Uncasville, CT (April 12, 2023) – The Connecticut Sun has signed Caitlin Bickle, Jayla Everett and Khallia Hillsman to training camp contracts, the team announced today.
Bickle comes to Connecticut after finishing her collegiate career at Baylor University. The 6-1 forward returned for her fifth year of eligibility during the 2022-23 season, averaging a career-high 11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She helped lead the Lady Bears to a 20-13 record and to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Bickle played all five seasons with Baylor, where she leaves a National Champion (2019), All-Big 12 Second Team (2023), Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2023), Big 12 All-Rookie Team (2019) and a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team member.
Everett, a St. Louis, Missouri native, joins the Sun after finishing her collegiate career with St. John’s. The 5-10 guard used her final year of eligibility with the Red Storm after playing two seasons with Pittsburgh (2020-2022) and two seasons with New Mexico (2018-2020). At St John’s, Everett averaged a team-best 16.0 points and 1.2 steals per contest, along with 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists each game. She was a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team, as well as a seven-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honoree throughout the 2022-23 season. Everett led St. John’s to the best start in the program’s history (13-0) as well the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016.
Hillsman, a 6-5 center out of Texas A&M, has made training camp appearances for the Seattle Storm (2018) and Atlanta Dream (2022). The Chicago native logged minutes in two preseason contests for the Storm, before ultimately being waived prior to the 2018 season. She has also enjoyed great success overseas, most recently playing for Turkish club, Antalya 07, where she averaged 18.1 points, 15.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 blocks during the 2022-23 season. Hillsman has also played in Hungary, Poland and Russia since graduating from Texas A&M in 2018.
The Connecticut Sun tip of the 2023 season on Friday, May 19 at the Indiana Fever at 7:00PM EST.
Established in 2003, the Connecticut Sun is a professional women’s basketball team in the Women’s National Basketball Association that takes residence at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.connecticutsun.com or call 1-877-SUN-TIXX.
###