Harvard alumna Temi Fagbenle mixes moviemaking, supporting role with WNBA debutants Golden State
Fagbenle returned to the W last year with the Indiana Fever, averaging 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds as if she had never left. The opportunity to perform on the big screen opened up at the same time.
Former college classmate
Chiwetel Ejiofor
,
Idris Elba
, and
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'When I found out that the 'Children of Blood and Bone' books were being turned into a movie, I was like, 'I have to be in this movie,' ' Fagbenle said.
She reached out to Adeyemi, then the film's director
Gina Prince-Bythewood
, whose résumé includes 2000 hoop-romance 'Love and Basketball,' '
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'Amazing director,' Fagbenle said.
And, as it turned out, a WNBA fan.
'Of course, I should have known with 'Love and Basketball', right?' Fagbenle said. 'Huge fan of the WNBA. So she already knew me because she's been following the W and seeing Indiana. She was happy that I reached out.'
Setting up the audition was as simple as an email to the casting director. Filming started in February and wrapped in June.
'I felt so lucky for that,' Fagbenle said. 'I did it and just went through the process and I got a role and I'm just so thankful.'
Between then, Fagbenle set out for San Francisco to join the Golden State Valkyries. She signed with the expansion franchise in April and is having a career year — 9.7 points and 5.9 assists — for a team that's been equal parts surprise and success story, winning nine of its first 16 games while attracting the largest crowds in the league.
'It's just been an amazing experience,' she said. 'The energy here of everyone, knowing that there's a new women's team, it's just electric.'
Fagbenle said she was grateful to have so many opportunities come together at once.
'I feel really blessed,' she said. 'It's obviously not without hard work. What's the saying? Luck is opportunity meets preparation. I feel I've gotten those opportunities, but I'm also very prepared. I've been preparing for all these moments, whether it's acting, whether it's being here on this team. I'm just really thankful for the journey in and out of the W.'
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Tina Charles and the Sun haven't found much easy in the first season after the team's roster was almost entirely turned over.
Michael Conroy/Associated Press
Sun are snowballing
The Connecticut Sun are 2-15 after losing a franchise record nine straight games. They've lost 11 games by double digits and eight by 20 or more, including
Before this brutal stretch, the team's longest losing streaks were seven-game skids in 2013 and 2015.
The Sun have their worst record through 17 games in franchise history, and it puts them in some bad company. None of the prior eight teams to start 2-15 or worse salvaged winning seasons. In fact, none finished with double-digit wins.
The Sun franchise, going back to its days as the Orlando Miracle, has never finished a season with fewer than 10 wins. It finished on that number in 2013 (10-24), then again in the 2020 season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic (10-12).
Last month, when the Sun earned their first and to-date
Rachid Meziane
was encouraged, but also realistic about how long it might take a completely new roster to jell.
'It will take time. I don't have a timeline in my head,' he said. 'We have to continue to practice hard. Maybe it will take one season. I don't know. Because even if we are improving our game, the other teams work too. So they will improve they're game too. So we just have to reduce the gap. When you have a young team like us, we don't have a deadline in mind. Just keep working. It's a long process for us.'
The Mercury have made more 3-pointers than any other team in the WNBA, and no one on Phoenix has made more than Sami Whitcomb.
Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press
Who's hooping?
Sami Whitcomb, Phoenix:
There isn't a hotter shooter in the league. Whitcomb is 22 of 43 (51.1 percent) from 3-point range her past five games, bouncing back after shooting a career-low 29.2 percent last season.
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Angel Reese, Chicago:
Four straight double-doubles. Four straight games with 15-plus rebounds. Reese averaged 17.3 points and 17.5 boards over that span, with 4.5 on the offensive glass (if 'mebounds' are your thing).
Appointment viewing
The Commissioner's Cup Final, Minnesota vs. Indiana, Tuesday, 8 p.m.:
The past two Cup finals have been WNBA Finals previews, and in 2022, the Aces beat the Sky and went on to win the title. Minnesota's not only looking to repeat as Cup champions, but it looks like a machine singularly focused on returning to the WNBA championship. Meanwhile, Indiana is hovering at .500 after losing three of its past five, and
Caitlin Clark
has missed the past two games with a left groin injury.
Julian Benbow can be reached at
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