Fan: Actually, I’d like to make the comment that Michelle and Charmin were just at our school’s clinic at the East Tacoma Boys and Girls Club. We’ve gotten feedback from that and it was just real excitement. To have you guys there was real important. We’ve been having making telephone calls and asking the kids what they thought about it. And you girls were both just right up at the top of the list. They [the players] really are out there [in the community]. We really appreciate it.

CD: Thank you for saying that. We appreciate that. We have had a new initiative this fall called Stormin’ the Sound and we were out in the community. I mean we were all of over central Washington doing clinics in high schools, in junior high school, in CYO, everywhere. And we had a wonderful time connecting with the coaches and it was great that we had the players in to join in with that starting January and so we are happy that we’ve been able to do that. All right, it’s time for a question. We don’t have a whole lot of time because there is a Sonics game.

Fan: I’m just curious who are you thinking of taking in the draft? [crowd laughs]

CD: Yeah. I’m going to tell you, we all went to Chicago this weekend to the combine for the last evaluation of the players and we’ve looked at ’em all year long. We’ve seen them play, we’ve traveled all over the United States and the world and we have been involved in master meetings in that office all day Monday, all day Tuesday, all day today and we have a serious, challenging decision ahead of us. There are some very, very good players, Sue Bird, Stacey Dales, Swin Cash are probably the top three in my mind. For those of you who are Nikki Teasley fans, she’s probably fourth, maybe fifth. Sheila Lambert is probably going to be a top five pick. She broke her leg and that may have hurt her a little bit, but she will eventually recover [crowd laughs]. But those three, Bird, Dales, Cash, they are the top three. And we’ve also had some offers, some trade offers that we’ve had to consider and it’s been tough. And that said, are there any other questions? [crowd laughs]

Fan: We got our season tickets so we can sit and watch you coach. I want to ask these young ladies what is it like to play for her? [lots of laughing — the players make some faces]

CD: What an interesting question. I can tell you this, I’m going to let them answer, but if we get two more really good players out of the draft then I’m going to do a lot less coaching and they are going to do a lot more playing.

[Michelle grabs the mic]

MM: Let’s see. Depends on who we draft, I think. No, you know, Coach Dunn is, I’ve played for a lot a coaches. I’ve played for about probably 15 to 20 coaches through my whole career and Lin’s one of those coaches that I would consider a player’s coach. She’s a communicator. She lets us all know where we stand. I mean if there’s one coach that I’ve played for that’s said “Michelle, today, you’re probably going to play about three minutes and I want you to be able to handle that role. And when you get in there, if you do something in three minutes, you’ll get an opportunity to play more. But this is who my starter is and you are a backup.” And I mean she’s very cut and dry like that. And as a player, I really appreciate somebody being that honest with me and with the rest of the team because you do know where you stand, but with that being said you also know that every day there’s an opportunity to compete, to work hard and to prove yourself and I think that happened last year for me.

[Jamie takes the mic and Coach Dunn plugs her ears]

JR: Now I’ve just got one comment. I’ll put it this way. There is never a dull moment around Coach Dunn.

CS: What I appreciate about Coach is the fact that I feel like off the court she is a normal person. Some coaches, from my experience, that I’ve played for are all very knowledgeable about the game and I respect what they are saying and everything. But Coach Dunn and I could go into her office and say “Hey Coach, what’s up? And let’s just chat for a little bit.” I feel like off the court she’s a person you can talk to and go to. And that’s something that sometime players need in addition to the mentoring and everything that’s happening within the team and on the court. So that’s what I appreciate.

CD: Thank you guys.

Fan: I know you are not going to tell us who you are going to draft. But how much has Katy Steding’s retiring affected your decision?

CD: Certainly Katy Steding retiring effects the depth and quality of talent that we have. We had certainly hoped that Katy would stay two years and she started out like gangbusters if you remember last season and then hurt that knee again. So, it does effect how we look at the small forward position. That is one of our needs. We need points, we need rebounds, we need help at the small forward position. And we can always use depth. So, it effects how we approach the draft, but it’s not overwhelming because we have Jamie Redd and Charmin Smith and they are pretty good players. There’s my favorite man right there, ran into him at the Final Four. How you doing?

Fan: Fine. How are you?

CD: Good. What’s the, what kind of cap you got on there? Is that your UConn cap? What’s your question, buddy?

Fan: I was going to ask the three players which players do you most want Lin to draft?

CD: Now that is a really good question. Let’s put them on the spot.

MM: What time it this thing over? [crowd laughs] No, I, you know, I, [deep sigh, crowd laughs]. Let me break it down for you. I honestly, I think there’s a top player in the draft this year and that’s Sue Bird. I think Sue Bird can come here and make a tremendous impact on our team. And, I, you know, who we are going to take, I have no idea. Only Lin knows that and the only thing that I can say is that I trust that Lin and her staff are going to take into consideration who she already has on the team, what we really, really, really need and to make the best decision to help us get to the playoffs cause that is our goal. My goal, I don’t care if we draft Sue Bird. I’m a point guard, she’s a point guard, she’s the number one player in the country. I am not concerned with that because, you know, I’m a multidimensional player. I can play more than one position and that doesn’t concern me. What concerns me is that we have somebody in here and other players that are going make a difference to help us get to the playoffs.

JR: For me, it really doesn’t matter who we draft as long as we’re going win. So, it doesn’t matter to me at all. I just want to win. So, who ever that may be, whether it be Sue Bird or Nikki Teasley, whoever it is, I just want to win.

CS: I agree with that whatever makes us better. The whole objective is to improve your team. So whatever is going to make us a better team for this season, that is what we should do.

Fan: Where are some of the other players right now? Did they go overseas?

CD: The other Storm players? Yes, good question. We had four players play in Israel and they are all back. Simone, Stacey, Quacy, Semeka. Spoke with Semeka yesterday. She’s back in Cleveland and will be coming soon. Quacy will be coming soon. Sonja Henning’s in Portland. Help me, help me. Kamila’s playing in Europe. Alessandra is playing in Europe. Lauren Jackson is in Australia today. Help me, help me, who am I forgetting.

JR: Simone

CD: Simone Edwards is just, I don’t think Simone’s back from Israel. I think the season is over over there and she may be having her holiday over there because she has lot of friends over there.

JR: That’s her second home.

CD: That’s her second home. But many of them will be coming in this week.

Fan: What would be the reasons not to draft Sue Bird?

CD: What would be the reasons not to draft Sue Bird? Well, that is a bright question. She, well, Gary do you have a comment on that? [he shakes his head]. If we didn’t draft Sue Bird, it would probably mean that we traded the pick for some veteran players or another pick or we had decided that Stacey Dales could also play the point and maybe a couple of other positions. Or that we need more help in the post. Whew, you caught me off guard. I’m not usually caught off guard. Next question.

Fan: What are rules in the WNBA about players coming out early? What rule differences are there between the NBA and the WNBA?

CD: The first question was what is the rule about undergraduates coming out early. We do not let undergraduates come out early [crowd applauds]. We feel very strongly that the student athlete needs to at least, her senior class needs to have at least graduated and we will continue to emphasis that. Currently coming out early is certainly not worth a college degree. So that is totally discouraged. There is not a whole lot of differences in the rules. The major, the biggest rule is we play halves and the guys play quarters. They have a little bit bigger ball. The probably have better referees [crowd says “No”]. But that’s questionable. They play forty, is it forty-eight minutes and we play forty. The three point line is a little bit further out. About another foot. The shot clock is 24, our shot clock is 30. Jump ball after half time. Like I said, there’s not very many rules changes. But basically the same game. A few little things here.

Fan: First, two comments and then a question. My first comment is I thought I was your favorite fan.

CD: Close.

Fan: The next comment is a recent nationwide survey about interest in all sports shows that the WNBA was one of four that has increased in interest. And my question is, talking nothing about the draft, how’s Edna been doing?

CD: Great question. I don’t know how many of you are aware of the fact that Edna Campbell has been diagnosed with breast cancer [generally dismay from crowd]. She came back from Italy several weeks ago. She had not been feeling well and I guess it was good news is that she didn’t feel well, couldn’t get over a cold and went and had a complete physical. And that’s how they found the lump and they have taken it out and she is undergoing chemotherapy. They do not think that she will play this summer based on what chemo does to you. But we have sent all her, we’ve sent her all our best wishes and continue to keep in contact with her. So, if any of you want to send her wishes, I think you can do it through the Sacramento website. But that’s a great question. You are right about the WNBA and the tremendous interest in the WNBA. I appreciate your mentioning that.

CS: I spoke with Edna last night actually and she sounds great. You know, she’s that’s the type of person she is. She’s always upbeat and she said when you come to Sacramento, you’re coming over to my house for dinner and you know, she’s sounds really great right now.

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