READ QUOTES FROM CHANTE BLACK, LYNDRA LITTLES AND SUN COACH MIKE THIBAULT

WATCH COACH THIBAULT'S PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE DRAFT

WATCH CHANTE BLACK GET DRAFTED

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (April 9, 2009) – With the 10th overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft on Thursday, the Connecticut Sun addressed a need for height, selecting 6-foot-5 Duke forward/center Chante Black.

The 2008-09 All-ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Black averaged 14.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, leading the Blue Devils to a 27-6 record. She had 278 rebounds as a senior, the fourth-highest total in program history, and was only the third player in ACC history to finish her collegiate career with over 1,400 points, 900 rebounds and 250 blocks.

“They’re an up-tempo kind of team,” Black said when asked about Connecticut. “They love to run. They’ve got veterans in both areas, on the wing and the post. That’s great. They’re a great team.”

With their second pick, 17th overall, the Sun chose Lyndra Littles, a 6-foot-1 forward out of Virginia who averaged 20.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Littles finished fourth all-time in UVA history with 1,889 points, and fifth all-time with 887 rebounds.

“I think I’ll contribute wherever they need,” Littles said when asked about her versatility. “Whether it’s on the defensive end or the offensive end, I will probably be that player, if someone gets in foul trouble at the four (power forward), ‘Lyndra, we need you to go in there and play the four, or the three or the two.’ I think it benefits a team to have somebody on the team like that. Whatever the circumstances, they know they can have someone come in and play that position.”

Black is a native of Winston-Salem, N.C. who graduated from East Forsyth. She leaves Duke ranked second in program history with 995 career rebounds and 261 career blocks, and eighth all-time in scoring (1,438 points) and field goals (565). Her total blocks were sixth best in ACC history, and she ranks 19th in career rebounds.

In the third round, with the 36th overall pick, the Sun selected Alba Torrens of Spain. The 6-foot-4 forward/center is the starting forward on the Spanish National Team and is now playing with Real Club Celta Indepo. She has averaged 11.2 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game in five professional seasons in Spain.

The Sun will open the 2009 season with back-to-back games, hosting the Washington Mystics on Saturday, June 6th at 4 p.m. before visiting the New York Liberty the following afternoon in a rematch of last year’s WNBA Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.

Connecticut Sun season ticket plans are on sale and can be reserved by calling a Sun Ticket Sales Representative at 1.877.SUN.TIXX, e-mailing the Sun at tickets@connecticutsun.com or visiting www.connecticutsun.com.