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Kamesha Hairston, Connecticut Sun
"My coaches tell me the discipline you receive on the court will help you
in life. Life will be so much easier. It's really true."
Dee Davis, Houston Comets
"Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I've gone through a lot
in my career, and I've made it through and now I'm stronger because of it. And
now, I can pretty much go through anything."
Shay Doron, New York Liberty
"I've never been the most gifted athletically or anything like that, so
I've always taken to heart the quote that if you're not out working, someone
is outworking you. It always pisses me off to think someone is outworking me,
so I try to do a pretty good job of outworking everybody. That's why I have
been successful… I have to do it in other ways. That's how I get it done."
Carla Thomas, Chicago Sky
"Basketball is an opportunity for life. It opens doors for life and is
something that can teach you so much about yourself and strengthen you in so
many ways. I thought I'd figure that out when I got out of college, but I saw
it my senior year in seeing the end. I didn't understand it at the time, but
I do now."
Armintie Price, Chicago Sky
"(Mississippi) Coach (Carol) Ross always says, 'Talk is cheap. Action speaks.'
That is something I've always kept in my head. I've been keeping my mouth shut
unless I'm going to be able to do it. That's something she has instilled in
me, and I keep telling it to everybody else, like it's my line."
Katie Gearlds, Seattle Storm
"Shoot, I don't know… Ha! I didn't even mean that."
Ivory Latta, Detroit Shock
"Someone told me a while ago that I'm too small to play in the ACC or in
the WNBA. So my whole career from college and - hopefully - through the WNBA,
that quote is with me at all times. They tell me I'm too short? I'll overcome
it. And hopefully I can do that in the WNBA. That's always going to be on my
sleeve: too short. … I use it. I turn all that negativity into a positive.
And things have worked out great for me."
Tiffany Jackson, New York Liberty
"I know there are people out there always trying to outdo me, so that's
really what keeps me going. I just want to be on top."
Leah Rush, Phoenix Mercury
"At a young age, I always knew to keep perspective on things and keep priorities
straight. Playing basketball at a good college, I've tried to continue that.
It is easy to get caught up in the basketball world, but there are a lot of
things that are important in life other than basketball."
Lyndsey Medders, Indiana Fever
"My parents have always stressed being humble and recognizing the people
who helped you get to where you are, so humility is something they've always
stressed."
Jessica Davenport, New York Liberty
"To just enjoy it, to take it all in. I've gotten the chance to travel
to a lot of places and meet new people. So I just need to continue to experience
a lot of new things that the regular 21-year-old would not get to experience."
Jessica Dickson, Sacramento Monarchs
"Just work hard everyday. Nothing in life will be given to you. You have
to work for everything you want to do in life. If you have a dream, go after
it."
Noelle Quinn, Minnesota Lynx
"Wow, that's a tough one. My mom always says, 'Just remember that I'm proud
of you.' It's not advice, but it's motivation and it's my inspiration. To hear
that from her…"
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Shay Murphy, Minnesota Lynx
"I hear pieces of advice all the time, but it seems like I never (listen).
It goes in one ear and out the other. But if there's something I need to learn,
it's to believe in yourself, to believe that you're one of those great names.
Like, Brooke Smith? Oh my gosh!"
Tyresa Smith, Phoenix Mercury
"Just leave it all out on the court. A lot of people told me to do that
while I'm here. Play my game and don't worry about anything else."
Camille Little, San Antonio Silver Stars
"My mom is real positive. She always just tells me to trust God and to
trust that he'll lead me to where he wants me to be. I've been trying to do
that my whole life: not get stressed. I'm too blessed to be stressed. That's
what I like to say. I just keep that in mind… It's up to Him."
Gillian Goring, Washington Mystics
"My mom taught me to believe in myself even if no one else did and I'll
prevail."
Kiera Hardy, Connecticut Sun
"My dad told me 'Don't worry, be happy.' He would tell me that all the
time, because it's one of my favorite songs."
Kristen Newlin, Houston Comets
"My assistant coach at Stanford, Charmin Smith, was very influential. She
actually played for my college head coach before, so she had that perspective
and she has been great for me, giving me confidence, telling me to be aggressive.
It's just awesome to have someone there with both perspectives."
Bernice Mosby, Washington Mystics
"My mother always told me to put God first in everything you do. So I always
take that and go with it. I always keep it in the back of my mind."
Megan Vogel, Washington Mystics
"A few years ago, I worked at a basketball camp for a coach named Bob Erdman,
who is in the Minnesota Hall of Fame coaching at a D-III school. He told me
two things. The first was always to observe and learn from others. And the second
was always to work harder than everyone else and you can get anything you want."
Nare Diawara, San Antonio Silver Stars
"I appreciate those who told me to trust in what I believe and in what
I can do. To do what I can do."
Kathrin Ress, Minnesota Lynx
"To not think too much and let the game come to you. Whatever you do, just
work hard."