Bird

The 2002 WNBA Draft has the prospect of four UConn starters being selected in the first round and it's made even more unusual by the fact that these women aren't just teammates, they're roommates too. WNBA.com goes with them every step of the way, starting with first-person accounts of their experiences leading up to the draft. Point guard and No. 1 prospect Sue Bird tips things off and then we'll hear from Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams later in the week.

There has been a lot of talk about comparing our team this year to the 1995 national championship team that went undefeated, but I can only compare it with the other national championship team I played for in 2000. There was all that pressure about going undefeated. We played a really good team in Oklahoma, so I'd say this year's was probably the harder one. Plus, you know, your senior year you want to go out on a win, so there's added pressure.

Sue Bird waves to the crowd as she and her teammates ride through downtown Hartford, Conn., in a victory parade on April 6. The parade is just one of the many activities Bird has attended since the title game. (AP Photo)

We just hung out after the game against Oklahoma in San Antonio. We flew back the next day, had a pep rally and hung out with friends back on campus. It's been a little bit crazy trying to organize my classwork after being gone so much, but my teachers are cool. Graduation is May 19, so I really only have about a month left.

Ever since the championship game, I've been all over the place. I've been on more plane rides in this last month than I think I have been all season, just going for different awards and different appearances. Especially in Connecticut, we do a lot of signings and things like that. It's been fun. I've met a lot of interesting people so it's been cool.

So far, when I went to the Naismith, I got to meet Jason Williams from Duke and one of the guys' high school players who's going to UNC, Raymond Felton, I think. And Jim Harrick was there because it was in Atlanta. It was pretty cool. I think that has been the highlight thus far.

Williams

Jones

Cash

I live off-campus with three of my teammates (Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams). We don't have a meal plan so we have to cook. It depends on what we're making as to whether it's very good. Tamika and Swin can do their thing. I make chocolate chip cookies. That's my specialty. When I want to make them quick it's just slice and bake. There's no big secret. I just like making them. They're always a great midnight snack. My roommates love them.

It will probably be weird at first to not live and play with my roommates anymore, but I'm sure we'll keep in touch and whatnot, to see how the others are doing. We might even end up on the same teams -- hopefully that will be the case. We're really busy right now so I don't have much time to think about leaving them or where I'll end up in the WNBA. I have something planned pretty much every day. It makes it easier because your mind is on other things.

I've heard people say that I might be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, but you've got to take it with a grain of salt, I think. You don't want to get too caught up in it because that's when it takes you over and you get all stressed out and stuff. I'm just enjoying it, taking it one day at a time and whatever comes my way comes my way. I'm not really thinking about it. Right now, I'm just happy to be in a situation where I'll get to play wherever -- whether it's the No. 1 or No. 10 pick.

Lobo

Williams

There's a lot of UConn alumni in the WNBA. I don't know about looking forward to playing against anyone, but Rita Williams is a UConn alum and she comes back to practice and plays with us. She plays for Indiana and I'm sure that's going to be interesting going head to head with her. I've had to play with or against her almost every day for the last four years in practice, so that should be interesting.

Once you go to Connecticut, immediately you're part of the family and it's great because no matter what age you are, from Rebecca Lobo all the way down to the freshmen right now, you all went through a similar experience and you all have that tie together. I think that's great because obviously I've met all the alums, they're all nice people and they're all like, we'll take care of you -- don't worry. So it's nice to know that you'll have some people out there rooting for you just like I'll be rooting for them.

Now I just have to wait and see where I end up. I'll check back in after it's all been decided!