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When it comes to the WNBA postseason, Liberty forward Sue Wicks has been there, done that. Wicks is a true playoff veteran, logging 506 minutes in 27 postseason games. For her career, she has averaged 4.1 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
This season, Wicks was a solid role player for the Liberty, who have advanced to the WNBA Finals. Her numbers have improved as the playoffs wear on. She posted her best stats in the Western Conference Finals, averaging 3.3 points per game, 1.3 rebounds per game and 1.0 blocks per game.
As part of WNBA.com's Lunch Break weekday chat series, Wicks chatted online on Tuesday, August 27. See what she had to say about the Liberty's upcoming series with the Sparks, her future plans and more.
Lil Libertyfan( NJ): Hey Sue! What do you think it's going to take to beat this L.A. team, and how are you and your Liberty teammates feeling about playing L.A.? Thanks so much Sue, I really look up to you and the Liberty. Remember that we all believe in you here at the Garden!!
Sue Wicks: Because L.A. is the defending champs, it's a great challenge and we have a lot of respect for them. We have to slow them down because they're a great transition team. It's going to be tough, we have our work cut for us if we want to beat them. And we do.
Christina, D.C.: Hey Sue, great job against the Mystics, and all season! What was going through your mind in Games 2 and 3 against the Mystics? Were you worried that they'd be able to pull of another win?
Sue Wicks: The mindset was that we had to win. After we won the first one, we felt the series was basically tied and we had to play very well in Game 3. We were just determined to win in both games.
Nicole(Indianapolis): Sue-Congrats(on winning the Eastern Conference Championship)!
Other than yourself, who do you consider to be the best forward in the WNBA? I'll be cheering you on in the Finals! Go Liberty!
Sue Wicks: We played a couple of great ones this year, Tamika Catchings and Chamique. After that, I like Tamika Whitmore, I like that she's on our team because I don't think we can stop her offensively. There are a lot of great players. Delisha Milton is turning into one of the best in this league.
#1 LIBERTY FAN (New York): Sue, Great job this season. What must the Liberty do to contain Lisa Lesile?
Sue Wicks: A lot of it is going to fall on Tari's shoulders. She's the only one physically and athletically capable of guarding Lisa. We are going to try and help, but they are strong and it's hard to leave someone unguarded. So it's team effort, but we're going to need a great effort by Tari.
Di: Hi Sue! You and the girls has been tremendous all season. What do you do to get pumped up before a game?
Sue Wicks: I think before every game, in the lockerroom together, we listen to music, usually gospel music. Then we get in a circle and say a prayer that really fires us up. Before we go out there, some people breakdance and bang their heads on the walls. But listening to music together gets our team really unified.
Gary & Molly : Hi Sue. Is this going to be your last season?
Sue Wicks: I have no idea. I really have no idea. It's really up to the management. I'm going to give it my best shot in this Championship, and I'm going to enjoy myself. And if they ask me to come back next year, I'm sure I will.
GoLiberty (NJ): What are you plans for after you retire from basketball? Will you coach?
Sue Wicks: I think I would like to coach and eventually be the Liberty coach, that's my dream job.
Lisa (West Peoria): Hey Sue, Congrats on the Eastern Conference Championship win.
What are your plans for the off-season? Are you going overseas to play again?
Sue Wicks: I'm pretty sure I'm going to go overseas and play. I've been talking to some teams, but we'll see what happens. I love to play, and it's a long winter without playing. Depending on if I come back to the Liberty next year, if I do, then I have to play in the offseason to stay in shape.
Becky-NJ: Sue, who is the jokester of the Liberty and what is your most embarrassing moment on the team? Good luck, I can't wait to see you guys play at the Garden!!
Sue Wicks: We have a lot of silly girls. It really changes all the time. Crystal, Becky, Linda are all very silly and like to play jokes and give you misinformation all the time. My most embarassing moment, one time I left Latrell Sprewell a good luck note in his locker before the playoffs, but I poured all my Gatorade all over his uniform. I ruined his game uniform and they had to change it. It wasn't so embarassing as much as I was scared, I felt like I committed a crime!
Crazed Lib fans from Israel: Sue, how do you think the matchup in the backcourt with L.A. should go like? VJ on Dixon and Crystal on Mabika? The other way around? Both on Mabika?
Sue Wicks: It's going to be tough. VJ is a very solid defender and so is Crystal. I'd like to see VJ on Mwadi.
SummerSanta F: Hey Sue! I was just wondering have you ever played any other sports besides b-ball? I'm 14 and 6'4" and people are saying that i should play both basketball & volleyball.
Sue Wicks: Soccer in high school, I ran track and field, tennis, I like all sports but I love playing basketball.
Tweet : Hey Sue still hangin in there!! Do you have the same feeling your teammates have about this being the team's last year together?
Sue Wicks: I think that we're playing with that thought in our heads, that we want to savor every moment because we dont' know if we'll be together much longer. We love playing together and we're so happy and proud of ourselves for getting back to the Finals and the confidence our GM had to keep us together for one more shot.
Liberty Fan in Ohio: I saw your appearance on NBA Cafe on the Food Network? Did you and Becky have a lot of fun taping that episode?
Sue Wicks: The stuff that they didn't put on the show was so funny. We had a great time. Bobby Flay was such a great guy. We had so much fun teasing him; he was a great sport. He came to a game after that. We definitely had a great time hanging with him. He's a great guy and a great chef.
KM (CT): How has this season been for you without Rebecca Lobo as a fellow Liberty?
Sue Wicks: We miss her a lot. Becky and I call her every once in a while during the season; we called her when Houston lost. We're planning a fishing trip in September, and we're going to have a contest so we're excited about that. She's a friend; she'll always be a friend. We miss her in the lockerroom but I think she's happier in Houston. We'll always be friends.
Katelyn (NJ): You're stuck on a deserted island. What five things can't you do without?
Sue Wicks: I really need my big screen TV, a hammock, sunscreen, a pizza parlor and a WNBA championship trophy.
Boomer (NYC): What's in your CD player right now?
Sue Wicks: Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Enrique Iglesias and Bon Jovi.
No Souvenirs: Would you share some of your favorites? As in books, movies, foods, etc? :)
Sue Wicks: That's a tough one. I guess To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite, or anything by Hemingway. Favorite movie is Breakfast at Tiffany's. Van Morrison is probably favorite music.
GO liberty!!: Hey Sue! What have you and the rest of your teammates been doing these past days getting ready for the big game on Thursday? Thanks and good luck to everyone!!
Sue Wicks: Watching a lot of film on L.A. We had a great practice today. We've been getting all year for this, to be honest. So our mindset has been here since the first game of training camp. So now we're working on how we're going to slow L.A. down.
Cori (NY): If you were on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which one of your teammates would be your phone-a-friend?
Sue Wicks: I'm going to go with Rebecca Lobo, even though she's not on my team anymore. We decided on that in the past, so I'm going to stick with her. My Liberty teammates are going to be mad!
Sue Wicks: Thanks to all our fans, especially this season. Thanks to all those fans who believed in us the last six years, we have great fans in NY. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
