Leila Lacan’s recent performance is nothing short of a game-changer, proving that the Connecticut Sun’s future might be brighter than anyone dared to hope just a year ago. But here’s where it gets controversial: Can a team that was once written off as rebuilding from scratch now be considered a legitimate contender in the making? Let’s dive in.
Lacan just delivered her most impressive game of the 2025-26 season, dropping 28 points on remarkably efficient shooting to lead Basket Landes to a stunning 80-61 victory over Fenerbahce, a Turkish powerhouse stacked with WNBA talent. This isn’t her first time scoring over 20 points, but it’s her first against such elite competition. Fenerbahce’s roster reads like a WNBA All-Star team, featuring names like Gabby Williams, Emma Meesseman, and Kayla McBride. Yet, Lacan outshined them all, leaving no doubt about her ability to dominate at the highest level.
Her performance does more than showcase her individual brilliance—it hints at the Sun’s potential with a young core built around her. And this is the part most people miss: While the Sun don’t yet have a household name like Paige Bueckers or Caitlin Clark, their young quartet of Lacan, Aaliyah Edwards, Aneesah Morrow, and Saniya Rivers is quietly becoming a force to reckon with. Just before the 2025 WNBA season, the Sun’s future looked bleak after free-agency departures forced a rebuild. Fast forward to now, and the narrative has flipped entirely.
Lacan’s breakout game against Fenerbahce wasn’t an anomaly. She’s been consistently dominant all season, leading her team in scoring across both the EuroLeague and France’s top league. Her teammates are equally impressive. Edwards, playing in Unrivaled, has emerged as a versatile offensive threat and a consistent scorer for the Lunar Owls. Rivers, meanwhile, is making waves defensively, setting a new Unrivaled record for blocks in a single game. And Morrow? She’s set to make her Athletes Unlimited debut in February, competing against WNBA stars like Ariel Atkins and Natasha Mack. Here’s the bold question: Could this group challenge the league’s elite sooner than we think?
What’s even more intriguing is how the Sun have built this core. None of their young stars were top picks. Lacan was drafted tenth in 2024, Edwards went sixth (acquired via trade), and Morrow and Rivers were selected seventh and eighth in 2025, respectively. General Manager Morgan Tuck has shown a knack for finding talent later in the first round—a skill she’ll need to lean on again in the 2026 draft. Despite finishing with one of the league’s worst records, the Sun’s lottery pick belongs to the Chicago Sky due to the Marina Mabrey trade. Instead, they’ll pick twelfth and fifteenth overall. But here’s the counterpoint: Can Tuck strike gold again, or will the lack of a top pick hinder their progress?
The Sun’s young core is proving that potential can be found beyond the lottery, and their offseason performances are turning heads. If Tuck can continue to build around this group, the Sun might not just be rebuilding—they could be building something special. What do you think? Are the Sun on the verge of something great, or is it too early to crown them contenders? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
