regimens. You don’t get off days, so I was just working with coaches over there like, ‘Okay, I’m doing this strength strength training.’”

As she prepares to enter her third season the WNBA and with the Sun, Nelson-Ododa still doesn’t feel like a veteran. She averaged a career-high 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds shooting 53.7% from the field in 15 minutes per game last season, but if her numbers in China are any indication a, the center is poised for another leap in 2024. Nelson-Ododa led Guangdong in scoring with 19 points per game plus a team-best 7.6 rebounds with a 62.3% field goal percentage.

“Anytime with training camp I feel like you have those nerves first couple of days,” Nelson-Ododa said with a laugh. “Realizing that these players have so much experience, I’m just trying to learn from them … Regardless if they’re new or not, just knowing that they’ve had that much basketball time and experience, so I’m just trying to be a sponge and continue to read off people and learn how to play with them, too.”



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A look at Kathie Lee Gifford’s $100 million Connecticut home

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A look at Kathie Lee Gifford’s 0 million Connecticut home


Luxury Homes

Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994.

Kathie Lee Gifford’s house at 108 Cedar Cliff in Riverside, Conn., is listed for $100,000,000. Modern Media

Former “Today” show host Kathie Lee Gifford is selling her sprawling 13,163-square-foot Connecticut home. The asking price? $100,000,000.

Dubbed “Cedar Cliff,” the Greenwich estate at 108 Cedar Cliff in the Riverside section of town, was once owned by railroad tycoon Henry F. Shoemaker. Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994 for $7.8 million . The 13,163-square-foot, 29-room estate has eight bedrooms and 14 bathrooms (nine full, five half).

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The rear of the house at 108 Cedar Cliff in the Riverside section of Greenwich. – Modern Media
The pool overlooks Greenwich Cove. – Modern Media

“They added a substantial addition to the house to make it work for their lifestyle,” listing agent Leslie McElwreath of Sotheby’s International Realty said. That addition is the east wing of the house, constructed in the early 2000s, which includes a private theater and wine cellar.

The eight bedrooms are similarly sized and have views of Greenwich Cove. The primary bedroom and two guest bedrooms have a balcony as well. The estate has a greenhouse, a screened porch, a sun room, a tennis court, and a billiards room currently containing Frank Gifford memorabilia. There are 10 fireplaces throughout the house.

The tennis court. – Modern Media
The billiards room currently contains Frank Gifford memorabilia. – Daniel Milstein
The screened-in porch. – Daniel Milstein

Within the 2.91-acre gated peninsula is a spa, pool, and pool house.

McElwreath said “empty nester” Gifford is selling the property because “her children are grown and are married with their own children. Kathie Lee spends most of her time in Tennessee and is no longer using the house full-time.”

The house has a recently installed Ludowici terra cotta roof, sun decks that have been rebuilt, and there is access to a full-property generator as well as a private beach.

The spa pool. – Modern Media

McElwreath said there are additional aspects that make this property worth the monstrous price tag.

“The setting is extraordinary. Elevated high above the water with over 1,250 feet of frontage, the property offers the rare combination of commanding panoramic views and direct waterfront access via a private pier and deep water dock,” she said.

McElwreath said the kind of buyer looking at this property is attracted to Greenwich for its high quality of life and proximity to Midtown Manhattan.

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The primary bedroom at Kathie Lee Gifford’s Connecticut house. – Daniel Milstein
A guest balcony. – Modern Media

”High net-worth buyers do not compromise. They seek exceptional properties in prime locations. Cedar Cliff is a one-of-a-kind opportunity and will attract buyers looking for privacy and resort-like amenities,” McElwreath said.

The task of selling the estate was entrusted to McElwreath by Gifford after McElwreath represented the seller of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, which sold for just under $139,000,000 in 2023.

The property has a private dock. – Modern Media

“[Copper Beach] is still the highest sale ever in Greenwich and the state of Connecticut. I plan to use the full resources of Sotheby’s International Realty to find the buyer for Cedar Cliff,” McElwreath said. “I also represented the seller of 100 Field Point Circle, the second highest sale in Greenwich at $50 million. My proven track record, combined with the marketing expertise of Sotheby’s, will prove to be a winning combination.”






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Hailey Van Lith waived by Connecticut Sun after just nine games, marking second cut in under a month

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Hailey Van Lith waived by Connecticut Sun after just nine games, marking second cut in under a month


Hailey Van Lith’s rocky WNBA start took another unexpected turn Thursday.

The Connecticut Sun waived Van Lith after just nine games with the team, including three starts.

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 25: Hailey Van Lith #2 of the Chicago Sky high five during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 25, 2025 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images))

TCU’s Hailey Van Lith poses before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 14, 2025. (Pamela Smith/AP)

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Van Lith was once one of college basketball’s brightest stars at Louisville, but her path has become increasingly turbulent in recent years. After a disappointing stint at LSU stalled her momentum, Van Lith revived her draft stock with a standout final season at TCU.

CHICAGO SKY WAIVE HAILEY VAN LITH ONE YEAR AFTER SELECTING HER WITH THE 11TH OVERALL PICK

The former NIL standout was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She struggled to establish herself as a rookie, averaging 3.5 points and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes per game across 29 appearances before Chicago waived her on May 4.

Hailey Van Lith’s brief stint with the Connecticut Sun ended Thursday after the franchise waived the former first-round pick. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images) ((Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images))

Hailey van Lith drives past opponents during the women’s 3×3 basketball bronze medal game between the United States and Canada at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

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TCU’s Hailey Van Lith jogs onto the court during introductions before the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Louisville in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 23, 2025. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

Van Lith also helped Team USA win a bronze medal in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Connecticut quickly gave Van Lith a second chance, but the reunion lasted just over two weeks.

“The Connecticut Sun has activated Leïla Lacan,” the team announced on X. “In a corresponding move, Hailey Van Lith has been waived.”

EX-WNBA STAR CRITICAL OF SKY ROOKIE HAILEY VAN LITH, BELIEVES POPULARITY PLAYED ROLE IN DRAFT SELECTION

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The move comes as Lacan — the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft — returns after averaging 10.4 points and 3.7 assists with Connecticut last season.

Van Lith appeared in Wednesday’s 71-61 loss to Portland, finishing with seven points, no assists and two turnovers in 13 minutes.

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Van Lith averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 assists in nine appearances with Connecticut before Thursday’s move, marking her second waiver in less than a month.

The Connecticut Sun waived Hailey Van Lith on Thursday, ending the former college star’s nine-game stint with the franchise. ((Photo by Mollie Handkins/NBAE via Getty Images))

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Connecticut Regulates AI in Employment Decision Making » CBIA

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Connecticut Regulates AI in Employment Decision Making » CBIA


The following article was submitted by Brody and Associates, LLCIt is posted here with permission. 


The Connecticut legislature passed broad artificial intelligence legislation May 11, 2026 that includes a new framework governing the use of AI in employment-related decisions.

The bill, known as SB 5, is awaiting Gov. Ned Lamont’s signature, which is expected shortly.

Once enacted, Connecticut will join a growing list of jurisdictions that are imposing transparency and accountability requirements on employers that use AI tools in recruiting, hiring, promotion, discipline, scheduling, and termination decisions.

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The statute regulates what it calls automated employment-related decision technology.

In general, AEDT refers to technology that processes personal data and generates an output that is a substantial factor in an employment decision.

The definition is broad enough to potentially cover resume-screening software, applicant ranking systems, video-interview analytics, skills assessments, productivity tools, and certain workforce management platforms when those tools materially influence personnel decisions.

What Does the Law Require?

The purpose of the law is to reduce the risk that algorithmic systems will continue or worsen historic discrimination while also giving applicants and employees more visibility into how these systems are used.

One of the most important features of the new law is its notice requirement.

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Beginning Oct. 1, 2027, employers that deploy AEDT intended to interact with applicants or employees must disclose, in plain language, that the individual is interacting with such technology unless it would be obvious to a reasonable person.

When the tool’s output will be used as a substantial factor in making an employment-related decision, the employer must also provide a written notice before the decision is made.

The law does include protection for proprietary or trade secret information.

Notice must identify the purpose of the tool, the categories and sources of personal data being analyzed, how data will be assessed, and contact information for the employer.

If such employment-related decision is “adverse,” employers must provide a high-level statement disclosing the principal reasons for the decision, including “the degree to which, and manner in which” an AEDP output contributed to the decision, the type of data used, and the right to examine or correct such data.

The law does include protection for proprietary or trade secret information, but employers should not assume that vendor confidentiality excuses them from compliance.

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If an employer withholds certain information regarding the AEDP based on a third party’s confidentiality claim, the employer must nevertheless disclose that the information is being withheld and identify the legal basis for the withholding.

As a practical matter, this means employers that rely on outside vendors for screening, testing, or candidate evaluation should begin reviewing vendor contracts now to ensure they can obtain the information needed to satisfy Connecticut’s notice obligations.

Anti-Discrimination and Related Obligations

The law also makes clear employers cannot avoid liability by blaming an algorithm.

Connecticut’s anti-discrimination framework will expressly provide the use of AI or automated systems is not a defense to a discrimination claim.

The employer may still be responsible even if the challenged output came from a third-party platform.

In other words, if an AEDT disproportionately screens out candidates or influences decisions in a way that has an unlawful discriminatory effect, the employer may still be responsible even if the challenged output came from a third-party platform.

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This provision reinforces a principle regulators have increasingly emphasized nationwide: employers remain accountable for employment decisions, whether those decisions are made by people, software, or a combination of both.

What Employers Should Do Now

For employers, the immediate takeaway is AI governance can no longer be treated as an IT issue.

Human resources, legal, compliance, and procurement teams should collaborate to identify all tools used in recruiting or personnel management, assess whether those tools materially affect employment decisions, and determine what disclosures this new law may require.

Even companies that already use AI responsibly may need to formalize review procedures.

Employers should also assess whether internal policies, vendor agreements, and recordkeeping practices are sufficient to support compliance.

Even companies that already use AI responsibly may need to formalize review procedures, conduct bias testing, and create documentation explaining how automated outputs are considered by human decision-makers.

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Connecticut’s new law reflects a broader regulatory trend: employers may continue using AI, but they must do so transparently, carefully, and with meaningful human accountability.


About the authors: Robert Brody is managing partner at Brody and Associates, LLC, which he founded in 1997. Matthew Chiota is a law clerk at Brody and Associates, awaiting admission to the Connecticut and New York Bar associations. Contact them at [email protected] or 203.454.0560.



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