I’ve simply introduced that I’m going again to the place it began and might be taking part in for Indiana. Mentally, I’m good. I’m joyful. I’ve a tremendous household on each side, my spouse and my facet of the household and I’m simply actually grateful that I’ve the chance to nonetheless play basketball as a result of lots of people don’t have the choice to play the sport that they love. I’m joyful that I’m capable of nonetheless play and nonetheless benefit from the sport that I really like.
I used to be drafted by the Fever in 2014 because the No. 5 choose. Trying again, I might inform my youthful self to simply hold working as a result of that’s what bought you right here. Don’t take no shortcuts. And I’m actually happy with you for being affected person and having an open thoughts. Solution to follow, method to maintain your self collectively when it got here to powerful conditions.
Again then, I bought to play with the legendary Tamika Catchings, and I nonetheless keep in mind what she’d inform me, at the same time as a rookie: “Do all the things game-like, as a result of while you do all the things game-like, it’s going to be simple within the sport.” I nonetheless carry that with me, and all the things that I do, I simply go laborious. In case you half a– one thing, excuse my language, you’re going to do this within the sport. So, my mindset is don’t reduce your self quick as a result of the subsequent individual might be ready to take your spot.
My time spent in Dallas was cool. It was one thing totally different for me as a result of I’m so used to taking part in in arenas, so coming to Dallas was fully totally different. Don’t get me mistaken, folks bought to begin the place they do, however taking part in in a school area, not even having your personal locker room, was fully totally different. My first season was effective and I’m grateful for all the things in Dallas.
Now, going into my twelfth season within the WNBA, I do know what I’m about. Throughout Free Company, I used to be in search of a group that may respect me and what I carry to the desk and received’t dim my mild. That’s the factor: I’ve to cope with that so much. Regardless that I bust my butt day in and day trip, I nonetheless don’t get the popularity that I deserve. I really feel like, this time round, I needed a group that can give me the popularity that I would like and, on high of that, simply ensuring that I’m joyful. I need to get up, like, Woo, I really feel good! At present I’m going to work, I’m about to be with my teammates. I don’t need to be dragging off the bed, looking for that power. Total, I actually simply need to be joyful, have nice folks round me and teammates that need to work and get higher.
When folks first meet me, we click on immediately. I’ve had folks inform me, Tash you’re cool, however on the basketball courtroom, I assumed you was an a-hole. It may appear that method as a result of on the courtroom, we’re in-between the strains. There’s a distinction. After I’m on that courtroom, like, nah, we ain’t cool. We ain’t buddy buddy. You the enemy. You on the opposite facet. However off the courtroom I’m goofy, I’m myself. I’m a tough employee, too, and no matter I’ve occurring off the courtroom, I go away it there. I don’t carry it to work. After I informed Kelsey Mitchell joyful birthday, she was like, “Thanks a lot. You’re a one in all a sort on this League. That’s the rationale why you and I are cool.” I actually appreciated that as a result of I by no means actually hear different gamers say something about me. That basically touched my coronary heart.
Proper now, I simply need to get higher daily and add one thing new to my sport daily. Be extra constant on simply capturing the ball higher as a result of this previous season, I didn’t actually shoot the three ball that a lot. I need to hold elevating my sport the easiest way I can so my profession can last more, but in addition simply being current within the second and having enjoyable. I don’t know once I’m going to hold it up, so I need to simply take each second and take it day-to-day. Don’t rush nothing. I’m simply going with the circulate. I don’t actually have any objectives set for myself this yr apart from the group although. My focus is successful a championship and getting my fourth ring. That’d be pretty.
To do this takes dedication and laborious work. You’ll be able to’t take days off in the event you’re making an attempt to be on the mountain. That’s one factor that I didn’t do once I received these three championships: I didn’t take days off. I didn’t care what number of minutes I performed, if I performed 5 minutes, I’m going laborious in these 5 minutes. These three championships didn’t come simple in any respect, we battled accidents left and proper, like when Lindsay Whalen was taking part in with a damaged hand. After we received in 2018, Sue Chicken broke her nostril. It was a freak accident.
I simply need to simply hold working laborious, do the issues that I might do once I bought these championships and convey it to the subsequent group. I have a look at my rings and I’m like, I would like one other one. I used to be exhibiting them to my son, I’m like, that is what it takes if you wish to get one in all these. It takes laborious work.
I’ve been counting down the times to announce the place I’m going subsequent. To Fever followers: I’m excited.
