Connecticut Signs Bria Hartley

By Bob Phillips

UNCASVILLE—The Connecticut Sun announced today that the team has signed guard Bria Hartley to a rest of season contract. Per team policy, no details were released.

The former University of Connecticut star was selected by the Seattle Storm with the seventh overall pick in 2014 WNBA Draft, then traded to the Washington Mystics on draft day. In her eight-year career, Hartley has played three seasons with Washington and the New York Liberty, two seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, and in 10 games this season for the Indiana Fever.

In the WNBA, she has averaged 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.1 blocks per game. During the 2021 season, Hartley worked her way back from a season-ending knee injury in Aug. 2020, appearing in six regular games and ten playoff contests for Phoenix. In 2020, Hartley averaged 14.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game for the Mercury.

Hartley is a two-time NCAA national champion with the University of Connecticut (2013, 2014). She was selected to the 2011-12 WBCA/State Farm All-America Team, becoming the 15th Husky all-time to receive the honor and only the fourth UConn sophomore to be recognized. She also picked up Associated Press Second All-American and USBWA All-America honors her senior season.

Hartley will wear No. 14, and will be available when the Sun are back in action Tuesday, July 19 to take on the New York Liberty at 11:30 a.m. EST at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Connecticut Sun is celebrating its 20th Anniversary as a franchise this year. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit www.connecticutsun.com.

ABOUT BRIA

*Seven-year WNBA player having spent three seasons with Washington, three with New York and one with Phoenix.

*Drafted by Seattle Storm with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft, then traded to the Washington Mystics on draft day…traded to New York on January 30, 2017…signed with Phoenix as a free agent on February 12, 2020.

*Named to the 2014 WNBA All-Rookie Team.

*Has appeared in 188 career regular season games, starting in 99 of them.

*Career averages of 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game entering 2021.

*Posted career highs in scoring (14.6 ppg) and assists (4.5 apg) in 2020, while shooting a career-bests in field goal percentage (42.0), three-point percentage (38.5) and free throw percentage (80.5).

*Scored a career-high 27 points on Aug. 2, 2020 against her former team, New York…second-most points off the bench in Mercury franchise history, trailing only DeWanna Bonner’s mark of 38 set in a triple-overtime game against Dallas on June 18, 2016…Hartley now owns two of the six highest scoring games by a reserve in franchise history (26 points on July 29 at Indiana).

*Matched the WNBA record for most games with at least 25 points off the bench in a season with two (Jia Perkins-2011, Riquna Williams-2013, Angel McCoughtry-2015, DeWanna Bonner-2016.

) *Dished a career-high nine assists on Aug. 19, 2020 against Los Angeles.

*Coming off the bench in the Mercury’s first 10 games of the season in 2020, set the WNBA record for most points off the bench in the first five games of the season with 91. (Previous record was 86 by Danielle Adams in 2011 with San Antonio.)

*Has appeared in four total playoff games, starting in three of them…career postseason averages of 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game

*Scored a career-high 27 points on Aug. 2, 2020, against her former team, New York…second-most points off the bench in Mercury franchise history, trailing only DeWanna Bonner’s mark of 38 set in a triple-overtime game against Dallas on June 18, 2016.

2022 SEASON

*Traded from Phoenix to Indiana in a three-team trade on Feb. 3, 2022.

2020 SEASON

*Appeared in 13 games for Phoenix in 2020, including three starts…Suffered a season ending knee injury on Aug. 28 against Washington, causing her to miss the Mercury’s final seven regular season games and two playoff games…missed two games on Aug. 6 and 8 with a foot injury

*Posted career highs in scoring (14.6 ppg) and assists (4.5 apg) in 2020, while shooting a career-bests in field goal percentage (42.0), three-point percentage (38.5) and free throw percentage (80.5).

*Scored a career-high 27 points on Aug. 2, 2020 against her former team, New York…second-most points off the bench in Mercury franchise history, trailing only DeWanna Bonner’s mark of 38 set in a triple-overtime game against Dallas on June 18, 2016…Hartley now owns two of the six highest scoring games by a reserve in franchise history (26 points on July 29 at Indiana).

*Coming off the bench in the Mercury’s first 10 games of the season in 2020, set the WNBA record for most points off the bench in the first five games of the season with 9. Previous record was 86 by Danielle Adams in 2011 with San Antonio.

*Matched the WNBA record for most games with at least 25 points off the bench in a season with two (Jia Perkins-2011, Riquna Williams-2013, Angel McCoughtry-2015, DeWanna Bonner-2016).

*Tallied 20+ points four times on the season after entering 2020 with only two in her career…tallied 10+ games in 10 of her 13 games on the season.

*Dished a career-high nine assists on Aug. 19, 2020, vs. Los Angeles…posted at least one assists in all but one game she appeared in on the season…finished with 5+ assists in nine games.

*Matched her career high in three-point field goals (four) twice in 2020…knocked down one three-pointer in all but one game during the season.

*In her first start of the season on Aug. 21 vs. Minnesota, she scored a game-high 24 points.

*At the time of her first missed game (Aug. 10) due to the season ending knee injury, ranked 10th in the league in assists (4.5 apg) and 19th in scoring (14.6 ppg).

2019 SEASON

*Appeared in 24 games for New York, starting in 18 of them…missed 10 games due to an overseas commitment.

*Averaged a career-best 9.8 points to go along with a career-high 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

*Shot a career-high 80.3 percent (53-of-66) from the charity stripe.

*Scored a season-high 18 points on Aug. 27 vs. Phoenix.

*Scored in double figures 11 times on the season, including four straight games of 15+ points from Aug. 20-Aug. 27.

*Matched her career high in assists (seven) on Aug. 7 at Chicago.

*Matched her career high in three-point field goals (four) on Aug. 11 vs. Seattle.

2018 SEASON

*Appeared in all 34 of New York’s games, and started in 20 contests.

*Averaged 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and a career-high 3.6 assists in 23.7 minutes per game.

*Scored a season-high 18 points against Phoenix on June 5—one-of-11 double-digit scoring performances on the season.

*Dished seven assists on July 5 at Washington, tying her career high.

*Tallied 121 assists on the season, the most in her career.

*Knocked down four three-pointers on June 5 vs. Phoenix, matching her career high in three-point field goals *Hit 36 three-pointers on the season, the second-most she’s made in a season in her career (38 in 2017.

2017 SEASON

*Appeared in all 34 games for New York, making 24 starts.

*Averaged 7.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Libs.

*Shot a career-high 41.6 percent (99-of-238) from the field.

*Scored in double figures 16 times on the season, including a season-high 17 points three times.

*Registered a season-high six assists on Aug. 20 vs. Minnesota.

*Knocked down a career-high 38 three-pointers on the season, the second-most by a Liberty player.

*Ranked 22nd in the WNBA in three-point shooting at 34.5 percent (38-of-110).

*Averaged 10.8 points per game and scored in double figures 12 times over the final 17 games of the season.

*Scored 15 points to go along with five assists in New York’s only playoff game on Sept. 10 vs. Washington. Finished 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.

2016: Played in 24 games, making 5 starts… Posted 6 games scoring in double figures… Made at least one 3-pointer in 15-of-24 games played, shooting .362 from 3-point range… Scored a season-high 17 points and nailed 4 3-point field goals in the season opener against the Liberty (5/14)… Grabbed a season-high 6 boards against Connecticut (5/21)… Dished out a career-best 7 assists against the Los Angeles Sparks (5/20)… Missed the final 12 games of the season to sit out due to pregnancy.

2015: Played in just 25 games this season…sat out the first six games of the regular season due to a right foot stress fracture…averaged 12.2 minutes per game…averaged 4.2 points per game…dished out 1.6 assists per game.

2014: Started in 29 games out of 34 games played…named to the WNBA All-Rookie team… fourth on the team and fifth amongst rookies in scoring with 9.7 points per game…had a 20-point performance in the Mystics triple overtime win over the Sparks on June 1…scored a new career high 26 points in an overtime loss against Seattle on June 22…averaged 27.1 minutes per game, fifth amongst rookies…dished out 3.1 assists per game, including a career high six assists in a loss to the Lynx on June 20.

INTERNATIONAL

*Member of the French national team that qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which will now take place in 2021.

*Played for Galatasary in Turkey during the 2019-20 WNBA offseason…averaged a team-high 19.9 points 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in Turkish League play and 19.3 points, 4.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds in EuroCup action.

*Spent the 2018-19 WNBA offseason playing for Fenerbahce in Turkey…averaged 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists during Turkish League play and 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in EuroLeague action.

*Spent the 2017-18 WNBA offseason playing for Mersin in Turkey…averaged a team-best 19.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 29 Turkish League games and 17.6 points, 4.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in EuroCup games.

*Played for Mersin during the 2015-16 WNBA offseason where she averaged 13.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 28 Turkish League games.

*Played for Uniqa Sopron in Hungary during the 2014-15 WNBA offseason…averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 26 games during Hungarian League play…averaged 12.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 10 EuroCup games.

COLLEGE

*Four-year standout at the University of Connecticut. *Two-time NCAA champion with UConn in 2013 and 2014. *Selected to the 2011-12 WBCA/State Farm All-America Team, becoming the 15th Husky all-time and only the fourth UConn sophomore to be honored on the squad.

*Finished her college career ranked seventh on UConn’s charts for most points (533) and assists (140) by a sophomore.

*Scored the fourth-most points by a UConn freshman (472) and became the 11th Husky all-time to be selected as the Big East Freshman of the Year.

PERSONAL

*Born Sept. 20, 1992, to Dennis and Simone Hartley in North Babylon, Long Island, NY.

*Majored in communications sciences at UConn.

*Earned a Suffolk Legislature proclamation for high academic achievement, community service and excellence in basketball.

*Mother to son Bryson, who was born in Jan. 2017.