Interview with Asjha Jones
April 1, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Connecticut Sun News Release
Q: When do you expect to be back in the states?
A: My last game is May 8th, so I should be on a plane the next day headed back.
Q: What is the competition like in Italy and what is it like to play over there?
A: It's great because instead of only playing 20 minutes a game in Washington, I am playing 40 minutes a game and my team really depends on me. The competition is very difficult, with a lot of American players in it.
Q: How have you adjusted to Italy from a social standpoint?
A: We spend a lot of time playing, but the adjustment to Italy has been easier compared to my previous off-season when I was playing in Russia.
Q: Where exactly is your team based in Italy?
A: We're in Alessandria, Italy, which is about 50 minutes driving distance from Milan.
Q: How are you handling the Italian language?
A: Not so well (laughter). I am more of a numbers person, so the language thing kind of goes in one ear and out the other. I can do enough to order food and understand what I am supposed to do on the court, but if you want to have a conversation I am not the person.
Q: Do you feel you will be ready to handle the up-tempo game that Coach Thibault and the Sun like to play?
A: That's my history. At UConn that was our game, in Washington we tried to run a lot and even with my team over here in Italy we try to push the ball for easy baskets and get out on the break. So I feel my experience will have me ready for that.
Q: Do you see any players over there in Europe that would fit in with the WNBA?
A: From every team there are always a couple of really good players. The league is very strong, so I think that there are a lot of players here who could play.
Q: So there are some prospects there?
A: Yeah.
Q: Have you been able to follow you alma mater (UConn) with their run back to the FinalFour and how do you feel about that?
A: I try to follow as best I can but on satellite they only show the men's games, so I got to see the men beat Alabama the other day. On the internet I check to see how far they've gone, who they've beaten and stuff like that.
Q: Three years into the league, what do you feel you still have to work on as far as your game goes?
A: Last year, I started to be more consistent with everything. As I get more experience the game will come more natural and I won't have to think as much, but just go out and play. It will also be more natural to understand how other people play and what it takes to play at this level.
Q: Are you surprised that you got traded?
A: Well I mean it's never a surprise, last year there were a lot of rumors about it. In Washington there are so many forwards, so I think that someone had to go and it was me. I am happy about the trade, I think I need to get more time playing and get more experience playing.
Q: What was your family's reaction when they found out you were traded back to Connecticut?
A: They were excited. The love Connecticut, they love the fans and they made a lot of friends out there when I was playing for Connecticut.
Q: What do you think the Sun need to do to be able to overcome (their nemesis) Detroit?
A: I am not really sure what happened between the two teams last year, so I can't really comment on that.
Q: What do you know about the other players on the Sun and how do you feel you will fit in role-wise with the team?
A: I know they traded their point guard, Pee Wee (Johnson), and with her being such an integral part of the team, I think the whole team is going to be a little different. Nykesha (Sales) used to come down to practice and play against us when I was at Connecticut and kill us. I have played against Taj (McWilliams-Franklin) a few times here in Italy and she has become a friend from our experience in Italy. I also played against Brooke Wyckoff in the FIBA league. So, I feel I have had some experience with a few players on the team.
Q: How do you see fitting in with that bunch as far as starting?
A: I am not really thinking about starting right now. I am thinking about playing the up-tempo game, run the break the way Coach Thibault wants us to and help inside any way that I can. Whatever he asks me to do.
Q: Was it a tough decision for you to sign off on the trade?
A: Yeah it was. I loved my teammates in Washington. We had a tough season on the court with only nine wins, but off the court we had a lot of fun and it is always tough to leave good friends. Also, with a new coach coming in I was curious to see how things were going to go. But also it is a business and I did the right thing for me.
Q: What was your relationship like with (former Mystics) coach (Marianne) Stanley?
A: I think I have a good relationship with everyone. We just had a tough season. A lot of things just didn't go our way and you can't just blame the coach, there were a lot of different problems that hurt us.
Q: Coach Thibault is a pretty tough coach. What have you heard and how do you look forward to playing for Coach T?
A: I went to school at Uconn, so I don't see practice being more difficult than there. And if they were, then the team would have been worn out and wouldn't have made it to the playoffs. So I feel whatever he is doing is a good job because the team made it to the playoffs.
Q: You played at UConn with their great fans and also with Washington who has one of the best fan support in the league. Can you compare the fans of the two different areas?
A: In Washington they would come to have a party; I am not sure if they were there for the game or to hang out with each other. In Connecticut you can't walk around without somebody recognizing you. They are both great, but a little bit different. It's two great places to play.
Q: Did you did any community service or appearances in Washington?
A: I did. It was tough because during the season we sometimes play four games a week and I didn't spend my off-season there, but I tried to get out as much as I could. We did a lot of stuff with children and they were always excited to see us and we had a really good time.
Q: What have you most tried to work on in the past few months?
A: My rebounding and just getting more aggressive in the paint. I think I am just trying to learn the mentality to go along with talent to succeed in this league.
Q: Are you talking mainly about offense?
A: Offense and defense, you can't just do one or the other at this level, you have to be able to do both.
Q: So many of the Sun games this past season has come down to the last second, what are you doing to mentally prepare for the end of the game situation where every play means so much?
A: It's all about preparation. With the practices being so tough, I feel we will learn all that. Trusting each other as teammates and learning how to play with each other, especially in the end of a game. I think all that stuff will come together.
Q: Two years in the league no, how do you feel you have come along?
A: Last year I got a chance to play and felt like I did a really good job, so I am just going to try and take off right where I left off and just try to grow more as I play.
Q: Do you feel it helped having to step in when (Mystics forward Chamique) Holdsclaw was hurt?
A: Yeah, whenever you get the opportunity to be on the court and be a major part of everything, if you welcome that experience, you will grow as a player.
Q: Knowing how physical the WNBA is, how do you think Diana Taurasi will fare when she shows up?
A: She will thrive in that environment. Diana's a tough kid and the tougher the games, the tougher she plays. She will get out there and talk to you and do whatever she has to do to win the game. I think that on that level she is going to be great.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from April 1, 2004
- Sting to Hold Auditions for Hip-Hop Spirit Squad - Charlotte Sting
- Seattle Storm announce 2004 Dance Troupe auditions - Seattle Storm
- Interview with Asjha Jones - Connecticut Sun
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