I’ve simply introduced that I’m going again to the place it began and shall be taking part in for Indiana. Mentally, I’m good. I’m blissful. I’ve a tremendous household on either side, my spouse and my aspect 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 blissful that I’m in a position to nonetheless play and nonetheless benefit from the recreation that I like.
I used to be drafted by the Fever in 2014 because the No. 5 decide. Wanting again, I’d inform my youthful self to only hold working as a result of that’s what obtained you right here. Don’t take no shortcuts. And I’m actually happy with you for being affected person and having an open thoughts. Option to stick with, approach to maintain your self collectively when it got here to powerful conditions.
Again then, I obtained to play with the legendary Tamika Catchings, and I nonetheless bear in mind what she’d inform me, whilst a rookie: “Do all the things game-like, as a result of whenever you do all the things game-like, it’s going to be straightforward within the recreation.” I nonetheless carry that with me, and all the things that I do, I simply go onerous. Should you half a– one thing, excuse my language, you’re going to try this within the recreation. So, my mindset is don’t reduce your self quick as a result of the following individual shall be ready to take your spot.
My time spent in Dallas was cool. It was one thing completely different for me as a result of I’m so used to taking part in in arenas, so coming to Dallas was utterly completely different. Don’t get me fallacious, individuals obtained to start out the place they do, however taking part in in a school enviornment, not even having your personal locker room, was utterly completely 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 on the lookout for a workforce that might recognize me and what I carry to the desk and received’t dim my gentle. That’s the factor: I’ve to take care of that rather a lot. Although 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 wished a workforce that may give me the popularity that I want and, on high of that, simply ensuring that I’m blissful. 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 away from bed, looking for that power. General, I actually simply need to be blissful, have nice individuals round me and teammates that need to work and get higher.
When individuals first meet me, we click on immediately. I’ve had individuals inform me, Tash you’re cool, however on the basketball courtroom, I assumed you was an a-hole. It may appear that manner 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 aspect. However off the courtroom I’m goofy, I’m myself. I’m a tough employee, too, and no matter I’ve happening off the courtroom, I go away it there. I don’t carry it to work. After I informed Kelsey Mitchell blissful birthday, she was like, “Thanks a lot. You’re a certainly one of a sort on this League. That’s the explanation 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 day-after-day and add one thing new to my recreation day-after-day. 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 recreation one of the simplest ways I can so my profession can last more, but in addition simply being current within the second and having enjoyable. I don’t know after 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 movement. I don’t actually have any objectives set for myself this 12 months in addition to the workforce although. My focus is successful a championship and getting my fourth ring. That’d be beautiful.
To do this takes dedication and onerous work. You’ll be able to’t take days off for those who’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 onerous 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 Chicken broke her nostril. It was a freak accident.
I simply need to simply hold working onerous, do the issues that I’d do after I obtained these championships and convey it to the following workforce. I have a look at my rings and I’m like, I want 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 certainly one of these. It takes onerous work.
I’ve been counting down the times to announce the place I’m going subsequent. To Fever followers: I’m excited.
