Virginia’s Littles is Connecticut-bound

Even a bad dose of big-city traffic could not keep Debbie Ryan from making a stop in Secaucus, N.J., on Thursday.

Without question, it was a memory that will stick with Virginia’s legendary women’s basketball for eternity.

Having watched forward Lyndra Littles persevere throughout a tumultuous career that appeared headed in numerous directions at numerous times, Ryan grinned from ear to ear as her former player was drafted in the second round by the Connecticut Sun.

“It was great to have coach Ryan there with me,” Littles said. “It was a great experience for me and for her because she knows what I went through.

“The University of Virginia, my teammates and the fans that came to our games meant so much to me.”

Littles’ selection was later than originally expected, but Virginia’s leading scorer heard her name called as the Sun selected her 17th overall.

It was a dream come true for Littles, a native of Washington, D.C.

But a bigger goal awaits — the former Wahoo must make the Sun roster, something that is not given after the WNBA reduced rosters from 13 players to 11 for the upcoming season.

“You can never predict the future,” Littles said. “It’s not go time when I get to training camp, it’s go time now for me.”

Littles was the lone Cavalier selected, perhaps a blessing for center Aisha Mohammed as she can use her agent to find the best spot for a tryout in the WNBA or overseas.

Littles, who is flying back to Charlottesville today to be in class, was one of 15 players invited to the draft festivities and endured a Brady Quinn-like moment as she waited to be selected.

It was projected that she would be taken in the first round, but Littles slipped to the second round to the Sun, which also drafted Duke center Chante Black in the first round.

“It was so exciting,” Littles said. “Before the draft, you are constantly guessing and speculating on what might happen, but to know where I am going is a special thing.

“I can’t wait to get there, meet new people and try to make an instant impact.”