With the number six overall pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever selected Gwen Jackson from Tennessee.

Making this transition, do you think there’s anything you need to work on? Do you feel comfortable making this jump?

Jackson: I’m a firm believer that if you play in the SEC, you can play anywhere in the country, in America. We have one of the toughest conferences and face all kinds of competition. I’ve faced LaToya Thomas, the best people in the draft. So definitely I think I’m prepared. I don’t think I have to do anything different, probably work a little harder. I’m a person that works hard all the time. I try not to step on the court and take any possessions off. I know definitely there are going to be some things I have to learn from other people. You can learn a lot from other people’s games. I’ll try to just learn as much as I can and continue to add on to the things that I’ve already done. And be ready to step up and play whatever role Indiana needs me to play.

The coaching you have gotten, you must feel pretty comfortable [going to Indiana]?

Jackson: I’ve had the chance to get to know Nell for the last two years. She’s around a lot and we see her. I know that she’s an awesome coach. I kind of feel like I’m going from one home, moving to the next. Definitely I don’t have any jitters, I’m not really worried about anything. I’m just more excited than anything and I’m ready to get going. Nell’s a great coach. You can just tell by the way her team’s improved over the last two years and the type of players she’s been willing to bring into her program.

What are your thoughts on following in the footsteps of Tamika Catchings, both being from Tennessee?

Jackson: Those are big shoes to fill. I think that if you’re a person that wants to get better in your game, then Tamika Catchings is a person that you want to watch and you want to try to pattern your game after. Watching her from my freshman year on up, she’s just been awesome. Even when she was hurt, she’s still just willing to give back to other people. It just motivates me to know that I’ve been in the gym and I’ll have to work a little bit harder so I’ll be able to help her out and not be a liability.