For Mountaineer alumna Bria Holmes, 2018 was an interesting year. In January, Holmes announced she would miss the WNBA season, as she prepared to welcome her first child. In April, while on maternity leave, she was traded from the team that made her West Virginia's highest draft pick in program history in 2016. However, her biggest announcement came in August when she announced the birth of her baby girl, Diona.
 
Thus far, 2019 is one new beginning. As she celebrated her first Mother's Day, Holmes headed off to WNBA training camp for the third season. Though she was reporting to a new team, it was in a familiar place, as the New Haven native would play for the Connecticut Sun, her home state team.
 
"It's an unreal feeling," said Holmes. "I never thought I would be back playing for my home state in front of all my family and friends. I'm so thankful and blessed for this opportunity, and I'm glad my daughter is here to witness it all."
 
In two seasons with the Atlanta Dream, Holmes, a 6-1 guard, was a key reserve who started just under half the games she played in, averaging 7.6 points per game in her first professional season. But stepping away from the game for any reason, particularly a pregnancy, can be scary. What happens to your spot on the team? Can your body bounce back? How do you be a mom and a basketball player? Trades also are a daunting part of professional sports for the athletes involved. A trade while on leave from the team is even scarier.
 
Luckily for Holmes, the Sun proved to be a great opportunity for her family. She would play her home games at Mohegan Sun Arena, less than an hour from her old gym at Hillhouse High, where her jersey was recently raised to the rafters. More importantly, her boyfriend and Diona would be joined in the stands by both of Diona's grandmothers on a regular basis.  
 
"I was filled with so much joy (when I learned where I was going)," said Holmes. "God works in mysterious ways because everything worked out perfectly. With me being from New Haven and my boyfriend from Hartford, we were going to have all the help with the baby during the season. It just felt great to be coming back home."
 
Pressure is nothing new to Holmes. A three-time unanimous All-Big 12 selection and two-time All-America honorable mention, she is arguably West Virginia's most notable player during her tenure in Morgantown. Holmes graduated as one of the school's all-time greats, ranking third in career scoring. However, a baby can add a wrench to even the best-laid plans. Practice and playbooks are balanced by diapers and bottles. Holmes has chosen to use this new pressure as motivation.
 
"I would say my attitude has definitely changed. I don't think a lot of people realize how hard it is to have a baby and come back not knowing if you'll ever be the same. Each and every night, my daughter reminds me of why I play. (It's) all because of her. She makes me better every day."
 
Holmes and the Sun are 2-0 on the season thus far. After seeing just over six minutes of action in an 84-69 win over the Washington Mystics on Saturday, she hit three field goals for seven points in an 88-77 triumph over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday.
 
The Connecticut Sun are set to face the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday in a 10:30 p.m. ET tipoff at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Follow the action here.