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“I think (Breanna Stewart) should just enjoy the moment,” Chiney Ogwumike said. “Senior year is the best year because you know all your academic work, just stay in control of that. Just enjoy your coach, your teammates, your friends, your family and let everything be a memory, every game being something you hold in the back of your mind.
“College is different from the pros, that camaraderie, loyalty you have with each other. It is different when you get to the next level. She knows who she is and just embrace that. There’s a lot of pressure and expectation, but she has already put herself in position to be great with her life.”
Ogwumike believes Stewart, who she has gotten to know through USA Basketball circles, is well suited to deal with the extra attention.
“Obviously somebody is handling it for her, (UConn coach) Geno (Auriemma), so just enjoy it,” Ogwumike said. “If she is enjoying it and having fun, she is going to play amazing. It’s going to be amazing. You will have her coming into the WNBA, you will have Diana (Taurasi) back, Skylar (Diggins) back, so there will be a lot of talk.”
Ogwumike proved worthy of the No. 1 pick as she was the rookie of the year before a knee injury suffered overseas forced her to miss the 2015 season.
While the Sun would jump for joy if they were to land Stewart, getting players like UConn point guard Moriah Jefferson or South Carolina wing Tiffany Mitchell would give the team another young star to build around.
“I don’t know what we need and that is why I am excited for this draft,” Ogwumike said. “It could be anybody, but I think we need somebody who has a high-intensity motor.”
What about the possibility of having a frontcourt of herself, Stewart and All-Star center Kelsey Bone?
“She is a remarkable talent. She is a chill, cool person and my whole thing, playing with her would be cool because of what it would do for this place (Mohegan Sun Arena). This place would be on fire. At the same time, I know UConn players and Connecticut have a different history, so I want what’s best for her. But at the same time, I am selfish and this place would be on fire.”
Ogwumike said she is leaning toward not playing in Europe so that she can be 100 percent healthy for her return to the WNBA.
[LINK_1] and [LINK_2] to Jim Fullers's articles.
“College is different from the pros, that camaraderie, loyalty you have with each other. It is different when you get to the next level. She knows who she is and just embrace that. There’s a lot of pressure and expectation, but she has already put herself in position to be great with her life.”
Ogwumike believes Stewart, who she has gotten to know through USA Basketball circles, is well suited to deal with the extra attention.
“Obviously somebody is handling it for her, (UConn coach) Geno (Auriemma), so just enjoy it,” Ogwumike said. “If she is enjoying it and having fun, she is going to play amazing. It’s going to be amazing. You will have her coming into the WNBA, you will have Diana (Taurasi) back, Skylar (Diggins) back, so there will be a lot of talk.”
Ogwumike proved worthy of the No. 1 pick as she was the rookie of the year before a knee injury suffered overseas forced her to miss the 2015 season.
While the Sun would jump for joy if they were to land Stewart, getting players like UConn point guard Moriah Jefferson or South Carolina wing Tiffany Mitchell would give the team another young star to build around.
“I don’t know what we need and that is why I am excited for this draft,” Ogwumike said. “It could be anybody, but I think we need somebody who has a high-intensity motor.”
What about the possibility of having a frontcourt of herself, Stewart and All-Star center Kelsey Bone?
“She is a remarkable talent. She is a chill, cool person and my whole thing, playing with her would be cool because of what it would do for this place (Mohegan Sun Arena). This place would be on fire. At the same time, I know UConn players and Connecticut have a different history, so I want what’s best for her. But at the same time, I am selfish and this place would be on fire.”
Ogwumike said she is leaning toward not playing in Europe so that she can be 100 percent healthy for her return to the WNBA.
[LINK_1] and [LINK_2] to Jim Fullers's articles.
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