Dom Amore: This ex-UConn women’s star could be WNBA’s best comeback story

Bria Hartley delivered a strong performance for the Connecticut Sun in their 95-64 victory over the Golden State Warriors. She scored 15 points, starting the game aggressively with a steal and early transition three-pointers. Hartley expressed feeling more confident and sure of herself on the court.

Hartley's return is a significant comeback story. The 32-year-old former UConn standout hadn't played in the WNBA for nearly three years, leaving the league in 2022 after suffering a second torn left ACL. She endured five surgeries in four years due to various injuries. She joined the Sun late in training camp with no guarantees, needing to prove she could still play effectively.

Hartley earned her roster spot by demonstrating she could still shoot and translate coach Rachid Meziane's concepts from French to English. Her role involves stretching defenses with her shooting and facilitating play for post players. In the recent game, she went 4-for-8 on three-pointers and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, adding three assists.

Despite the Sun's poor overall record (4-20), Hartley has seized her opportunity and is emerging as a strong candidate for WNBA Comeback Player of the Year. Her statistics show positive momentum: she's averaging 9.1 points and 3 assists per game overall, but her scoring jumped to 13.7 points in July and 16.7 points over the last four games.