Mohegan – Among the (many) things the Connecticut Sun have missed since trading point guard Lindsay Whalen in 2010 is her agressiveness driving to the rim and her innate ability to know where to pass the ball.

Watching Sun rookie Chelsea Gray play in Wednesday's 86-65 exhibition win over the Chinese Olympic Team was enough to make longtime observers remember fondly what Whalen once brought to the team, and what Gray can bring to it.

“It's a great analysis because she's a big, strong point guard, so she likes to get in there, and she can finish,” Connecticut coach Anne Donovan said. “And she's so good at spreading the floor, seeing the floor, that those lanes are going to open up us like with Lindsay. It's one of the reasons we loved her last year, the size (5-foot-11, 170 pounds).”

Gray made 4 of 7 field goals for 10 points with four assists in 13 minutes off the bench.

“(I'm) a point guard that likes to push the floor and give people good looks,” Gray said. “I like to push it in transition. If they (the defense) collapse on the posts, and when a shot is available, I'll take it, but I'm looking to get everything started for everybody else.”

Donovan said, “I don't like comparing players to the men's game. I'm just not a big fan of that, but Magic Johnson, you cannot help but draw comparisions there. She sees the floor so well. She gets off on the assists, not on the bucket, but she's capable of scoring.”

Comparisions to Magic Johnson and Lindsay Whalen.

Try to keep reasonable expectations, Sun fans.

“She's got a lot to her game, and with limited experience,” Donovan said.

Connecticut drafted Gray in the first round (11th overall) in the 2014 draft even though she'd be unable to play last season. She dislocated her right kneecap while playing at Duke in February 2014. She was the Co-ACC Player of the Year as a junior, and averaged 10.8 points and 7.18 assists in 17 games her senior year.

Gray is back healthy again. She went to Israel in December and played for Hapoel Rishon Le-Zion.

The Sun aren't going to rush Gray. They traded for point guard Jasmine Thomas during April's draft to help with the process. There's also Alex Bentley, who ran the point last season, which gives Connecticut some flexibilty at guard.

“I love it,” Donovan said. “Alex is back to her natural position, which is the two guard, and we have two natural point guards with Jas and Chelsea. I love the combination. Jas started off really well offensively for us tonight. It takes the pressure off of Chelsea right out of the gate and she's good coming off the bench, setting the floor, and knowing the areas she can attack.”

Like driving the lane, something not every point guard is willing to do.

“Yes, but not every guard in this league has that body and has that strength behind it,” Donovan said. “She's going to be able to withstand the contact and be able to create some things for us, but she'd rather pass it. And that the beauty of it. Like Whalen.”

Second-year forward Alyssa Thomas made all 8 of her shots for 18 points for the Sun. Third-year center Kelsey Bone had 8 points and 7 rebounds and Bentley scored 18.

Forwards Chiney Ogwumike and Kelsey Griffin and guard Allison Hightower didn't dress for the game. Ogwumike had microfracture surgery on her right knee in January, and Hightower had cartilage removed from her right knee in March.

Griffin's injury is a new one. Donovan said her hip has been bothering her and that she's getting it checked out.

Asked if she was worried about Griffin's hip, Donovan said, “Of course, When we were in Louisville (last weekend), Kelsey, Kelly (Faris) and Gray coming off the bench gave us tremendous energy. We're missing that. We don't really have another four outside of Camille (Little). We'll be anxious to get her back.”

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED