May 25, 2007

When it comes to cool stuff, there’s nothing cooler to a WNBA player than receiving their championship ring. Now that the Shock players have received theirs at the championship ceremony on opening day, it’s time to see how the players feel about winning their shiny, diamond-encrusted rings and what they’re going to do with their new jewelry.

Katie Smith: “It was awesome. I knew it was going to be a little bigger and a little bit more bling then the girls’ first one, but I tell you what, it was awesome to get rings. We reminisced about it a little bit but we had to get on the floor and win a ball game.”

Kara Braxton: “I was very excited, a great feeling of inner accomplishment. It really wooed me.”

The rings are a bit flasher than the 2003 rings, and each one is unique. Players who were on both championship teams have two trophies outlined in diamonds on one side of the ring, while first-time winners like Smith and Braxton have one trophy on the side.

KS: “I’m going to wear it and show people, but definitely the first period of time I go home I am going to show it off.”

KB: “Wear it almost everyday.”

Guards Elaine Powell and Deanna Nolan also were on the 2003 title team, but it didn’t help Elaine convey how awesome it was.

EP: “It feels pretty good about the same as the first time, you get that feeling you can’t explain.”

Deanna Nolan: “I thought it felt great, because the first time we won it we knew how hard it would take to get back to it the second time and with the core players we had and how hard we worked that year, no one expected us to win it, so it was a great feeling.”

Now having two rings to take care of, neither player has any big plans for showing off the spoils of their championship season.

DN: “I’m going to wear it for a little bit and then put it up and preserve it.”

EP: “Nothing. Sit, watch and look at it from time to time, hopefully we can win another one this year.”