Chong reflects on her first pro season

UNCASVILLE » There were plenty of thoughts going through Saniya Chong’s mind when she entered concussion protocol earlier this month. Right near the top of the list was a concern whether she would be cleared in time to return to Connecticut for the first time since her four-year run at UConn came to an end.

Fortunately, Chong missed just one game. She was cleared to return for Thursday’s overtime loss to Phoenix and on Saturday she played in her first game in the state of Connecticut since a win over Oregon in the NCAA tournament in late March.

“A little worried especially on the first day that it can happen again,” Chong said. “I was really

happy I was (cleared).”

Chong headed to the scorer’s table late in the first quarter, but time expired before she was able to check in. She started the second quarter, but substitutes made between quarters are not announced to the crowd so there was no chance for the UConn faithful among the 6,898 in attendance to welcome her back with a rousing ovation.

Chong played exactly four minutes and came up with a steal resulting in a layup for fellow rookie Allisha Gray. She did not get back into the game in the second half as Dallas lost 96-88.

Still, Chong is a reason why Dallas is currently in position to make the playoffs.

“It is a challenge,” Chong said. “I am learning a new role but I have been having a lot of fun with this group of girls I have been playing with and coaches, it is really amazing.”

Chong, a third-round pick in April’s WNBA Draft, started her career by playing at least 10 minutes in 16 of her first 17 games. She registered her first doublefigure scoring game with 10 points in a loss to firstplace Minnesota, had seven points in a win over defending champion Los Angeles and six assists when Dallas topped San Antonio in her third career game.

“She is young, has a lot of natural talent so we are going to continue to develop her,” Dallas assistant coach Bridget Pettis, who is Chong’s position coach. “We saw she could get to the basket and create her own shot and she can hit open shots.”

It also didn’t hurt that Chong played for a UConn program that won national titles in each of her first three seasons and won 111 games in a row before a loss to Mississippi State in the national semifinals.

“She knows what it takes to win a championship so that is half of the battle right there to know that is really takes hard work, commitment and focus,” Pettis said. “All of that stuff is ingrained in her, (UConn coach) Geno (Auriemma) puts it inside so that is what you love about UConn players.”

Chong has played just over 7 1/2 minutes per game beginning with a July 5 win against Atlanta. Since last year’s star rookie Aerial Powers was cleared to play, Powers has averaged 22 minutes in seven games. Chong is one of the players whose playing time has been impacted as she has played 40 minutes in six games in addition to missing one game before emerging out of protocol.

Chong signed to play in Israel for Elitzur Holon which will give her a chance to see significant playing time which is just what Pettis believes she needs to continue her development.

“Just get some playing opportunities, I think that is going to help all of our young players, her included,” Pettis said. “Her getting some playing experience, not everybody got playing experience like (Allisha) Gray did this year.’

Gray, who had a career high of 21 points in the loss to Connecticut, leads all rookies with an average of 28.4 minutes and 13.1 points per game. Gray, Evelyn Akhator, Kaela Davis, Breanna Lewis and Chong all made the Wings roster out of training camp and have combined for 23 points per game.

“Having four girls going through the same thing that I am going through, it really does help,” Chong said. “I was very hesitant (earlier in the season). You don’t really know a lot. You had to learn new plays, you are playing Diana Taurasi. You are playing against players you never played against, you never played with so you have to learn their plays, it is a challenge.”