Storm Training Camp: Rookie Experience
Multiple interviews with Seattle's rookies.
The Seattle Storm have five rookies in training camp, and that doesn’t even include Awa Fam, the 3rd overall pick in the WNBA Draft, who is still playing overseas in Spain. It’s a team filled with youngsters who are all adjusting to the pro league. It’s a major adjustment to make with such a short turnaround from the college season.
Training camp started nine days ago, and the team has played one preseason game. A highly competitive battle with the Golden State Valkyries. Ultimately, the Storm fell just short, losing that game 78-76, but it was a great experience for these players.
Before the team plays its first home (preseason) game on Wednesday, April 29th, against the Portland Fire, I spoke with some of the rookies about their experience so far. I talked with Elle Ladine, Taina Mair, Grace VanSlooten, and Jalyn “Ice” Brown about their first game, the chaos of coming to a WNBA training camp right after college, the differences they’ve experienced, and more.
On Playing in their First WNBA Game
“Oh, it was so surreal. It was a great experience, an amazing environment. The Valkyries, they have a great fan base. So it was just fun. I took it all in. I learned a lot. It was a blast.” Elle Ladine told me.
“Yeah, it was an amazing experience, obviously been dreaming about it since I was a young kid, and just finally to get on that floor with, how many fans they had there was just amazing. You know, I was really hype, really great environment. So that was really fun.” Grace VanSlooten said.
“Yeah, I mean, I thought it was a lot of fun to go out there and compete against other WNBA pros.” Taina Mair added.
“It’s surreal, honestly, I think, just to be in the environment and to be there, to be able to be for my teammates and watch them all succeed and do well. And I’ve seen them in training camp all week. Like, everybody’s been going hard, so to see them finally be able to let that frustration out on someone else. It’s really, really cool to watch. It’s really interesting to see how fast the game is, whether you’re in or out of the game, and I’m just absorbing everything.” Jalyn Brown answered.
On What Went Well and Areas to Improve Upon
“Oh yeah, obviously, this game of basketball, I’m always looking to improve. It never stops. You never stop trying to get better. And so, I’m just honestly watching the vets, how they communicate, them playing in the game. I think I learned a lot from that. Like they all take accountability. They’re trying to get better every possession, possession by possession. So watching that, I think I learned a lot from them. And honestly, going into the game, just like learning how to communicate with my teammates out there. I think I’m learning to slow down, going from college to pro, you kind of have to, a lot of people are athletic, fast, so speed doesn’t necessarily win a lot out here. You've got to slow down and manipulate the defense. So I’m learning that learning from all these great guards. But yeah, honestly, the first game just took it all in. It was such a great experience.” Ladine added.
“You know, I just went out there and told myself I was gonna play hard no matter what. I think that’s what I did. Those are the things that I can control right now. Just, you know, defense, playing hard, work ethic, things like that. So that’s what I’m focusing on. And then obviously, I just want to get better with my timing and everything. The game is so much faster than college. So, just getting used to that, getting used to the physicality. You know, obviously, perimeter game is really where I’m looking to improve on.” VanSlooten stated.
“I think for me it went well as part of my defense. I feel like I was super active, and I was in the spots where I was supposed to be. But, I think offensively, my offense will come, just making the right reads, slowing down a little bit.” Mair said.