Current UConn star Breanna Stewart as well as former Huskies Sue Bird, Tina Charles and Stefanie Dolson are among 11 players taking part in a training camp in Spain beginning Friday as well as four exhibition games in Europe.

The USA squad will train Oct. 2-3 in Barcelona facing Uni Girona on Oct. 4 in Girona, Spain. Following a final practice in Barcelona, the team will travel to Italy to face the Italian National Team on Oct. 7 in Rome and the Dike Naples professional team on Oct. 8 in Naples. The tour concludes with a game against 2015 EuroLeague champion USK Prague on Oct. 9 in Prague, Czech Republic.

"It's one of the obstacles that we have every Olympic year; the amount of time we get with our players," said U.S. National Team and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. "This is another example of that. We are going to have 10 days together, so we'll have a couple practices and a couple games but we are going to be missing some players. All the players that are playing in the WNBA Finals won't be there, which means some of our best players won't be there. That's difficult because it doesn't give you a great sense of everyone that is eligible for the team. But in the end, you have to do what you have to do and out of this maybe some younger players or some players that we really didn't know too much about show us something and put themselves in the mix."

Expected to participate in the 2015 USA Basketball National Team European Tour are: Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tina Charles (New York Liberty), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Danielle Robinson (San Antonio Stars), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut) and Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky).

USA Basketball sent out a release stating that Griner will be suspended for portions of training due to her arrest for domestic violence.

University of Hartford head coach and former UConn star Jennifer Rizzotti will serve as a court coach during the USA's European Tour.

The matchup for the WNBA championship series is now set with Indiana defeating New York 66-51 in the deciding game in the best of three game series.

If New York had won, it would have been guaranteed that the WNBA champion would have a former UConn player on the team for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons since former Huskies Tina Charles, Swin Cash and Kiah Stokes play for New York. However, there are no UConn products on the Indiana roster so there's a chance that a team with no former Huskies could win the WNBA title for the third time since 2003. Ironically, Indiana was the last team to accomplish the feat back in 2012. Before that, you would have to go back to the 2005 Sacramento Monarchs to find a UConn-less WNBA championship team.

If Minnesota wins the title, a record four former UConn players would win the title. It would be the third championship for Maya Moore and the first crown for Kalana Greene, Asjha Jones and Renee Montgomery.

This is the 13th season in a row at least one UConn player is on the roster of at least one of the teams in the WNBA championship series.

With the WNBA final now set, look for USA Basketball to announce the details and players heading to the training camp later this week. The announcement could come as soon as Wednesday.

2014: Phoenix (Diana Taurasi) def. Chicago
2013: Minnesota (Maya Moore) def, Atlanta (Tiffany Hayes)
2012: Indiana def. Minnesota (Maya Moore)
2011: Minnesota (Maya Moore, Charde Houston) def. Atlanta
2010: Seattle (Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Svetlana Abrosimova) def. Atlanta
2009: Phoenix (Diana Taurasi, Ketia Swanier) def. Indiana (Jessica Moore)
2008: Detroit (Kelly Schumacher) def. SA
2007: Phoenix (Diana Taurasi, Kelly Schumacher) def. Detroit (Swin Cash)
2006: Detroit (Swin Cash) def. Sacramento
2005: Sacramento def. Connecticut (Nykesha Sales, Asjha Jones)
2004: Seattle (Bird) def. Connecticut (Nykesha Sales, Asjha Jones)
2003: Detroit (Swin Cash) def. LA
2000: Houston (Jen Rizzotti) def. NY
1999: Houston (Jen Rizzotti, Kara Wolters) def. New York (Rebecca Lobo-injured and did not play)
1997: Houston def. New York (Rebecca Lobo)

The annual First Night festivities will take place on Oct. 16 at Gampel Pavilion

 Doors open at 6 p.m. although those wishing to arrive early can take in the 2 p.m. women's volleyball match against East Carolina and the Fan  Fest on Fairfield Way begins at 3 p.m.

There will be an autograph session with players and head coaches from both the men's and women's basketball teams.

The festivities, including a return of a scrimmage featuring men's and women's players on each team, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Beginning tomorrow fans will be able to vote for the teams they want to see via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Still grasping the winning lottery ticket that is sure to result in UConn All-American Breanna Stewart becoming a member of her team, Seattle Storm coach Jenny Boucek wasn't about to come out and declare Stewart to be a member of the Seattle franchise. However, she had no problem discussing the two-time national player of the year after the Storm won the lottery for the third time including the second year in a row.

"She is kind of the future in terms of her versatility coming from a program from UConn, a quarter of our team could be UConn players - we like that," Boucek said. "We've had good success with UConn players in the past so if we decide to go that direction, we would be really pleased to have her."

With her comment about being happy with three of the 12 players on next year's team being UConn products, I asked Boucek if UConn players have similarities when they make it to the pro level.

"UConn players are pro ready," Boucek said. "Geno Auriemma does an incredible job of choosing players that have the 'it' factor and he cultivates it. The culture he has and the eye he has not just for the most athletic players, not necessarily even the most talented, but the best basketball players, teammates and winners, has translated really well to the WNBA."
If Stewart goes first overall as expected, there is a chance that San Antonio would select UConn All-American point guard Moriah Jefferson, a Texas native, with the second pick.

San Antonio head coach Dan Hughes said that picking Jefferson over other prospects including South Carolina wing Tiffany Mitchell would not be done just because of Jefferson's home state connection.

"We will be aware of it," Hughes said. "I don't think it is the deciding thing but you are aware of it, it is a nice story, I like it but at the end of the day you are going to weigh a lot of things and if it works out that way, so be it."

Connecticut Sun general manager Chris Sienko said the team will make attempts to move up in the draft although to get the top pick might be a little too hefty of a price to pay.

"I am always going to make a play to get No. 1 or maybe make a play to get No. 2," Sienko said. "If you don't test it, the answer is always going to be no so I have to look at the options. I have to be willing to make offers We will consider anything but if we don't I don't think we are in a bad position at 3."

If it turns out that Stewart and Jefferson do go first and second, it would be the first time two college teammates went first and second since the UConn duo of Sue Bird and Swin Cash back in 2002.

HOLMES A FIRST ROUNDER?
While most of the attention was on Stewart, Jefferson and South Carolina's Tiffany Mitchell who are considered to be the cream of the available players in the 2016 draft, there is a chance that former Hillhouse star Bria Holmes could find herself taken in the first round.

"She is certainly a player who is going to be on a lot of boards," Hughes said. "It is her senior year and in this league, if you really study what they do in their senior year and it can have a huge impact on their draft position. She is certainly on everybody's draft board, everybody knows who she is."

Can she be a first round pick?

"That remains to be seen," Hughes said. "Obviously it is a name that we all know and in this kind of a league, a lot of what is going to happen in 2015-16 is going to drive whether she is in the first round or not."

The WNBA Rookie of the Year race was nearly too close to call but in the end, Jewell Loyd's strong offensive output in the second half of the season won out over Kiah Stokes' defensive brilliance.

Loyd, taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Seattle Storm, averaged 13.6 points per game in her final 13 games to finish the season averaging 10.7 points per game. She was the only rookie to average more than 10 points per game during the regular season. Stokes finished as the eighth leading rookie scorer in the regular season with an average of 5.8 points per game for the New York Liberty.

Stokes led all rookies in rebounding (6.4 per game), blocked shots (1.97) and was second in field-goal percentage (54.7).

Loyd finished with 21 votes followed by Stokes' 16. Natalie Achonwa of the Indiana Fever received the other two votes.

This marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the No. 1 overall pick has been named Rookie of the Year. The lone exception came two years ago when second overall pick Elena Delle Donne won the award.

Stokes was also named to the WNBA All-Rookie team. Each of the 12 WNBA head coaches pick five rookies and Stokes received nine votes meaning that two WNBA coaches thought there were five rookies better than Stokes this season. Of course, there is another trophy that interests Stokes a little more - the WNBA championship trophy. If she helps the Liberty win the title, she would become the first player since Alexis Hornbuckle in 2008 to win the national title and WNBA crown in the same season.

After Tuesday's pickup game inside the Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center I mentioned to freshman Napheesa Collier that reigning national player of the year Breanna Stewart blocked her shot. Collier was quick to correct me saying that Stewart swatted her shot away twice.

During her brilliant high school career as well as during her successful stints with USA Basketball, it's safe to say that Collier didn't have her shot blocked on a regular basis. However since arriving at UConn she has been getting a basketball education from her veteran teammates.

"Everybody is going to be taller than me so I might as well get used to playing against people who block my shot now," Collier said. "I am used to being the tallest player and it is not going to be like that in college."

Or as fellow freshman Katie Lou Samuelson said, "There are no Breanna Stewarts or Morgan Tucks when I was playing in high school I can say that so I think this is really good for me because of the higher level, I am excited for it and I am ready to keep doing it."

With De'Janae Boykin, the third member of the freshman class, not taking part in the pickup games yet there has been plenty of attention paid to Collier and Samuelson.

"D's out right now so it kind of sucks that she is missing the early part but Katie Lou and Pheese, they are doing a great job," Tuck said. "They both play pretty hard which is why I think they are meshing right now so they need to focus on keeping that going. I think by trying to learn as much as possible. I work with Pheese more because she is more of an undersized post/wing kind of player and she is just eager to learn. Katie Lou, she is working a lot with Mo and Stewie so they just want to learn and do whatever they can to help us to make their mark on the team."

One thing that isn't being asked of Collier and Samuelson is to replace the graduated Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Kiah Stokes. Things are going to be done a little differently without Mosqueda-Lewis, the NCAA's career 3-point leader, and Stokes, who is looking more and more like the WNBA Rookie of the Year with each passing day.

"I think this team is going to be different from last year's team," Samuelson said. "The coaches aren't really putting pressure on me that 'you need to do this.' They are saying that we need to get the most out of you and see what you can do for us."

Collier agrees with Samuelson.

"I don't know if there is pressure necessarily but you want to do well so you push yourself harder than you did before in new environment," Collier said.

SCHEDULE UPDATED WITH TIMES
The last couple of start times have been announced so now all the tip times are out for the upcoming season

Nov. 2 - vs. Lubbock Christian (exhibition) - XL Center - 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 - vs. Vanguard (exhibition) - Gampel - 2 p.m.
Nov. 16 - at Ohio State - Value City Arena - 5:30 p.m. ESPN2
Nov. 23 - vs. Kansas State - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Nov. 28 - vs. Nebraska - XL Center -  1 p.m. SNY
Nov. 30 - at UT-Chattanooga - McKenzie Arena, 6:30 p.m. SNY
Dec. 2 - at DePaul - McGrath Arena - 7:30 p.m. FOX Sports
Dec. 5 - vs. Notre Dame - Gampel - 5:15 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 9 - at Colgate - Cotterell Court - 7 p.m. SNY
Dec. 11 - vs. Florida State - Mohegan Sun Arena - 6 p.m. ESPN2
Dec. 21 - vs. LSU - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Dec. 28 - vs. Maryland - Madison Square Garden - 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Dec. 30 - at Cincinnati - Fifth Third Arena - 7 p.m. SNY
Jan. 6 - vs. Tulsa - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Jan. 8 - at Houston - Hofheinz Pavilion - 9 p.m. ESPN2
Jan. 10 - at South Florida - Sun Dome - 5 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Jan. 13 - at Memphis - Roane Fieldhouse - 6 p.m. SNY
Jan. 16 - vs. Temple - Gampel - 6 p.m. CBS SN
Jan. 20 - vs. Central Florida - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Jan. 23 - at SMU - Moody Coliseum - 3 p.m. SNY
Jan. 27 - at Tulsa - Reynolds Center - 8 p.m. SNY
Jan. 30 - vs. Memphis - XL Center - noon SNY
Feb. 3 - at Tulane - Devlin Fieldhouse - 8 p.m. SNY
Feb. 6 - vs. East Carolina - Gampel - 1 p.m. SNY
Feb. 8 - at South Carolina - Colonial Life Arena - 7 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 14 - at Temple - McGonigle Hall - noon ESPN2
Feb. 17 - vs. Cincinnati - Gampel - 7 p.m. SNY
Feb. 20 - at East Carolina - Minges Coliseum - 6 p.m. CBS SN
Feb. 24 - vs. SMU - Gampel - 7 p.m. SNY
Feb. 27 - vs. Tulane - Gampel - 1 p.m. SNY
Feb. 29 - vs. South Florida - Gampel - 7 p.m. ESPN2

For as long as Morgan Tuck can remember her summer has included time with various USA Basketball team or undergoing grueling rehabilitation sessions in order to return to the court.

However, this last few months, Tuck found herself in the unusual situation of having plenty of time of her hands.

"It was weird because it was the longest I've been home since high school so it is nice," Tuck said. "My parents just moved (to Virginia) to it was weird to have a new place but I could relax, I just worked out, was at home with my family, got to travel a little it which I don't usually get to do here so it is nice to kind of relax."

Now Tuck is ready to hit the floor running coming off an outstanding 2014-15 season and is excited for what the future has in store for her.

"We have a lot of long days which means to me that we are really competing," Tuck said. "It is good, everybody is really enjoying it and looking to get out there and play. We are trying to get a feel for everybody and it is going to be a good team, pickup gives us some early time to mesh."

While De'Janae Boykin is currently being held out of the pickup games, the other two freshmen (Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson) have wasted little time in making an impression on Tuck and the other veteran UConn players.

"D's out right now so it kind of sucks that she is missing the early part but Katie Lou and Pheese, they are doing a great job," Tuck said. "They both play pretty hard which is why I think they are meshing right now so they need to focus on keeping that going. I think by trying to learn as much as possible. I work with Pheese more because she is more of an undersized post/wing kind of player and she is just eager to learn. Katie Lou, she is working a lot with Mo (Moriah Jefferson) and Stewie (Breanna Stewart) so they just want to learn and do whatever they can to help us to make their mark on the team."

As I mentioned in a blog post yesterday, Tuck is planning to not only play this season but also utilize her fifth season of eligibility after being limited to eight games in her true freshman season.

HEAD TO HEAD CONTRACT TAKES TOLL ON JEFFERSON
Jefferson's run as the starting point guard for the U.S. in the Pan Am Games can screeching to a halt when she hustled after a loose ball in the gold medal game against Canada and had the misfortune to be on the wrong end of a head to head collision with UConn teammate Kia Nurse.

"I knew she did (have a hard head)," Jefferson said with a laugh. I got up and ...."

Nobody could blame Jefferson for not completing the sentence as that is one painful play that she wants no part of reliving.

Jefferson suffered a concussion and did not return to the game. Nurse was on the sidelines for a little bit before returning and putting the finishing touches on her 33-point masterpiece in leading Canada to the gold medal.

"She played amazing," Jefferson said. "The whole time she was there, she had an incredible tournament. When she plays for my team in Connecticut, she will play exactly the same way. I am proud of her. It was almost like a silent assassin, it felt like every time they needed a bucket she was there."

When I spoke to Nurse in between the Pan Am Games and FIBA Americas tournament and I mentioned to Nurse that Jefferson is sure to remind her of her aggressive mindset if she doesn't look for her own shot enough during her sophomore season. Jefferson confirmed that is exactly what will happen.

"If she is going to hang her gold medal over my head, I am going to hang her performance over her head," Jefferson said.

Today was the first chance we've gotten to speak to UConn players and I made my rounds finishing up by spending a few extra minutes with freshman Katie Lou Samuelson.

I've received more emails about Samuelson's status than any freshman since Elena Delle Donne's short stay in Storrs since the recently named WNBA MVP left UConn after two days.

Samuelson, who gave up her spot on the U.S. team playing in the FIBA U19 World Championships to stay at home this summer with her ill mother, said she has every intention of playing for UConn for all four seasons.

"Obviously I made the decision that I needed to be home instead of traveling with USA Basketball and I think for me that is the decision that needed to be made," Samuelson said after UConn's pickup basketball game on Tuesday. "I am very glad I did because now she is getting better and better. I am still not going to see her so I really needed to spend that time with her. This summer was a bummer but I told myself it was time to get better so I worked out a lot more than I would have overseas so I think overall this summer was good for me.

"I definitely got to see them more and that was a plus. I always liked spending time with my family they are the closest people, I tell every single one of them everything, mom, dad, Karlie, Bonnie, we are a really close family so it was nice to be able to spend time together."

The personable Samuelson is rather active on social media but she went quiet during the time when she opted to remain home. However, there was never a question that she would be following through on her commitment to come to UConn.

"I knew that coming here," Samuelson said of the fishbowl type of atmosphere generated by the UConn fan base "That is why I am here. I am super excited. I am committed to UConn more than anything, I am doing four years here and I am very excited to do that. There are situations that we have to accept and move on from but I know I am here, dedicated and ready to go and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon until Christmas when I will be home for a couple of days."

TUCK PLANNING TO PLAY ALL FIVE YEARS
The WNBA Draft lottery will be held on Thursday with the winner getting the chance to draft UConn's Breanna Stewart. Fellow Husky All-American Moriah Jefferson could also be a lottery pick.

If Morgan Tuck opted to come out after this season, she could also go in the lottery but being granted a fifth season of eligibility after playing only eight games in the 2013-14 season before undergoing knee surgery.

Tuck has said before that her plan was to play both this season and the following campaign. She reiterated that her plan has not changed.

"My plan is to be here for five years and get a masters degree," Tuck said. "I think it will be really beneficial and I want to play for as long as possible so I want to be here for five years."

When UConn's women's basketball schedule came out, there were four regular-season games with no times listed. Well, that list has been cut in half.

UConn's game at Chattanooga will be played at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 and the game at Colgate on Dec. 9 will stat at 7 p.m.

We're still waiting on the times for the Dec. 2 game at DePaul and the Feb. 3 contest at Tulane. Here's the schedule with the updated times including a couple of times that I had wrong on the initial schedule (the games at Houston and Memphis start an hour later than the times I initially posted).

Nov. 2 - vs. Lubbock Christian (exhibition) - XL Center - 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 - vs. Vanguard (exhibition) - Gampel - 2 p.m.
Nov. 16 - at Ohio State - Value City Arena - 5:30 p.m. ESPN2
Nov. 23 - vs. Kansas State - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Nov. 28 - vs. Nebraska - XL Center -  1 p.m. SNY
Nov. 30 - at UT-Chattanooga - McKenzie Arena, 6:30 p.m SNY
Dec. 2 - at DePaul - McGrath Arena - TBA FOX Sports
Dec. 5 - vs. Notre Dame - Gampel - 5:15 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 9 - at Colgate - Cotterell Court - 7 p.m., SNY
Dec. 11 - vs. Florida State - Mohegan Sun Arena - 6 p.m. ESPN2
Dec. 21 - vs. LSU - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Dec. 28 - vs. Maryland - Madison Square Garden - 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Dec. 30 - at Cincinnati - Fifth Third Arena - 7 p.m., SNY
Jan. 6 - vs. Tulsa - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Jan. 8 - at Houston - Hofheinz Pavilion - 9 p.m. ESPN2
Jan. 10 - at South Florida - Sun Dome - 5 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 13 - at Memphis - Roane Fieldhouse - 6 p.m. SNY
Jan. 16 - vs. Temple - Gampel - 6 p.m. CBS SN
Jan. 20 - vs. Central Florida - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Jan. 23 - at SMU - Moody Coliseum - 3 p.m. SNY
Jan. 27 - at Tulsa - Reynolds Center - 8 p.m. SNY
Jan. 30 - vs. Memphis - XL Center - noon, SNY
Feb. 3 - at Tulane - Devlin Fieldhouse - TBA, SNY
Feb. 6 - vs. East Carolina - Gampel - 1 p.m. SNY
Feb. 8 - at South Carolina - Colonial Life Arena - 7 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 14 - at Temple - McGonigle Hall - noon ESPN2
Feb. 17 - vs. Cincinnati - Gampel - 7 p.m. SNY
Feb. 20 - at East Carolina - Minges Coliseum - 6 p.m. CBS SN
Feb. 24 - vs. SMU - Gampel - 7 p.m. SNY
Feb. 27 - vs. Tulane - Gampel - 1 p.m. SNY
Feb. 29 - vs. South Florida - Gampel - 7 p.m. ESPN2

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it down to the White House for the annual visit with President Barack Obama after winning the national title.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma's "see you next year" comment has gotten plenty of play especially on social media but if anybody is interested in the transcript of President Obama's comments, here you go.

Chiney Ogwumike has been down the road that Breanna Stewart is about to embark on.

Back in mid December, 2013 the Connecticut Sun won the WNBA Draft lottery and it was a foregone conclusion that the Sun would be selecting the Stanford All-American with the top pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

In a week and a half the most recent lottery will be conducted at ESPN with the winner almost certainly will make Stewart the fifth UConn product (joining Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles and Maya Moore) to be taken first overall. Yet, Stewart has an entire season left to play at UConn as she attempts to lead the Huskies to an unprecedented fourth consecutive national title.

Whether Seattle, San Antonio, Connecticut or Atlanta gets the No. 1 pick, her WNBA home will be a popular topic in the interview sessions with the media. I caught up with Ogwumike before yesterday's Connecticut season finale and asked her what advice she would give to Stewart.

"I think she should just enjoy the moment," Ogwumike said. "Senior year is the best year because you know all your academic work, just stay in control of that. Just enjoy your coach, your teammates, your friends, your family and let everything be a memory, every game being something you hold in the back of your mind. College is different from the pros, that camaraderie, loyalty you have with each other, it is different when you get to the next level. She knows who she is and just embrace that, there's a lot of pressure and expectation but she has already put herself in position to be great with her life so she should be herself and enjoy the moment."

Ogwumike believes Stewart, who she has gotten to know through USA Basketball circles, is well suited to deal with the extra attention.

"Obviously somebody is handling it for her, (UConn women's basketball coach) Geno (Auriemma), so just enjoy it," Ogwumike said. "If she is enjoying it and having fun, she is going to play amazing. It's going to be amzing, you will have her coming into the WNBA, you will have Diana (Taurasi) back, Skylar (Diggins) back so there will be a lot of talk, it will be some exciting times."
Ogwumike will welcome any of the Sun's draft picks to the team but she admits that bringing in somebody like Stewart would make for a magical environment at Mohegan Sun Arena.

"She is a remarkable talent, she is a chill, cool person and my whole thing, playing with her would be cool because of what it would do for this, this place (Mohegan Sun Arena) would be on fire," Ogwumike said. "At the same time, I know UConn players and Connecticut have a different history so I want what's best for her but at the same time, I am selfish and this place would be on fire. It would be really exciting."

The lottery will be held on Sept. 24. Seattle and San Antonio met last night with the loser of that game earning the best odds of getting the top pick. San Antonio on 59-58 so Seattle has a 44.2 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick, San Antonio (26.6 percent), Connecticut (17.8) and Atlanta (10.4) are the other teams with a shot at landing Stewart.

STOKES IN SELECT COMPANY
With the regular season now in the books, I figured I would check in and see where Kiah Stokes' numbers stacked up.

Well, Stokes averaged 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots per 40 minutes. She is the first rookie to average at least 10 rebounds and 3 blocks per 40 minutes since LaToya Sanders put up marks of 10.8 rebounds and 4.7 blocked shots per 40 minutes with Phoenix in 2008.

With each step Kelly Faris made towards the Connecticut Sun bench, the roar from the 8,049 in attendance at Mohegan Sun Arena only increased in its intensity.

The former UConn standout had four points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 18 minutes as she started for the ninth time this season and the 12th time in the three seasons since Faris was drafted by the Sun in the first round of the 2013 WNBA Draft.

One of the fans yelled out "I'll be back" as Faris received congratulations in the closing moments of the Sun's 86-75 victory. The question is whether Faris will be a part of the roster during the 2016 season.

If Allison Hightower and Kelsey Griffin had not been sidelined for the season, Faris might have been considered to be a longshot to make this year's roster. Hightower will be back and the Sun is expected to have Griffin back in the fold as well. The Sun will also have a lottery pick in the 2016 draft. Connecticut will have the third best chance to earn the No. 1 pick and could finish no worse than fourth. Obviously, the Sun hierarchy will be crossing all of their toes and fingers at the Sept. 24 draft lottery with the hopes that it will get the No. 1 overall pick and add UConn star Breanna Stewart to a young roster. However, landing either South Carolina's Tiffany Mitchell or UConn's Moriah Jefferson wouldn't be a bad consolation prize. Sun coach Anne Donovan said that this is stronger draft than this year's so even if Connecticut is awarded the No. 4 pick, it is a player that could make an impact.

Faris, who has drawn rave reviews for her work ethic and team-first attitude during her three seasons, wasn't about to weigh herself down with possible contingency plans. When Faris checked out with 1:37 to play, there's a chance it was her final act as a member of the Sun but rest assured that if given the opportunity, she will be at the 2016 training camp, she will be in there fighting for loose balls and locking up defensively on whoever happens to be lined up across from her. If that isn't the case, Faris will move on with her life knowing she gave it everything she had.

"Honestly I never thought about it that way," Faris said. "It is too much to find of sit there and think about. It is one game at a time, one day at a time and that is kind of how I am approaching it.

"It has been great, I get to play in front of the same fans I played in front of for four years. We have the best fans out there, they are always out there to support us no matter what. It has been good to get out in the community as well given that this is my home away from home."

Faris was a healthy scratch in two of the Sun's first 10 games. Faris played at least 20 minutes just once in the first 19 games of the season but with Elizabeth Williams and Alex Bentley missed the final 13 and 9 games of the season respectively and Alyssa Thomas missed 10 straight games before playing in the final two contests, Faris' playing time increased down the stretch. After the final 10 games of the season she averaged 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while playing 26.6 minutes per game.

"Injuries are very a good thing, they are always unfortunate and you never wish them on anybody but for my case, it has given me an opportunity to get on the court and get some reps in, be able to play some basketball," Faris said. "Every time I go out there, I try to figure out what it is I need to do. It might change from game to game but I just try to bring whatever I can to help the team win. I definitely have taken on a different mindset offensively, I try not to pass up as many shots as
I usually would, try to make better decisions. I am never satisfied and there is always room to improve."

It hasn't been the easiest of scheduling odysseys but UConn's seemingly annual visit to the White House is set for Tuesday.

The original hope was for the audience with President Barack Obama would take place in the spring as have many of the previous visits but with the national team commitments of Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson and Kia Nurse as well as the WNBA schedules for Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Kiah Stokes, it kept getting pushed back - until now.

With Seattle's loss to Chicago tonight, three of the four teams who will be in the WNBA Draft lottery are set.

The Storm currently owns the best odds of winning the lottery (and likely selecting UConn's Breanna Stewart) but San Antonio could still earn that distinction.

The WNBA recently announced that the lottery rules have been changed. Rather than merely taking the record from the most recently completed season, the combined record over the last two seasons will be used to determine the lottery odds.

Seattle has three games remaining. With a 9-22 record this season and 12-22 mark a season ago, the Storm leads by two games over San Antonio (7-25 and 16-18) over the last two seasons. Seattle does have to play Minnesota in its next two games and if it were to lose both of those games, the Storm would have the best odds for the No. 1 pick. However. if Seattle were to split those two games and San Antonio loses to Tulsa on Tuesday, the team with the best lottery odds would come down to final game of the WNBA season when Seattle and San Antonio play at 9 p.m. on Sept. 13. If San Antonio loses that game, the Stars would win/lose the tiebreaker which is the worst record in the 2015 season.

If that is how it plays out, the loser of that game would improve their chances of drafting Stewart by 16.6 percent as the team with the best odds would have a 44.2 percent chance at getting the top pick while the second-place team would have a 27.6 percent chance to earning the top pick.

Connecticut is locked into the No. 3 spot in the lottery and has a 17.8 percent probability of getting the No. 1 overall pick. Either Atlanta or Washington would have the worst chance (10.4 percent) at securing the No. 1 overall pick.

The lottery will take play on Sept. 24 during halftime of the Eastern Conference final and will be televised live on ESPN2.

Another new wrinkle is that the team with the best odds for the No. 1 pick can fall no lower than third. With Stewart, UConn's Moriah Jefferson and South Carolina's Tiffany Mitchell likely at the top of the draft board, that puts Seattle or San Antonio in a pretty good situation.

It should be noted that from 2010-13 that the team with the worst record did not get the No. 1 pick. That change in the last two years when Connecticut got the No. 1 overall pick in 2014  when Chiney Ogwumike landed in Connecticut. Last year Seattle and Tulsa were tied for the worst record and ended up picking first and second. In 2010, Sacramento (which won the lottery with the second worst record) folded between the time the lottery was conducted and the draft was held so Minnesota did end up with the No. 1 pick although it was dealt to Connecticut in the Lindsay Whalen/Tina Charles trade.

The complete 2015-16 schedule has been released with the majority of the times, the Gampel/XL Center breakdown and TV coverage.

A few notes worth mentioning. This is the fourth time in Geno Auriemma's 31 seasons that the Huskies will open the season and conference play with true road games. It worked out pretty well the last time this happened as UConn would win the 2000 national title.

Also, it is the first time since the 1978-79 season that UConn ends the regular season with three consecutive home games. When you add in the fact the Mohegan Sun Arena will host the American Athletic Conference tournament, Gampel Pavilion will be the site of the first and second round games in the NCAA tournament and Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport is one of the regional sites, UConn could play 10 consecutive games in the state of Connecticut before the Final Four.

Also, while the regionals in 2016 and 2017 will be held in Bridgeport, there will be no regular-season games at Webster Bank Arena this season.

Nov. 2 - vs. Lubbock Christian (exhibition) - Gampel - 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 - vs. Vanguard (exhibition) - XL Center - 2 p.m.
Nov. 16 - at Ohio State - Value City Arena - 5:30 p.m. ESPN2
Nov. 23 - vs. Kansas State - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Nov. 28 - vs. Nebraska - XL Center -  1 p.m.
Nov. 30 - at UT-Chattanooga - McKenzie Arena, TBA SNY
Dec. 2 - at DePaul - McGrath Arena - TBA FOX Sports
Dec. 5 - vs. Notre Dame - Gampel - 5:15 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 9 - at Colgate - Cotterell Court - TBA, SNY
Dec. 11 - vs. Florida State - Mohegan Sun Arena - 6 p.m. ESPN2
Dec. 21 - vs. LSU - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Dec. 28 - vs. Maryland - Madison Square Garden - 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Dec. 30 - at Cincinnati - Fifth Third Arena - 7 p.m., SNY
Jan. 6 - vs. Tulsa - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Jan. 8 - at Houston - Hofheinz Pavilion - 8 p.m. ESPN2
Jan. 10 - at South Florida - Sun Dome - 5 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 13 - at Memphis - Roane Fieldhouse - 5 p.m. SNY
Jan. 16 - vs. Temple - Gampel - 6 p.m. CBS SN
Jan. 20 - vs. Central Florida - XL Center - 7 p.m. SNY
Jan. 23 - at SMU - Moody Coliseum - 3 p.m. SNY
Jan. 27 - at Tulsa - Reynolds Center - 8 p.m. SNY
Jan. 30 - vs. Memphis - XL Center - noon, SNY
Feb. 3 - at Tulane - Devlin Fieldhouse - TBA, SNY
Feb. 6 - vs. East Carolina - Gampel - 1 p.m. SNY
Feb. 8 - at South Carolina - Colonial Life Arena - 7 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 14 - at Temple - McGonigle Hall - noon ESPN2
Feb. 17 - vs. Cincinnati - Gampel - 7 p.m. SNY
Feb. 20 - at East Carolina - Minges Coliseum - 6 p.m. CBS SN
Feb. 24 - vs. SMU - Gampel - 7 p.m. SNY
Feb. 27 - vs. Tulane - Gampel - 1 p.m. SNY
Feb. 29 - vs. South Florida - Gampel - 7 p.m.