The announcement could come in a few days or perhaps as long as a week or two, but it seems as if the Connecticut Sun have found themselves the shooter they vowed to add to the team following an early exit from the 2008 WNBA playoffs.

I spoke with head coach Mike Thibault and general manager Chris Sienko today who confirmed the reports that they are pursuing Latvia Olympic team captain Anete Jekabsone.

The 25-year-old Jekabsone is a skilled offensive player who finished third in scoring, second in assists and seventh in 3-pointers at the 2008 Olympics. It was actually at the pre-Olympic FIBA Diamond Ball Classic in China where Jekabsone made a huge splash on the international scene. The 5-foot-9 Jekabsone was 5 for 5 from 3-point range en route to scoring 34 points in 28 minutes in a 75-69 upset of Russia. In the next game against the eventual gold-medal winning U.S. team Jekabsone had 24 points including another five 3-pointers to go with three rebounds, three assists and five steals. Averaging 29 points against teams that would win the gold and bronze medals at the Olympics certainly gives an indication of Jekabsone's offensive potential.

One story states that Jekabsone will be replacing former UConn star Svetlana Abrosimova on the 2009 Connecticut Sun roster. Thibault said he is uncertain of Abrosimova's status. She is an unrestricted free agent and will be welcomed back by the Sun. However, Thibault didn't think Abrosimova would make a decision until her European playing commitments are over. That will not be until around June 20 which would mean she would miss at least the first six games of the season. Jekabsone, who plays with the Moscow-based Dynamo squad, faces the same restrictions.

I asked Sienko what the best-case scenario was in terms of finalizing a contract with Jekabsone and his answer was "a couple of days." With the EuroLeague on break, contract talks have been challenging. But it sounds as if it will happen and she most certainly fills a need for a 3-point shooter.

There's much more news to report in terms of the Sun's offseason roster molding.

Kerri Gardin and Danielle Page recently signed contracts so they join Sandrine Gruda, Amber Holt, Asjha Jones, Erin Phillips, Ketia Swanier, Lindsay Whalen and Tamika Whitmore as members of the 2008 Connecticut Sun under contract. Barbara Turner, one of five ex-UConn players on the Sun last season, is very close to finalizing a contract extension. Sienko said it could happen in a day or two. Lauren Ervin, a third-round pick of the Sun in 2008, also figures to sign with the team.

The Sun's only unrestricted free agents are Abrosimova and her former UConn teammate Tamika Raymond. Both Thibault and Sienko said Raymond expressed her desire to return to the team but as an assistant coach for the Kansas women's team, she obviously has some other things to concern herself with at the current time.

The only restricted free agent is guard Jamie Carey, who is in her first year at the head coach at Legacy High in Broomfield, Colo. Sienko said Carey has been offered the same training-camp contract she played under in the last three seasons but he has not heard back from her. That is not a cause for concern as Carey's situation is similar to Raymond's. The Sun like both veterans who offer off-court leadership and have developed on-court niches as well. If Carey wants to come to training camp, she will be welcomed that's for sure. It is looking extremely unlikely that Evanthia Maltsi will be playing for the Sun in 2009.

If the Sun do sign Jekabsone, Raymond and Carey, it will have 15 players under contract even without Abrosimova and Maltsi. Also, the Sun have two of the top 18 picks in April's WNBA draft. Being able to carry a maximum of 13 players, expect the fight for the final few roster spots to be as challenging this season as it has ever been.

Thibault, who was in Durham, N.C. on Monday for the Maryland/Duke game, said he has not heard anything new on the intentions of high-profile free agents Lauren Jackson and Tina Thompson.

Thibault said he will not be in attendance at Monday's game between No. 1 UConn and No. 2 North Carolina but is planning to be at Gampel Pavilion for the Jan. 26 UConn/Louisville game and the Feb. 3 Rutgers/UConn contest at the XL Center in Hartford. He said he may take in Saturday's game between the Huskies and Syracuse at the XL Center.

Hearing the news of Mohegan Sun cutting salaries and expenses, I asked Thibault whether those cutbacks impacted his travel plans. He said they did not. He said he has tried to be prudent in his scouting trips and was conservative when devising the travel budget because of the slumping economy.

One last bit of info, for those who so desire to take part, voting for the EuroLeague Women's All-Star game began on Monday. Fan voting will determine the starting five for both teams and voting will be open until Feb. 9.

Former UConn stars Sue Bird (Spartak), Diana Taurasi (Spartak), Asjha Jones (UMMC Ekaterinburg) and Swin Cash (ZVVK USK Prague) are on the ballot for the "Rest of the World" team while Abrosimova (UMMC Ekaterinburg) is the only ex-Husky on the ballot for Europe's team.

Jones is joined on the "Rest of the World" ballot by fellow Connecticut Sun players Gardin (Jolly JBS Sibenik), Whitmore (Gambrinus), Holt (MKB Euroleasing) and Whalen (ZVVK USK Prague). Gruda (UMMC Ekaterinburg), Maltsi (ZVVK USK Prague) and Abrosimova are all on the ballot for Europe.