Opals4Gold
Years ago
Erin Phillips Returns to Connecticut Sun
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (August 26, 2008) Australian point guard Erin Phillips reported to the Connecticut Sun Tuesday, and will be available to play when the season resumes in Indiana on Thursday.
"I'm glad to have her back," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "It seems like it's been forever since she's been here. I think she can add some things at both ends of the court for us. She can play a couple of different positions for us. She can defend, she can rebound. She was part of our best winning streak ever so she knows my expectations of what it takes to win here."
Phillips missed the entire 2007 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee while playing for Adelaide on January 20, 2007. Phillips successfully rehabilitated the knee, but chose to stay back in Australia to train for the Olympics rather than report to Connecticut Sun training camp in April. Phillips helped the Australian National Team earn a Silver Medal in Beijing last week, and is now back with the Sun.
"I can't wait to play," Phillips said Tuesday. "It's been two years since I played for this team and I can't believe I'm here. After two weeks of watching the absolute best basketball in the world, I'm excited to play."
Selected in the second round of the 2005 WNBA Draft, Phillips has played just one season with Connecticut, averaging 5.4 points per game with 80 assists and 73 rebounds in 2006. She appeared in all 34 games, starting the last 13 after Nykesha Sales was sidelined with a sore achilles tendon. Eleven of her starts came during a franchise-record winning streak of 12 games.
"It's been quite some time since she played for us," Sun general manager Chris Sienko said. "I think she is going to give us a great boost as we make a run for the playoffs."
