UNCASVILLE, Conn. — On Tuesday evening, when the Connecticut Solar and Minnesota Lynx confronted off in Recreation 2 of the WNBA semi-finals, Courtney Williams and Marina Mabrey made headlines for some third-quarter trash discuss.
“Informed her she couldn’t guard me,” Williams stated matter-of-factly after Minnesota’s 77-70 win, through which 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 stated. “I ain’t gonna say I’m one of the best, however I’m like a easy trash talker.”
The important thing for Williams? Conserving issues mild, she stated. Some gamers get private, others get emotional. However Williams stays pleased when she goes at different staff’s rivals.
“Like, I don’t actually get mad after I trash discuss,” Williams stated. “Some folks trash speaking — they be mad, on the market taking part in mad. I trash discuss, I’m nonetheless smiling and pleased, so there’s totally different ranges. Some folks take themselves out of video games once they begin trash speaking.”
Williams and Mabrey very effectively might go after it once more tonight when the Solar and Lynx run it again tonight in Recreation 3 on the Mohegan Solar Area. The duo goes means again: earlier than they had been fiery rivals battling within the WNBA semifinals, they had been teammates and buddies on the Chicago Sky.
“That’s my dawg now,” Williams stated.
However, when the 2 groups face off at Mohegan Solar Area tonight, that friendship will likely be put apart — and all Mabrey and Williams will likely be is rivals. Mabrey can generally deal with her trash discuss, Williams stated jokingly, whereas making clear that for her it’s by no means a distraction.
“I understand how to regulate my trash discuss.”
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 essentially the most assured particular person I’ve carried out ever met,” Hiedeman stated. “I’m not gonna lie, she might be 0 for 10. She’s nonetheless gonna discuss, she’s nonetheless gonna pop it. However I feel that simply goes to indicate who she is as an individual. She’s very, very assured.”
Hiedeman’s stated that Williams’ trash discuss has been contagious for the Lynx, in a constructive means.
“She instills that confidence in in all people,” Hiedeman stated. “So, man, I’m pleased we on the identical staff, you realize what I’m saying, as a result of when she get to speaking… however nah, she’s undoubtedly a high 5 for certain.”
And, she attested that Williams’ back-and-forth by no means will get too heavy.
“To her, it’s a basketball sport,” Hiedeman stated. “So, the whole lot that occurs on this courtroom stays on the courtroom. Hers is extra like — she’s going to speak, she’s going to let you realize she’s right here, however it’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 stated. “She’ll in all probability discuss once we go to breakfast. Irrespective of to who.”