UNCASVILLE, Conn. — On Tuesday night time, when the Connecticut Solar and Minnesota Lynx confronted off in Sport 2 of the WNBA semi-finals, Courtney Williams and Marina Mabrey made headlines for some third-quarter trash speak.
“Advised her she couldn’t guard me,” Williams mentioned matter-of-factly after Minnesota’s 77-70 win, wherein she helped prepared the ground with 17 factors.
On Friday morning at shootaround, Williams grinned when requested about the place she ranked among the many league’s greatest trash-talkers.
“I’m up there,” Williams mentioned. “I ain’t gonna say I’m the perfect, however I’m like a clean trash talker.”
The important thing for Williams? Preserving issues gentle, she mentioned. Some gamers get private, others get emotional. However Williams stays completely happy when she goes at different crew’s rivals.
“Like, I don’t actually get mad after I trash speak,” Williams mentioned. “Some individuals trash speaking — they be mad, on the market enjoying mad. I trash speak, I’m nonetheless smiling and completely happy, so there’s completely different ranges. Some individuals take themselves out of video games once they begin trash speaking.”
Photograph by Khoi Ton/NBAE through Getty Pictures
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Williams and Mabrey very nicely may go after it once more tonight when the Solar and Lynx run it again tonight in Sport 3 on the Mohegan Solar Area. The duo goes manner again: earlier than they had been fiery rivals battling within the WNBA semifinals, they had been teammates and pals on the Chicago Sky.
“That’s my dawg now,” Williams mentioned.
However, when the 2 groups face off at Mohegan Solar Area tonight, that friendship will probably be put apart — and all Mabrey and Williams will probably be is rivals. Mabrey can typically deal with her trash speak, Williams mentioned jokingly, whereas making clear that for her it’s by no means a distraction.
“I understand how to manage my trash speak.”
Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman attested at shootaround that there are few trash-talkers within the WNBA who rival Courtney Williams.
“Courtney’s in all probability probably the most assured particular person I’ve carried out ever met,” Hiedeman mentioned. “I’m not gonna lie, she might be 0 for 10. She’s nonetheless gonna speak, she’s nonetheless gonna pop it. However I believe that simply goes to point out who she is as an individual. She’s very, very assured.”
Photograph by Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures
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Hiedeman’s mentioned that Williams’ trash speak has been contagious for the Lynx, in a optimistic manner.
“She instills that confidence in in all people,” Hiedeman mentioned. “So, man, I’m completely happy we on the identical crew, you recognize what I’m saying, as a result of when she get to speaking… however nah, she’s positively a high 5 for positive.”
And, she attested that Williams’ back-and-forth by no means will get too heavy.
“To her, it’s a basketball sport,” Hiedeman mentioned. “So, the whole lot that occurs on this court docket stays on the court docket. Hers is extra like — she’s going to speak, she’s going to let you recognize she’s right here, but it surely’s nothing loopy.”
It’s vital to notice that Williams’ trash-talk isn’t restricted to video games — it comes out in apply, too.
And, when the Lynx are simply hanging out.
“She talks all the time,” Hiedeman mentioned. “She’ll in all probability speak once we go to breakfast. Regardless of to who.”
