The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Sun’s Holmes all in for the season
Next month, Bria Holmes will be traveling to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., to prepare for the 2020 WNBA season. Her fiancé and one-year-old daughter Diona will also be making the trip.
The New Haven native and Connecticut Sun guard said she had some concerns about the arrangement following the spike in cases of COVID-19, but trusts that the league is taking the necessary precautions to keep players and their families safe and healthy.
“There was hesitation in the beginning,” said Holmes, who was joined on a conference call Tuesday by Sun teammate Brionna Jones. “I wasn’t sure whether to bring her or not because she’s still so young. I was talking it over with everybody, and after getting information and everything I think it’s pretty safe to bring her.
“With her being in my hands and her dad’s hands, I think it’ll be good.”
The season had been scheduled to tip off May 15 but was postponed indefinitely because of the pandemic. Once she got past the initial disappointment and uncertainty of basketball being put on hold, Holmes, 26, was happy to have more time at home.
“It’s definitely been a great experience,” Holmes said of being around her daughter more. “I’ve been spending more time with her, watching her grow every day. Her learning and stuff, it just amazes me. It’s a great feeling.
“She’s about to be 2 at the end of July. She’s growing fast.”
The WNBA will play a 22-game season, instead of 36, starting as soon as July 24. Holmes and Jones plan to arrive in Florida July 6, though it remains unclear how many of their teammates will join them. Players have until Thursday to tell their teams whether
they intend to play this season.
Jonquel Jones, the All-Star center who helped Connecticut reach last year’s WNBA Finals, has already said she plans to sit out. Jones’ decision comes amid a spike of cases of the coronavirus in Florida. The state topped 100,000 cases Monday.
Both players were supportive of Jones, saying they hope to replace her collectively.
“We’re behind her 100 percent,” Holmes said. “We’re going to go down there to do the best that we can. Hopefully we win. That’s always the goal, is to win. This season is all over the place, so we’re just going down there thankful that we’re still able to play.”
Holmes re-signed with Connecticut in February after averaging 6.3 points in 16 minutes per game in 2019. She’ll move to the two this season — presumably to help account for the loss of Courtney Williams in free agency.
The 6-foot-1 guard has been training at a gym in her hometown after returning from a short stint in Jordan with Fuheis Blues. She acknowledged that she’s still not in basketball shape, but is getting there.
“Even though I’ve been in the gym and stuff, it’s just not the same as playing up and down, working out every single day,” Holmes said.
Holmes also recently participated in a few social justice marches in New Haven, along with her family.
“It was a great experience. I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Holmes said. “It was different. It was a lot of emotion, and I’m just glad that people are here to be here for us, support us.”
MOMPREMIER ADDED TO ROSTER
The Connecticut Sun added some depth to the post with the signing of Beatrice Mompremier on Tuesday. Mompremier, a 6-4 forward, was selected 20th overall (second round) by the Los Angeles Sparks in April’s draft.
Mompremier was a two-time Associated Press and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention at Miami, where she recorded 34 double-doubles in 51 games. She averaged 16.7 points and 12.2 rebounds as a senior, but missed time with a foot injury. She began her college career at Baylor.
“We are excited to add Beatrice to our Sun roster,” head coach and general manager Curt Miller said in a statement released by the team. “She is a young and talented post player with a high ceiling. Beatrice is a proven collegiate rebounder and crafty scorer who will have the ability to contribute during her rookie season.”
ANOTHER FORMER HUSKY SKIPPING WNBA SEASON
Atlanta Dream guard and UConn alum Tiffany Hayes announced Tuesday that she will sit out the upcoming season, though she didn’t specifically say why.
“After much thought and consideration, I have decided to opt … out of the 2020 season,” she said in a team press release. “This was not an easy decision but I believe it is in my best interest with everything going on right now. Although I love playing this game, I believe there are much more important things to be thinking about in this moment.”
Hayes’ announcement comes on the heels of teammate Renee Montgomery’s decision to opt out to focus on social justice initiatives.