"It's been really good for me here (Connecticut)," Willingham told the Hartford Courant recently. "It was a difficult decision for me. I decided I needed to try something new."

A fresh start in a new city appears to have helped her game. Taking little time to adapt to Phoenix's run-and-gun style of play, Willingham has been thrown right into the fire and has lit it up as a starter for the Mercury.

It's something I was used to, getting up and down the court," she told the Courant. "There was an adjustment, but it wasn't that hard."

Willingham's name has been inked in the starting lineup in 26 of Phoenix's 27 games thus far this season, despite having only five starts throughout her entire career in Connecticut. Her numbers are well above her career stats in nearly every category. Most noticeable are her increases in minutes, scoring and rebounding. Averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.8 minutes throughout her career, this season alone, the five-year vet is averaging 9.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 25.4 minutes.

A former hardcourt standout at Auburn, the six-footer is playing well and shining brightly. In fact, she is already drawing comparisons to a past Auburn and Phoenix great.

"Everyone likes to describe me as this Charles Barkley-type person," she told the Arizona Republic.