By JOHN ALTAVILLA for the Hartford Courant

Renee Montgomery returned to the floor as UConn’s point guard last week — at practice Friday.

She has effectively made the transition from a first-team All-American to a WNBA rookie and perhaps top-ranked UConn’s No.1 fan.

“I can act like a real fan now,” she said. “It’s so weird for me. I’m a big part of this right now. I can relate to how all the fans feel, how they always feel when they are watching. After it’s over, you feel like, ‘Whew, we did it.’ I’m invested in all of this right now.”

Montgomery will continue to be a big part of the Connecticut sports scene when she debuts — with Tina Charles — with the Connecticut Sun in May. The Sun traded the second pick in the WNBA draft and Lindsay Whalen for Montgomery and the first pick, with which they’re expected to take Charles.

But until camp starts, she will be focusing on the Huskies.

“The guards have done a good job of not worrying about replacing me,” Montgomery said. “The main thing they had to worry about was helping us win. And they’ve done that. And they took a difficult task and made it seem so simple. Everyone came together and decided that just because a senior left doesn’t mean we couldn’t win a national championship.

“You can tell what’s going on by listening to them talking in practice. They talk to each other, help each other and those who may not understand what’s happening.”

Montgomery has also been branching out as an analyst on ESPN telecasts and a model of athletic gear.

“I’m just working out, lifting, trying to stay in shape,” she said. “Not so much basketball stuff, when I’m not here [at UConn]. I don’t think I’ll be going back to Europe [to play] for the time being; but you never say never.

“But I am going to San Antonio for the Final Four.”

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-uconn-women-notebook-0228.artfeb28,0,3871482.story