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 completely satisfied. I’ve a tremendous household on either 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 completely satisfied that I’m capable of nonetheless play and nonetheless benefit from the sport that I like.
I used to be drafted by the Fever in 2014 because the No. 5 choose. Wanting again, I might inform my youthful self to only hold working as a result of that’s what acquired 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 robust conditions.
Again then, I acquired 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 every thing game-like, as a result of while you do every thing game-like, it’s going to be straightforward within the sport.” I nonetheless carry that with me, and every thing that I do, I simply go laborious. In the event 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 brief as a result of the subsequent particular person 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 fallacious, folks acquired to start out the place they do, however taking part in in a school area, not even having your individual locker room, was fully totally different. My first season was wonderful and I’m grateful for every thing 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 on the lookout for a group that might admire me and what I deliver to the desk and received’t dim my gentle. That’s the factor: I’ve to cope with that loads. 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 want and, on high of that, simply ensuring that I’m completely satisfied. I wish to get up, like, Woo, I really feel good! Right this moment I’m going to work, I’m about to be with my teammates. I don’t wish to be dragging away from bed, looking for that power. General, I actually simply wish to be completely satisfied, have nice folks round me and teammates that wish to work and get higher.
When folks first meet me, we click on straight away. I’ve had folks inform me, Tash you’re cool, however on the basketball courtroom, I believed you was an a-hole. It might sound that approach as a result of on the courtroom, we’re in-between the traces. 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 depart it there. I don’t deliver it to work. After I advised Kelsey Mitchell completely satisfied 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 wish to get higher every single day and add one thing new to my sport every single day. Be extra constant on simply taking pictures the ball higher as a result of this previous season, I didn’t actually shoot the three ball that a lot. I wish to hold elevating my sport the easiest way I can so my profession can last more, but additionally simply being current within the second and having enjoyable. I don’t know after I’m going to hold it up, so I wish to simply take each second and take it daily. Don’t rush nothing. I’m simply going with the circulate. I don’t actually have any targets set for myself this 12 months in addition to the group although. My focus is successful a championship and getting my fourth ring. That’d be beautiful.
To try this takes dedication and laborious work. You may’t take days off when you’re making an attempt to be on the mountain. That’s one factor that I didn’t do after 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 straightforward in any respect, we battled accidents left and proper, like when Lindsay Whalen was taking part in with a damaged hand. Once we received in 2018, Sue Hen broke her nostril. It was a freak accident.
I simply wish to simply hold working laborious, do the issues that I might do after I acquired these championships and produce it to the subsequent group. I take a look at my rings and I’m like, I want one other one. I used to be displaying 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.
