Sun’s top pick Anigwe hopes to make a good first impression
UNCASVILLE — The first time Kristine Anigwe stepped on the court as a member of the Desert Vista (Ariz.) High School team, she authored a near perfect shooting performance by making three of her four shots and only foul shot. Four years later her debut at Cal was even more impressive, scoring 19 points on 8 of
9 shooting. Now Anigwe is ready to make her professional debut when the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun host New York in a preseason game on Monday night.
Anigwe, who was the Sun’s first-round pick after being the nation’s leading rebounder, can only hope the first impression in front of the Connecticut fans can approach what she did in high school and college.
“I’m hoping to understand the plays and try to play as effectively and efficiently as I can,” Anigwe said.
The aggressive approach that helped Anigwe become the national defensive player of the year as a college senior has also gotten her into trouble at times in the early stages of training camp.
“Kristine’s motor is what is going to be special early on, the rebounding translates,” Connecticut Sun coach and general manager Curt Miller said. “She has a lot of work in front of her on the Xs and Os of the pro game, it won’t come as naturally as some. She has to slow down, she can’t play too fast.”
There’s a certain sense of irony with the situation Anigwe finds herself in. One of her basketball idols is fellow former Pac-12 star Chiney Ogwumike, who was a member of the Connecticut Sun when Anigwe heard her name called in last month’s WNBA Draft. Anigwe, who like Ogwumike has family ties to Nigeria, was absolutely giddy at the prospect of playing alongside of Ogwumike. However, when the 2019 Connecticut Sun hit the court for the first time, Ogwumike will not be one of the 15 players in uniform as she was recently traded to Los Angeles.
“I was sad, she is my mentor and she has been a part of my life for a long time,” Anigwe said. “She is one of the reasons I have been able to get through so much and I love her so much, I appreciate the work she has done and how she has built a foundation for herself.
“Since I was a freshman, she has had my back. She showed me the ropes, she has been very positive and has changed the trajectory of my life and that has helped me build my own foundation, build my own brand and be the person I am today.”
Anigwe recently was named the winner of the
Pac-12 Medal of Honor which is an indication of the impact she made not only on the court but in the classroom and in the community. Another moment is coming up this week when Anigwe graduates from Cal.
So what is the platform that defines Anigwe?
“Being positive, inspiring other people, trying to make a change,” Anigwe said.
Speaking of change, Ogwumike’s departure will give the Sun a different look. It could also buck a recent trend. No rookie has averaged at least 10 minutes per game with the Sun since Morgan Tuck, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Williams and Rachel Banham arrived on the scene in 2016.
As disappointed as she is not to be teaming up with Ogwumike, the trade of the former WNBA Rookie of the Year to Los Angeles certainly paved the way for her to make the Sun’s roster. If Ogwumike were still in the fold, Connecticut would have Ogwumike, Jonquel Jones, Morgan Tuck, Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones to use in the frontcourt. Keeping six post players probably wasn’t going to happen which would have meant that Anigwe might have had to fight it out with Brionna Jones, the Sun’s top pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, for a roster spot. Now there is room for both of them to make the final roster.
“I’m just trying to do little things daily,” Anigwe said. “I am not looking at the big picture but doing the little steps to get to the big picture.”
Anigwe was the nation’s leading rebounder as a senior at Cal as she had at least 10 rebounds in every game of her senior season until a loss to eventual national champion Baylor in the NCAA tournament. It didn’t take long for Anigwe to display her rebounding prowess when training camp opened.
With such a young nucleus, many of her teammates recall what it was like to step onto the court for their first WNBA game and they are offering Anigwe and fellow rookies Bridget Carleton and Natisha Hiedeman plenty of support.
“Strick [Shekinna Stricklen] is telling me to keep my confidence up, Courtney [Williams] is really funny,” Anigwe said. “Everybody is positive. I’m trying to fill that role, trying to be better.”
There will be doubleheaders on Monday and Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena. Dallas and Atlanta play at 5 p.m. on Monday followed by the New York/Connecticut game. New York and Atlanta meet on Tuesday at 5 p.m. followed by the Connecticut/Dallas contest.
There will be plenty of intriguing story angles heading into the four preseason games at Mohegan including former Hillhouse High star Bria Holmes making her Connecticut Sun debut after missing the 2018 season as she gave birth to her first child. There will be former UConn stars on each of the four teams. Kia Nurse and Tina Charles combined for 32 points in New York’s first preseason game, Azura’ Stevens is set for her second season with Dallas while Tiffany Hayes and Renee Montgomery will continue to have key roles with Atlanta and Tuck figures prominently into the Sun’s plans.