Haley Peters (No. 7) of the Connecticut Sun is living proof to never give up on dreams. (Photo: Connecticut Sun)
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — A year ago, Haley Peters was in the stands at Barclays Center, watching WNBA games as a fan.
Now, she’s suiting up for the Connecticut Sun and making the most of every moment on the court.
“I try to think about it or keep it in mind every time we’re playing a game,” Peters said. “Just reminding myself that a year ago, it wasn’t even—there were no guarantees that I would be in this situation.”
That situation—being back in the WNBA after six years away—is something Peters doesn’t take lightly. Her return is more than a roster addition; it’s a full-circle moment and a testament to persistence, personal growth, and unwavering commitment.
“I was watching games from the stands in New York,” she said. “And now I get to be on the court and playing and doing what I love.”
During her years away from the league, Peters built a respected career overseas, where she also played under current Sun head coach Rachid Meziane. The physicality of the WNBA and the speed of the game have presented new challenges, but her overseas experience gave her a renewed understanding of the game.
Haley peters and Connecticut Sun head coach Rachid Meziane have a strong rapport in bringing a fresh basketball style to the WNBA. (Photo: Connecticut Sun)
“I think it’s been a process,” Peters said. “I’ve grown a lot while playing over in Europe for sure. The physicality and the level of athleticism is second to none here… but I understand the game a lot more than I did maybe five or six years ago. I think I can use that to my advantage—or that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
Her familiarity with Meziane’s coaching style has helped the transition.
“He’s a coach who really lets players play,” she said. “And I think that’s probably why he fits well in the WNBA. He’s always had teams with really good individual players, and those people have freedom to play their game—especially offensively.”
That understanding of Meziane’s expectations made Peters a valuable asset from day one.
“I know how he is, how he communicates, what he’s looking for, what he likes to run offensively,” Peters said. “So just trying to use those things to my advantage… to be ready to play from early on has been helpful.”
Connecticut’s roster features a mix of emerging talent and seasoned veterans, and Peters has naturally taken on a leadership role with the team’s rookies and young standouts, including Saniya Rivers, Jacy Sheldon, Aneesah Morrow and Rayah Marshall.
“I just try to talk with them, communicate things that I think they’re capable of doing,” she said. “Especially with Saniya and Jacy because they’re guards, and so you always have a relationship between guards and post players… and trying to set each other up.”
She’s not just impressed by their talent—but by their willingness to grow.
“All of them are just incredibly talented and really coachable,” Peters said. “They really want to learn. They really want to grow.”
That attitude is already translating to the court.
Haley Peters (No. 7) is making the most of her return to the WNBA as a determined, versatile player on and off the court. (Photo: Connecticut Sun)
“You’ve seen already in the month or however long the season has been going on, how much they’ve grown and are stepping into pretty big roles early on,” she said. “So it’s cool to see and it’s fun to see for me now, at this point in my career.”
Mentorship has become a priority for her.
“I know that I’m not going to play for 10 more years,” Peters said. “So as much as I can give it back, pay it forward—it’s something that I enjoy doing.”
Maintaining consistency is vital through the WNBA grind. Peters leans into mindfulness and creativity to keep herself focused and centered.
“I always like to listen to music. I like to read,” she said. “I’ve gotten big into meditation and mindfulness in the last five or six years, and that helps me a lot—helps me stay centered and focused on what’s going on and how I can perform at my best.”
Her practice doesn’t guarantee perfection—but it gives her space to reset.
“You don’t always get there,” she said. “But it definitely has helped me get there more often than I did before, for sure.”
Peters has carved her own path in basketball, with few longtime mentors or stable rosters guiding her way.
“I’ve sort of had a nomadic career, a nomadic journey from team to team,” she said. “Maybe I had some European teammates who helped me out… but there’s no one person that comes to mind.”
Still, she credits her development to the coaches and support staff who kept her on track.
“I’ve had coaches or mental performance people who have helped me grow,” she said. “Coaches who pushed me and helped me progress in my career.”
While the Sun have had some early-season growing pains, Peters sees a team with the right mindset to bounce back.
“We’ve struggled a little bit through the beginning of the season, but we have people who want to win in our locker room,” she said. “It’s not always going to be perfect, but I think we’re going to find our way because of that.”
She’s noticed the energy her younger teammates bring—an energy that feeds into the culture.
“Figuring out how we can make things work as a team is important,” she added. “You see the energy the young players bring into the building—day by day—and it’s contagious.”
And that chemistry extends onto the floor.
Haley Peters (No. 7) can be counted on to galvanize her Connecticut Sun teammates. (Photo: Connecticut Sun)
“You can feel it in the gym when we play at home,” she said. “It’s really a great atmosphere and a great crowd to play in front of.”
Born in New Jersey, Peters is enjoying playing closer to home for the first time in her career.
“It’s been a long time that I haven’t been able to play this close to home,” she said. “So it’s really exciting for me.”
The support from Connecticut’s fans reminds her of her experience in Europe.
“There’s sort of a great fan base who is really supportive regardless of the ups and downs of a season,” she said. “I’m grateful that that’s the situation here.”
Away from the game, Peters is a world traveler and polyglot who’s also found time to catch waves.
“I know how to surf. I’m not that great at it, but it is something I like to do in the offseason,” she said. “And I love to travel—I’ve played in Europe for 10 years and I’ve learned how to speak four languages.”
Her music tastes also reflect her eclectic, international perspective.
“Number one is Tems for sure,” she said. “Then Burna Boy and… I’ll say Lauryn Hill.”
Haley Peters can lean on a veteran teammate like Tina Charles (No. 31) when she’s on the floor with her Connecticut Sun teammates. (Photo: Connecticut Sun)
In a league with just 156 roster spots, returning to the W is no easy feat. Peters knows how rare this opportunity is, and she embraces every game as a gift.
“This league is one of the hardest in the world to play in,” she said. “Just because of how few roster spots there are and how few teams there are.”
That understanding keeps her grounded through the inevitable ups and downs of the season.
“As soon as you start a season, you sort of get into the highs and lows of performance,” Peters said. “But I try to keep that perspective consistently.”
Her final message is a simple one, rooted in gratitude.
“It’s been so special for me to be close to family and friends,” she said. “As the season goes on, to have more and more of them come to games—it’s a really special experience. So I’m just really grateful to be able to share it with them.”
