I just got back from this event. It was pretty special to see this group interact with each other.
I was there when the doors opened at around 2:30 and there were five players on the court hanging out, chatting with each other, putting up shots. They were Paige, Shade, Sarah, Q, and KK. The other players showed up as a group around 2:55. I'm guessing there were about 1,000 people there, basically filling up lower sections 107-112. Jonathan XIV was also there.
There was also a film crew there the entire time. They were initially following Azzi around so I thought it was about her, but it soon became clear they were filming the whole thing.
Shade was hitting shot after shot in warmups so I would not be concerned there. They were using Wilson balls to get ready for the tourney.
All fourteen were there. Morgan was riding that scooter thing kneeling her right leg, rather than on crutches. She stayed involved by leading the counts in the stretching exercises. Ayanna participated in some of the drills - IMHO she is by far the most imposing figure on the floor, and it is a shame she has been derailed by injuries for two seasons in a row. Aubrey participated a little at the beginning but soon left the arena, presumably to work out on her own. She did come back with about 30 minutes to go but only as a spectator. So that was not encouraging. Caroline participated in everything.
I was impressed with the intensity and efficiency of the practice. It lasted from 3:00 until 4:45. Much of the time was spent on defense. Also impressed by the constant talking that was going on on defense. They looked like a team that is locked in and just trying to iron out the details. Kind of what you would expect for a Geno-coached team in March.
First, an intense four on four defensive drill against practice players, shifting from side to side. Next, a layup/passing drill. Then, three point shooting by 10 players at one end while Jana worked at the other end on low post moves and elbow jumpers, later joined by Ice. Then, a short amount of time on boxing out on free throws.
Then there was a full court scrimmage for about 10 minutes, starting five versus four practice players plus Allie. They were going pretty hard. The practice players can really play. One interesting feature - the player that shoots the ball, make or miss, has to slap hands with a coach on the baseline before getting back on defense. Allows the other team to go five on four until the shooter gets back into the play.
Then, the starters on the floor against the practice players for about five or six plays out of bounds with four seconds remaining.
Next, a lot of work on defense five - five one end, three on three on the other - working on defending against pick and rolls, going over, going under. It seemed like the most coaching was going on during this period.
The biggest segment, about 30 minutes, was practicing full court pressures of various types following a free throw against the practice players and some of the team reserves. Very intense, high energy. It was during that that the only injury scare occurred, Shade pulled up kind of awkwardly but recovered immediately and she is fine.
Then, more half court passing/layups for a couple of minutes, and Geno spoke to them all at midcourt for a few minutes. He got frustrated a couple of times - at one point came over to the crowd and wisecracked that we should be able to pick out the smart players from the dumb ones - but overall his demeanor was calm and there was no shouting going on.
The Q&A session was not the fans asking questions, as I had assumed it would be, but rather the KK show - with her asking the players questions and then her asking Geno a couple more. She asked him to show off some dance moves and he was having no part of that. Kind of what you would expect, nothing groundbreaking, but also kind of revealing - aside from the boisterous, effervescent KK, in their answers they come across as a pretty quiet, low key, understated group off the court. I say that with a great amount of respect. They have been through a lot and watching them interact, it is clear they are there for each other.
On the way out, while watching Paige shooting hoops with a young girl wearing a number 5 jersey, I got a very nice team picture autographed by Sarah.
