“It is the best league in the world. I am happy to have the chance to be part of it and I can't wait to play with my new teammates and see what we can do. ” Three days is the time that Leïla Lacan will have had to digest the disappointment of Eurobasket 2025, concluded with a sad fourth place for the French Team.
An equally exciting new challenge awaits him on the other side of the Atlantic since Leïla Lacan should make her debut this evening in WNBA within the Connecticut Sun coached by Rachid Méziane. Arriving on Wednesday and with two training sessions on Wednesday, it could be used this evening to face Las Vegas training which remains on seven setbacks in eleven games. Above all, its reinforcement could be precious while the rear scoring Marina Mabrey is still injured in the knee and the Sun has just chained nine setbacks immediately, the longest series of defeats in the history of the franchise!
“She is a creative leader, and I know she can be really formidable in defense”, underlined Coach Méziane After his first training. “She can defend on the best opposing players and create situations, what we need, I think. I know that Saniya (rivers) is capable of it, and Jacy (sheldon) too, to a certain extent, but she is a player oriented towards one, so she can create a lot for us. … I have often faced it as a coach, so I know what kind of player she is. will give everything, she will fight on each ball, and that's what we need.
Energy to resell
At the age of 21, and even with the title of reigning French champion and MVP of the season, Leïla Lacan will not be able to change the dynamics alone. On the other hand, its conquering state of mind, its freshness and above all its energy will be as many precious elements for the Connecticut group in order to get out of this difficult pass.
“We can see in training that she brings energy. When you have a player who has not experienced what we live from the start, it's like a new start for us. She will be a big asset on the field, defensively and offensively. So I'm just curious to see how much she can adapt to our system, over a short period. But when you bring energy and this combative spirit, it's easier to integrate a team”he added.
It will indeed be the first issue for the drafted leader in 2024 by the Sun, to quickly adapt to a new style of play, new teammates and faced with the best players in the world, all in record time!
“There has been a lot of new things, but the enthusiasm and adrenaline make me feel good. My physique is fine, and I hope it will continue like that … The rhythm here is much more intense, with a lot of back and forth, when in Europe, we try to calm down and set up combinations on the ground. The rhythm and the physical dimension are therefore the greatest changes to which I have to adapt”slipped the interested party.
