Shannon Bobbitt Q&A

June 7, 2011

Shannon Bobbitt is one of five new players for the Fever this year. She spent time after a team practice recently to share a chat with FeverBasketball.com about her life in from New York City to Texas, Tennessee, L.A. and now Indiana; her time playing basketball; and some personal aspects of her life. This will be her third year in the WNBA and her second team. She has become known for her smallish stature but that has not been a problem as she continues playing in the world�s greatest women�s basketball league.

FeverBasketball.com: I am sure that you get asked this quite often, but how has being the smallest player on the court affected your game?

Shannon Bobbitt: �It has not. I think I actually have the advantage because I am smaller. I am quicker than these other girls that are 5�8� and up. I am lower to the ground which means that I can�t do these overhead passes and I have to bounce the ball off of the ground. I really think that I have the advantage and I really like my height.�

FB: What was it like living in the Bronx and Harlem?

SB: �Well, I was born in the Bronx, I didn�t live there long, but Harlem is just a great community of people. Once I graduated from high school I knew it was time to leave and I had to go to college which is how I ended up in Texas.� [Shannon played at Trinity Valley JC in Texas, before landing at the University of Tennessee.]

FB: What do you miss most about N.Y.?

SB: �Well I really miss my family and friends. I miss playing out there, it was always fun and relaxing. I also miss the gatherings that my friends and family would have.�

FB: How did you adjust from the fast pace life in N.Y. to the slower, more relaxed paced life here in the Midwest?

SB: �It was very hard, I won state and city championships when I went to Texas but everything was just so slow down there. Then I came up here and it has been about the same pace that it was in Texas. I have gotten used to it more. I am still just taking it one day at a time.�

FB: What did you enjoy most about playing overseas in Turkey?

SB: �I really loved the competition out there. When I was playing there, I was able to discover what my weaknesses are and work on them. I really like that it is a more physical game out there, not that I foul out often, but it�s just a more physical game overall and a place where I can work on anything.�

FB: What is your favorite pastime?

SB: �Well, I like just chilling with my family and friends. They are really important to me and are big part of my life. I love gatherings with them, talking about anything but basketball can be really relaxing as well and just being the Shannon Bobbitt that I am off the court.�

FB: What personal goals do you have for yourself?

SB: �Just to win a championship. There is a ton of energy out there and I really think that we can do it. I really think that it would just be amazing to win one.�

FB: I know that you have only been with the Fever for a few weeks but what have you enjoyed about being with the Fever so far?

SB: �The girls, they have welcomed me with open arms and really embraced the idea of being a family. They gel really well together and I also love the fans. The fans here are amazing and very dedicated.�

FB: Through your years playing basketball, have you ever developed any pre/post game routines or superstitions?

SB: �No, I mean the only thing that I really do is pray. I pray that I play well and that both my team and I have really good games out there. I sometimes listen to some gospel and relax.�

�

- Lauren Nelson