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The WNBA regular season is right around the corner, and teams are finalizing their rosters for what they hope will be a successful 2025 campaign. Preseason games have offered early insight into team dynamics, though injuries have already started to impact depth charts.
These developments have opened the door for late training camp opportunities —something 32-year-old Bria Hartley didn’t expect but is now embracing. The veteran guard, who entered the WNBA in 2014, has had a long and winding career. At 5-foot-8, Hartley brings experience, resilience and leadership to the court.
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The Connecticut Sun announced they’ve signed Hartley to a training camp contract. While it doesn’t guarantee a spot on the final roster, it does give her the chance to prove she still belongs.
“Welcome back to Connecticut.”
“We have signed Bria Hartley to training camp contract.”
Hartley will need to make an impression quickly, as the Sun recently wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 94-86 win over the New York Liberty on Friday.
Connecticut Sun Head Coach Rachid Meziane.Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
A native of New York, Hartley starred at North Babylon High School before committing to Geno Auriemma’s powerhouse UConn program from 2010 to 2014. She played in 153 games, averaging 13 points per game over her career.
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Her senior season was her most productive, averaging 16.2 points across 40 games. She helped lead the Huskies to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2013 and 2014.
She was drafted by the Seattle Storm but was immediately traded to the Washington Mystics. In her rookie year, Hartley averaged 9.7 points over 34 games and earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
Hartley has since played for several WNBA teams, including the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun, where she briefly appeared in three games during the 2022 season. She most recently played overseas with Galatasaray in the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League during the 2023-24 season.
Her return to the WNBA is a testament to her determination and love for the game. Whether she makes the Sun’s final roster remains to be seen, but Hartley’s comeback story is already a compelling one.
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Connecticut will host the Washington Mystics for their 2025 season opener on Sunday, May 18.
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