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Leading Minnesota's first-year phenoms is Candice Wiggins, the team's first-round selection out of Stanford. Wiggins has provided a scoring punch the Lynx desperately needed, averaging 15.4 points per game for the season. Recently, she has raised her level of play by scoring at least 17 points in each of her last four games.
Can Wiggins and the Lynx keep up their torrid pace? Fans asked her that and more when she stopped by to chat prior to hosting the Connecticut Sun Tuesday at 7 pm ET on ESPN2.
Candice Wiggins: (12:10 PM ET ) I think it's just the chemistry of everyone involved - the coaches, the players, everybody. Everyday in practice we have so much fun. On the court we have the vets and the rookies. They are helping us learn the game and we're bringing in a good amount of energy to the team.
Candice Wiggins: (12:12 PM ET ) I agree. I am not surprised because during training camp you could see it coming together. I played with a lot of the players here - Nikki, Charde, Shay, Q - so I'm not surprised. In practice, when we play hard, we know we're going to be successful come gametime. These girls have a winning attitude. I'm not surprised by our success and I hope we can keep it going.
Candice Wiggins: (12:14 PM ET ) Hi and thank you so much. Yes, I do think we'll make the playoffs. We set the goal to make the playoffs this year and I think we can because this time, I feel we have a great balance of players with young energy and vets that are knowledgable. Especially after seeing our team fight back from adversity early on this year. It's similar to how I felt about my Stanford team my senior season. I had a special feeling about that team, we knew we could be a Final Four team. And I have a good feeling about this team.
Candice Wiggins: (12:16 PM ET ) It is incredible to be able to play with Nikki and Charde. I've known Charde for years and I've know Nikki since we played against each other in AAU at 13. They are so competitive and we just happen to be playing the same style - a lot of energy, a lot of hustle - and they bring so much. Charde is a ball of energy and you know she's going to fight. Nikki is intense and has the mindset that we're going to get it done. I'm glad it's the three of us because we've know each other forever and we're having a blast. It's also a lot of fun off of the court.
Candice Wiggins: (12:17 PM ET ) I was just really excited. Coach Z came to the Wade trophy presentation and that's when I knew it was meant to be. He just wanted to make an impression early and he did. I just think I am in the best situation and I'm really excited.
Candice Wiggins: (12:18 PM ET ) It wasn't a hard transition for me. Coming from colllege and being a leader on the team, you really understand the importance of every piece. I know from being the go-to player how much I depended on my teammates. So being on the other side, I know my role is important.
Candice Wiggins: (12:19 PM ET ) Yes. I played volleyball. I acutally played volleyball my freshman year at Stanford, I have a championship ring. Volleyball was a huge part of my life but I had to drop it to concentrate on basketball.
Candice Wiggins: (12:20 PM ET ) The best thing about the WNBA is getting paid to play basketball. Its better than coming into a 9-5 job. The thing I miss most about Stanford ... I miss a lot ... I miss the people, my coaches, my teammates, my sorority sisters. But you have to break away from the nest at some point.
Candice Wiggins: (12:21 PM ET ) After I finished school I wanted to focus my attention on giving back to causes that I felt passionate about. It was brought up and when I heard about it I jumped at the opportunity. Because of what happened with my father I'm very passioniate about HIV education and that's why I got involved.
Candice Wiggins: (12:23 PM ET ) There are a lot of poeple that I look up to but I'll just name a few. The first is my mom. the thing she taught me was to not make excuses and be the best person you can be. My high school coach was a role model for me as well. She helped mold me into the player I am. Coach Tara in college, she helped me focus on who I was on and off the court. She taught me about being the person that I want people to see, someone with integrity and passion. I think those three helped shape me into the person and player I am today.
Candice Wiggins: (12:25 PM ET ) Thank you. I haven't played all of the teams yet, but I think the team to beat right now is LA. We lost to them in a preseaosn game. But really we see it as we're the team to beat. We just play hard every night and the target is on our back this year, which is a little bit different.
Candice Wiggins: (12:26 PM ET ) Thank you everyone online for sending in questions and I'm happy to answer them. I just want to say that Until There's a Cure is a cause that I'm really behind now, you can get bracelets online. Thank you for your support and go Lynx!
