����vlog

Yeah, I'm, I'm happy for her. I called her and talked to her on the phone. I think she probably put *** lot of thought into it and making this decision. So, um, I couldn't be more happy for her. I mean, I probably took *** couple of years off of her career, her having to coach me before. But no, I, I think, um, you know, the program is gonna be in *** really good place with coach J taking over somebody that's been very selfless, like has had *** lot of head coaching opportunities but has passed those up to help our program be *** lot better. So, um, I think having that common figure in the locker room for the girls that are still there and the recruits that are still there. Um, but I know coach gluer will still be around *** lot, so I'm happy for her. I know she's missed out on *** lot of family things and, you know, getting to see her sons last year of college basketball was important to her, so just happy and I know she'll enjoy it. Um, but yeah, Caitlin, it feels like we were just at the draft now that you're in here, that's not *** lot of time with the team. How is it feeling? I mean, I'm excited. I think this is the best way to do it. Just get out there and go for it. Um, you know, it doesn't really feel like my first game. Like, I feel like it's just kind of another basketball game that you prepare for in the same way. You always have obviously *** little different with *** different magnitude. But for me, it's like this is basketball, you just go play basketball, have fun doing it. And um I think the result will be good coach, there's still *** little bit of pressure here in this arena. They've sold out for the first time in over 20 years for their opening game. I didn't feel like to be in sold out crowd tonight. Yeah, I think it would be good. I mean, I don't think it's any different from college. Like I played in front of sold out crowds, literally every single game. So these environments don't, you know, scare me or impact me at all. I think it's just embrace it, enjoy it. I'm sure there will be just like *** lot of basketball fans here that really appreciate the game. So for myself, that's, you know, fun to play in front of co she talked about how she wasn't able to sleep last night, first game jitters. What is your nervous level like or just anxious to get out on the court tonight. Yeah, I think I, I mean, I slept really good, honestly. Uh I don't feel like nervous or really anxious. I think I'm just like excited more than anything and just um embracing it. Um, you know, obviously Connecticut is really good and everything that they do, you know, get *** step on the court with *** lot of really great players tonight. So um things just rely on the people around me and um be myself, you know, I know this team needs stuff from me. So we just go out there and perform and have *** lot of fun. You talked about hitting all the different men in the w you're literally in the middle of *** casino. What was that? What was your first venue been like for you? Definitely interesting. Um Yeah, I never stayed in *** casino before the night before *** game. So, uh I guess there's *** per for everything coach was saying that Erica is coming in your ear about what it takes to play *** veteran team like Connecticut. What have I picked up from her other bets about especially going out at *** team like Connecticut. They're just so, yeah, I think you just expect the physicality like they're gonna be super physical, they're gonna hold you, they're gonna pressure the ball, they're gonna blitz on ball screens, like just expect all that, know what's coming. Like they're just, that's just what they do, that's what they do to every single team. So I think, you know, going into the game with the mindset of, you know, it's coming and you're not surprised by it when it happens. So I think that's been the biggest thing to focus on coming into this game in terms of your preparation for today game time where you can go watch more films. Will you take an afternoon nap or will you kind of do in the next, you know, six hours and bring it back to the, probably watch more film other than that, just hang out, drink some water, drink some Gatorade and probably about it and your pre fall, what was the perception? It's been very successful? But it's kind of *** unique, not, I just wonder if you follow. Yeah, I mean, I think as somebody growing up following the w this wasn't really *** team that I grew up rooting for just because I was from the Midwest and they weren't, you know, always on, you know, TV. And the games that I was watching, I was more of ***, you know, Minnesota links fan and Chicago Sky fan, et cetera, whatever it was. But, um, I think I just enjoyed watching basketball no matter what level it was. So, you know, when they were on I watched and appreciated and obviously, you know, with what they've been doing here, it's been pretty impressive and I think Steph White is *** tremendous coach. Um, I think she has *** great basketball mind and it's been fun getting to know her. Obviously, she's called *** lot of my games in college, so it'll be fun to get *** go against her as, you know, the opposing head coach is your preme approach the same as when you were in high. Have you? I think it's *** little different just because of, uh, obviously this game is *** little different, but I think the turnarounds are gonna be the biggest difference from college, like you have one day in between. So it's gonna be *** lot more, you know, film preparation and things like that rather than on court work. I think taking care of your body like it's not two games *** week anymore, like it's almost like ***, *** big 10 tournament format or an NCAA format where you're having those quick turnarounds. Um I think at times that can, you know, play to your benefit *** little bit more, um depending on how you're playing at the time. But also I think, you know, it is different in that way. But I think this first game is, you know, we've had time to prep uh for Connecticut. So it's not quite *** good gauge, but I think obviously we play seven games, I think in 12 days. So, um that'll definitely be the biggest difference is just the turnaround time for me. Caitlyn. Is anyone from your family here? Yeah, my parents, we'll be here tonight. So it be fun. Yeah, we just like, 10 practice days. How much do you feel like for you and the team it's gonna be *** learning on the fly through all these games to finish out this month. Yeah, for sure. I think that's the biggest thing is you have to continue to learn, um, while you're playing, but also you have to go back and watch film. Um You know, I know coach said, like me and *** B are gonna watch *** lot of film together because that's gonna be super important for us to make sure we're always on the same page. Um But yeah, I learning on the fly, like not everything's gonna be perfect tonight. You know, this is our first game but being able to learn and stack days and stack practices and see improvement like that's what we wanna see. But we wanna know we left this court, you know, playing as hard as we possibly can given everything we got. And, you know, I think we'll be happy with the result. If we do that, we carrying *** banner for women's, we start really probably before high school now, that banner might be *** little bit bigger. Maybe it's *** little heavier. I don't know, being *** professional. Have you noticed any difference? Now, do you have to concentrate more now? Because our entire country is watching as *** pro? I mean, I don't feel like it's been really that much different than for my college career. Like, I try to carry myself in *** way that I've always had before. *** lot of people have watched me, like, just go about your business, be *** good human, enjoy playing the game. Like, I don't feel like it's any fake persona that I put on. Like, I think that's why people also enjoy watching me play, whether it's on the court or whatever it is. I think they can see that. I'm like *** real human being. I'm just like every single one of them. And, um, I think that's the biggest thing is like, just go about your business and how you do in everyday life. Um, and I think that carries over to the court and how I pre prep for basketball and how I respect the game and love this game so much. So I don't really feel any pressure about, you know, the way I have to act or the way I have to perform. I think it just comes with, you know, how I've always gone about my business and the person that I am, there will be *** lot of fancy and Aladdin to the W NBA. What do you hope they mean here after tonight's game? Yeah, I think, you know, the biggest thing is, I hope they can just enjoy the product that's out on the floor, not just the Indiana FIFA, but obviously the Connecticut sun too and what they've been able to do, obviously they have so much talent. So I hope they continue to come back and continue to buy *** ticket or, you know, if you're watching on TV, I know we're on ESPN tonight and, um, continue to turn on the TV and support teams, whether it's, you know, these two teams that play tonight or whatever team it is across the w, like the product is so good. So I hope they oftentimes people fall in love when they give it *** chance. So I guess just, you know, give it *** chance and I, I think you'll just keep coming back. Have you heard any advice from former teammates, Kinson or any other friends who, you know, are older than the W NBA? So that this not so much about tonight's game. I think everybody just good luck and go be me and have fun. I think the biggest thing like people have said is just like, continue to be yourself and then just give yourself grace and that's gonna be the most important thing. Like not everything is gonna be perfect. I know the outside world thinks I'm gonna do some amazing things, but that might take some, some time. And if things aren't perfect right away or one game is not as amazing as I want it to be like, give yourself grace, continue to learn, um continue to get better from it and I think that's just the big thing, time for two more. You've talked *** lot about taking time to give yourself grace. Where did you understand that? Learn that from? Was that *** parent, *** sports psychologist, anything like that? I think everything combined. I think, I think sports psychology is really important. I think just myself understanding the situation that I'm in, I'm very self aware of the circumstances. Um uh but also like my parents, like I was raised and, you know, sports isn't the end. All be all for me. So like this is ***, this isn't where I find my validation and everything that I do. Like if something isn't perfect, my life is not gonna end if, you know, we lose the game tonight, my life's not gonna end. I'm just gonna learn from it and come back on Thursday and try to help us win. And um you know, I think sports is *** great platform to do *** lot of amazing things, but it's not, you know, it's not everything to me. So I guess that's the biggest reason I don't get caught up in, you know, certain wins or losses or, you know, my personal performance last one is the charter exciting for you, but you're used to it. Yeah, it was, it makes things *** lot easier. It's nicer to get some good sleep on there. Um Yeah, I mean, I think it, it'll be great once everybody across the league has it. So um you know, the faster that happens, I think only the product on the floor is gonna be better for our, for our players across the board. And, um, you know, it makes life *** lot easier, especially because *** lot of the times you're traveling back after ***, *** game, so we would be traveling back tomorrow and like that's considered your off day, but you're traveling. So I think it just makes life easier for our players. It's *** healthier way to travel. And um I'm glad we're on the track of getting it done. Thank you, everybody.