Williams Eager to Match Seattle's Passion

By: Jourdan Rodrigue

March 20, 2014

Shaq has settled in Seattle, and she�s ready to show the city what she�s all about.

The Seattle Storm�s new Assistant Coach Shaquala �Shaq� Williams packs a KeyArena-sized amount of passion into her 5�6� frame. It�s inspired by both her love for the game of basketball and for the city of Seattle and its residents.

�There�s just something about this city,� she said. �The people are intelligent and laid-back, but can be so passionate about the game and Seattle itself has done so much for women�s basketball over the years.�

Williams� personal dedication to basketball parallels Seattle�s. She earned Pac-10 Player of the Year honors when she played for the University of Oregon in 1999-2000 and played professionally for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2003, Meblotab, Poland in 2005 and Buhanive, Turkey in 2006. She also helped guide the Seattle University Redhawks to a WAC regular-season championship in 2013 as an assistant coach.

�I�ve watched her work over the years,� said head coach Brian Agler. �She�s got a great work ethic and has that reputation for being a hard worker. She�s a quality individual.�

Williams previously assisted the Storm with their video preparation while also coaching the Redhawks, and a basketball-loaded life, from bouncing through youth basketball in her hometown of Portland, Oregon to travelling the world as a professional and becoming a coach hasn�t thinned her love for the game. In fact, Williams admits that even though her life became a whirlwind after being offered a position with the Storm, her excitement has only grown.

�I�m so looking forward to getting to know the players,� she said. �I want them to know that I�m going to do everything I can to get them prepared and help them win.�

Williams also expects the legendary passion of Seattle�s fan base to help fuel her own energy.

�I�m absolutely excited to interact with the Seattle fan base,� she said. �The fans are such a huge reason why the organization is so consistently successful and they�re really an integral part of the team.�

Added Agler, �The StormCrazies are special and will want to connect with any member of the organization immediately. In the WNBA you have to be a high-energy, passionate person that is accessible to the fans and (Shaq) has that.�

Many eyes are on the Storm organization as it begins its 15th year, but if Williams feels the pressure of being a newcomer, she doesn�t let it show.

�Being a professional athlete has helped me with pressure of any kind,� she said. �The only things I�m concerned about are helping the team and showing the fans how passionate I am about what I do. �Basketball business� is really �people business�.�