Interviews with Yvonne Turner and Arella Guirantes

Learn more about these two players from Seattle Storm training camp.

After the Seattle Storm fell to the Phoenix Mercury 77-71 in their home preseason game, the team went back to work. After a few more practices, I had the opportunity to interview guards Yvonne Turner and Arella Guirantes; both new players on the team this season who are trying to make the final roster.

Yvonne Turner has been getting a lot of run as the team’s primary ballhandler during practices and got the start at Point Guard in their first game against the Mercury.

Yvonne Turner Interview

Question: I know Coach Noelle Quinn has praised you in this training camp both for what you’re doing and also for how you’re helping younger players like Jade Melbourne. How do you balance doing everything you have to do to make a team versus also being there to help younger players?

Turner: “Basketball is a team sport! When I win, everyone else wins, and vice versa. I always want my teammates to excel and to want to be better and to be great. Just recognizing that, when to flip the switch, and when to pick my moments. When I can have those side one-on-one conversations. I’m old (says in jest) but I have experience. It helps a lot that the coaches trust me as well.”

Leading into this training camp, were there any areas you specifically wanted to focus on this year?

“Just being a leader. I’ve never been in the role for a WNBA team to play Point Guard and to help the younger players as well. Just being able to be vocal, on and off the court, while still having that point guard role. Just making sure I have constant communication with coach to know what she wants and how she wants to do things because every coach is different. I played with Ezi overseas so I have that connection with her as well. Just getting used to Cedes, Jewell, Kia, and Sami as well. It’s been great, they’ve been very helpful.”

From that answer, do you reflect on when you were a little younger when you had the veterans be there for you? Is there any that stand out during your first years in the WNBA?

“Yeah, I was just talking about that the other day. I’ve been in a lot of training camps. You get to the point where you’re scared to ask a question. I just wanted to make sure they have an outlet. It’s hard. There is a lot of information on offense, on defense, and you’re still trying to be yourself. And you have to be in the shape you need to be to try and make a roster spot. Just want to be a safe outlet for my teammates, whether that’s coming from the younger players or the coaches as well. I have to take constructive criticism as well. I make mistakes as well. And just having my teammates trust me to have my back. It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders.”

What are you enjoying the most in training camp so far?

“I’ve enjoyed coming to work every day. I’ve enjoyed the group that this organization has put together. We already have great team chemistry and it’s only been, a week and a half. Not even two weeks. Just showing up to work and knowing we have good people and we’re going to war together. It feels good! It feels really good!”

What were the lessons learned during the preseason game against Phoenix?

“Just executing a little bit better. Knowing time and score. We had a couple of lapses on defense where we let them get a couple of threes. Other than that, we did pretty well on the turnovers and rebounds. Just recognizing time and score and possessions.”

What have you seen from Jade Melbourne, Dulcy, and Jordan - what have you seen out of them?

“They’re great! They’re great ballplayers. They’re very coachable and adaptable. If coach says something to them, they listen very well and take in that information. They’re not trying to do anything crazy. Having them coachable is a lot because there are a lot of players who aren’t coachable because they think they’re the star of the team. Wherever they played. (Act) like they know everything. For them to be coachable, it’s been a great help for us and for them as well. They’re seeing if they can take all that information and respond with that and they’ve been very good about that.”

Arella Guirantes Interview

First, talk to me about what your mindset has been coming into training camp. I know there are a lot of younger players in camp and that it’s been highlight competitive.

“My mindset is just to come in and be competitive. To meet that energy and be as consistent as possible. But also to be really aggressive. I know that’s what we talked to me about during the offseason. That’s what they want from me here. To be aggressive and to make plays for others. I’m just trying to do that in the midst of the team and gaining chemistry together.”

What areas did you focus on before training camp during the offseason?

“(Laughs) I didn’t really have an offseason. I think over there in Europe, I just focused on keeping it as simple as possible. Developing better reads on pick and rolls. And moving without the ball. I know that was a struggle for me coming off of my rookie year, being very ball-dominant (in college). Making sure I’m just as effective off the ball as I am with the ball. That’s been my main focus.”

You bring up a great point, with WNBA Players not really having a true offseason as most play overseas. Are you still able to develop and work on stuff? Or is it, just so many games you have to focus on just the games?

“No, I was in the gym 24/7. I got kicked out of the gym a couple of times. It was hard because you’re playing 30-40 minutes some games. And then you have to shoot after the games, before the games, shoot on off-days when I really didn’t want to because I was tired. But I made sure to really develop my game while playing overseas. It’s really hard but it’s a sacrifice I was willing to make.”

What are you enjoying the most out of training camp? What are you having the most fun with?

“Just the energy! As a group, we have a togetherness that doesn’t really happen that often. Especially, being together for just a week and change. That togetherness is really special. Everyone’s energy - the days that I’m down, someone else is picking us up. We all elevate each other. Overall, it’s going to make us better. The energy in practices has been amazing.”

Have you had the chance in the WNBA or overseas to play with any of the current Storm players? Or is it all brand-new teammates?

“Well I didn’t play with but I played against Vonnie and Ezi. We were in the same league and the same Euroleague group. We’ve seen each other a few times. I played with Jas (Jasmine Walker) in LA. We have great chemistry. We were really close in LA.”

What did you learn from the Phoenix preseason game?

“Just having that extra second of focus on defense. To top middle drives and be there on rotations. It was all the little stuff honestly. Being patient. Stuff that I can control, stuff that we can control as a team. Overall, the energy was great. I think the main focus after the game on what we talked about was being able to stop runs faster. Basketball is a game of runs. TP (Theresa Plaisance) made sure to emphasize that as long as we stop the runs faster, we’ll be a lot better.”

Last one from me, I know you guys are going to play in Los Angeles for a preseason scrimmage. Being that you were drafted by LA, is there extra excitement going back there or is it just another game for you?

“I’m very excited to go back to LA. I know it’ll be a totally different team. LA is special, especially because they drafted me. I’m just really excited to go out there and get a W. I’m going to go out there with a competitive mindset of course! But yeah … I’m not going to give them too much (bulletin board material).”

Final Thoughts

It was good to speak with both players and get to know them a little better as this was the first time I got to interview them. At this point, I am pretty confident that Yvonne Turner will make the final roster that will be announced later this upcoming week. I think Arella is likely battling for one of the final roster spots. There are likely two spots available for a group of players that includes Guirantes, Jasmine Walker, Kaila Charles, and Ivana Dojkic.

That is, of course, assuming that Gabby Williams isn’t joining the team. Williams's French team advanced further into their league’s playoffs which makes the already slim chance that Gabby would be playing in the WNBA this year even slimmer. It still hasn’t been ruled out but I’ve long been under the impression that she won’t be playing in the WNBA this year. If I am wrong, I will be happy to be wrong.

We also can’t rule out the Storm picking up a different player that gets cut right before or right after the start of the season. If you recall, that’s how the team acquired Mercedes Russell. The team initially kept their third-round selection of the 2018 WNBA Draft, Teana Muldrow. But once the Liberty cut Russell, the Storm picked her up.

Notes: Thanks to my paid subscribers for all of their support! The season is about to get underway so you’ll be receiving a lot of Seattle Storm coverage from me. Tell other WNBA and Seattle Storm fans about my coverage. To all the Mothers out there, Happy Mother’s Day! I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mother’s love and support.