I’ve simply introduced that I’m going again to the place it began and will probably be enjoying for Indiana. Mentally, I’m good. I’m blissful. I’ve a tremendous household on each 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 capable of 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 choose. Wanting again, I might inform my youthful self to simply preserve working as a result of that’s what received you right here. Don’t take no shortcuts. And I’m actually happy with you for being affected person and having an open thoughts. Technique to follow, method to maintain your self collectively when it got here to powerful conditions.
Again then, I received to play with the legendary Tamika Catchings, and I nonetheless bear in mind what she’d inform me, at the same time as a rookie: “Do every little thing game-like, as a result of while you do every little thing game-like, it’s going to be simple within the recreation.” I nonetheless carry that with me, and every little thing that I do, I simply go laborious. When 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 subsequent particular person will probably 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 enjoying in arenas, so coming to Dallas was utterly completely different. Don’t get me mistaken, folks received to begin the place they do, however enjoying in a university enviornment, not even having your individual locker room, was utterly completely different. My first season was high-quality and I’m grateful for every little 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 searching for a staff that will respect me and what I deliver to the desk and gained’t dim my mild. That’s the factor: I’ve to take care of that loads. Though 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 staff that can give me the popularity that I want and, on high of that, simply ensuring that I’m blissful. I wish to get up, like, Woo, I really feel good! As we speak 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 vitality. General, I actually simply wish to be blissful, have nice folks round me and teammates that wish 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 court docket, I assumed you was an a-hole. It may appear that method as a result of on the court docket, we’re in-between the traces. There’s a distinction. Once I’m on that court docket, like, nah, we ain’t cool. We ain’t buddy buddy. You the enemy. You on the opposite aspect. However off the court docket I’m goofy, I’m myself. I’m a tough employee, too, and no matter I’ve happening off the court docket, I go away it there. I don’t deliver it to work. Once I informed Kelsey Mitchell blissful birthday, she was like, “Thanks a lot. You’re a one in every 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 wish to get higher on daily basis and add one thing new to my recreation on daily basis. 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 preserve elevating my recreation one of the best 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 once I’m going to hold it up, so I wish to simply take each second and take it day-to-day. Don’t rush nothing. I’m simply going with the circulation. I don’t actually have any objectives set for myself this 12 months in addition to the staff although. My focus is profitable a championship and getting my fourth ring. That’d be pretty.
To do this takes dedication and laborious work. You possibly can’t take days off should you’re attempting to be on the mountain. That’s one factor that I didn’t do once I gained 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 enjoying with a damaged hand. After we gained in 2018, Sue Chook broke her nostril. It was a freak accident.
I simply wish to simply preserve working laborious, do the issues that I might do once I received these championships and produce it to the subsequent staff. I have 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 every of 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.
