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Connecticut Sun rookies take lessons from WNBA debuts into preseason home opener vs. New York Liberty
TL;DR
Connecticut Sun rookies Raegan Beers and Charlisse Leger-Walker made their WNBA debuts in a preseason win against the Toronto Tempo. Both players adapted well, with Leger-Walker contributing significantly to the team's performance.
Key points
- Raegan Beers and Charlisse Leger-Walker made their WNBA debuts
- Connecticut Sun won 83-78 against the Toronto Tempo
- Beers noted the jump ball rule difference from NCAA
- Leger-Walker felt comfortable despite initial jitters
- Four players debuted for the Sun in the preseason game
Connecticut SunToronto TempoRaegan BeersCharlisse Leger-Walker
UNCASVILLE — In her preseason debut with the Connecticut Sun against the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday night, rookie center Raegan Beers realized she was really playing WNBA basketball the first time a jump ball was called.
The NCAA rule is muscle memory for Beers, who was a two-time All-SEC first-team selection at Oklahoma. In college, possession is awarded to one team or the other based on an alternating possession arrow, but at the pro level the players involved in the call actually have to play out the jump to resume the game.
“Obviously it’s a very big learning curve, and there are different nuances to different rules that, I’ve watched the W for a couple years now, so I knew them, but experiencing them for the first time was definitely something a little different,” Beers said with a laugh. “I forgot on a jump ball that you actually do the jump. The first time it happened I was like, ‘Why are they all walking to the center?'”
The Sun had four players, including Beers, make their WNBA debuts in the 83-78 win over the Tempo, and all of them held their own despite some jitters. Second-round pick Charlisse Leger-Walker was a standout putting up eight points and a team-high four assists plus a steal and a block. She said she was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable she felt handling the intensity.
“Honestly, it was probably not as physical as I expected, which was the most surprising thing, because I went in with such a mindset of like, ‘I’m gonna come out with bruises, maybe a slight concussion,'” she joked. “But I went in there, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought, so maybe just the preparation that I’ve had coming in and everyone talking to me about it kind of prepped me.”
What we learned from the Connecticut Sun’s comeback win vs. Toronto Tempo in preseason opener
The matchup against Toronto was a perfect first experience for the rookies, because the Tempo are also an inexperienced team working to establish a foundation as an expansion franchise. But the Sun face a completely different animal on Sunday in their second preseason game, against the . The Liberty, who won the 2024 WNBA championship, are led by a trio of veteran superstars in two-time MVP , 2021 MVP and four-time All-Star , players that most of Connecticut’s young talent grew up idolizing.
Q&A
What did Raegan Beers learn during her WNBA debut?
Raegan Beers realized the difference in rules, particularly the jump ball procedure, during her WNBA debut.
How did Charlisse Leger-Walker perform in her first WNBA game?
Charlisse Leger-Walker scored eight points, recorded four assists, and contributed a steal and a block in her debut.
What was the outcome of the Connecticut Sun's preseason opener?
The Connecticut Sun won their preseason opener against the Toronto Tempo with a score of 83-78.
How did the Connecticut Sun rookies feel about the intensity of the game?
Charlisse Leger-Walker expressed surprise at the intensity, stating it was less physical than she expected.