Seattle Storm Post-Draft Interview

Read the full Q&A with the Storm's Front Office after the WNBA Draft.

After the WNBA Draft concluded on Monday, a handful of media members had the opportunity to interview Seattle Storm Head Coach Noelle Quinn and Storm General Manager Talisa Rhea.

I wrote a summary of their draft picks, which you can read here.

Below is the full 20-minute interview transcribed in a Q&A style. It includes all of my questions and the questions from the other media members as well.

Question: How excited are you about these picks, especially Malonga? And how can these players have an immediate impact for the Storm with the goal to win right now?

General Manager Talisa Rhea: “We're extremely excited about Dom and what she can bring. I think I've said this a little bit before, but it's rare to be in a position of coming off a successful season last year to be able to add a pick in the lottery, and especially someone who's going to be able to impact us now and in the future the way that Dom is going to be able to. So we're extremely excited about her and the opportunity to bring her to Seattle. And then with three third-round picks, we feel like we got players at multiple spots that we're really excited about. Point guard combo (Sundell), spot shooter in Madison Conner, and Jordan Hobbs is a stretch four. Someone who can space the floor, has good size, and we’re excited to add her to our post group as well.”

Head Coach Noelle Quinn: “Yeah, I'm super excited as well. Honestly, having the team that we've formulated in free agency and having the ability to add talent, especially Dominique, we're in a unique position to have her come and impact us greatly. To have vets on this team, but also to have a lot of youth and ability to have her develop, but play alongside some great athletes here. We're super excited about that, and as T (Talisa) said, I think that we've rounded out our roster with some versatility as well.”

Question: In the short term, how do you see Dom fitting in with this Frontcourt that you have right now? Is she a true 5 (Center)? Do you see her being a stretch 4 (Power Forward)? Just how do you plan to use her?

Coach Quinn: “She's a unicorn. She is one of one, in my opinion. Her ability to do multiple things on a basketball court, guard multiple positions, whether it is the five, whether it is the four. I think her versatility lends to a successful career in our league. The thing that is very intriguing about her is just the way that she's grown rapidly over the last few years. And so if you think about her ability to go inside, out, stretch her game, but also her defensive prowess, there's some versatility to her game that won't have me say she is this or that. She is 100% an amazing athlete.”

Question: For (Talisa), how much have you seen of her? Did you go over to see her? Did you watch her with her French team, with the national team? And how much did you talk with Gabby? You know, just to get a feel for who she is as a player and a teammate.

GM Rhea: “Noelle and I have both seen her in person, seen her live. We've watched a ton of film on her as well. And of course, had multiple conversations with Gabby, really dating back to even last year. She was one of the up-and-coming players that we knew would be on people's radar this year. Then had conversations with Dom as well, leading up to this, and so we really felt very comfortable with our evaluation of her. And her ability to get to know us as well as our ability to get to know her as a person off of the basketball court as well.”

Question: Once you guys had acquired the number two pick, how quickly did you zero in on Dominique? How comfortable were you with that?

GM Rhea: “Yeah, it's been an ongoing process, over the past, I think it's been a couple of months since we had the number two pick. We did our best to prepare for all scenarios and obviously had to wait to know who was going to be in the draft. And so got that news a little bit ago, and then we're really able to finalize plans. But we've been obviously talking about Dom very early on in this process and knew that she would be a great option for us at the two spot.”

Question: For (Coach Quinn), I’ve read online some people saying, “Oh, the Storm already have Ezi, so why would they take Dom?” I didn’t really buy that, but what would you say to either that criticism or just how can you utilize Ezi and Dom together?

Coach Quinn: “It definitely is a piece that fits now and in the future. There are some similarities, but also some differences. If you think about Dom's ability to run the floor, it's very similar to Ezi, but you think about what we're defensively and what that lineup could look like with Dom on the floor. Offensively, as you know, we like to play with fast pace. We like to play with space. The three-point has been our Achilles’ heel, but at the end of the day, when you have a dynamic front court that can give you more paint points, give you more options to score in a variety of different ways. I think it's not fitting in a box. I think it's actually fun to think about the dynamic lineups that we can play with.”

Question: For Talisa, regarding Serena Sundell, how surprised were you that she was still available, and what do you like about her game?

GM Rhea: “We were really surprised as we started to get towards the bottom half of the second round, really started talking about that being a possibility for us at 26. I think she's got great size. She's a proven leader and has played. I think she leads their school in all-time games played and started. She's just really solid. She can play multiple positions. Her two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio is always great to see, makes smart decisions. I think she'll add a different element, a different look for us. And so we're really excited and happy to have her for sure.”

Question: I was just curious if you were concerned at all with (Malonga’s) availability and when she would actually be available to come here to start the season, the preseason?

GM Rhea: “Yeah, it's always a conversation with international players and even with U.S.-born players who are overseas playing, and so we've had those conversations. We kind of know what to expect, and we're open. We feel like she's a talent that is worth going through that process with her, and so we'll continue to be in conversation, and we will be thrilled to have her in Seattle as soon as she can get here.”

Question: Do you have any idea when that timeline would be?

GM Rhea: “We don't. She's going back to France after the draft tomorrow to finish out her season. We'll be following along and get more info as they are in the playoffs right now.”

Question: How helpful was it to have Gabby? Were you able to utilize her as a resource, having played with Dom?

GM Rhea: “Yeah, Conversations with a teammate are extremely helpful. Gabby played with her on the Olympic team. She also played with her in Lyon, and so she has seen her over the years, and seen her growth and development. It really gives us a perspective on what Noelle said, just how much she's improved year over year, as well as where she's at now and the type of person she is, the type of teammate that she is, her habits. And so we definitely value that feedback from a teammate, and yeah, happy that they are able to have that connection and familiarity.”

Question: It was asked about playing her and Ezi together. What level of excitement is there? When did you start envisioning how she can fit in with the roster and in your lineups this season, and thinking about having that type of size?

Coach Quinn: “When it became a reality honestly, I called Pokey the other night, just like, hey, how does this look? I've been wrapping my mind around how we can best utilize our lineups. I think the great part about it is she's young, and so there's no pressure to come in here and be a superstar, All-Star day one. There's going to be some reality around a development process. And I think we have the vets and the versatility and the athletes and the leadership to do that. To be able to play, you know, again, alongside Ezi, alongside Nneka with AC, and learn from some amazing vets. I think that's part of this process as well. And I think that's the other exciting thing about adding Dominique.”

Question: You mentioned that the three-point shooting has been an Achilles’ heel for this team. And I'm wondering how much that particular struggle impacted or informed your decision to draft Madison Conner. But then also what you see outside of the sharp shooting that she's known for, that made you want to draft her.

Coach Quinn: “I think even prior to that, in free agency, Talisa did an amazing job of bringing in some great shooters. We have added Lexi, we've added Lou, we've added AC to the mix. And I think we've addressed that. And then having the ability to, like you said, draft an elite shooter is going to be important. Especially in our third round group, I thought it was important to kind of bolster up some guard depth and have some athletes come in here and really compete for an opportunity to get a spot. You don't find many elite shooters like Conner with the ability to be lethal and consistent. And so it's exciting to get her in here and to see her. The other thing is her size. Sometimes shooters can be a little bit small. The other things that her versatility on the floor as well, but really leaning on her three-point shooting, I'm excited to see that again.”

Question: Could you just talk a bit more about the decision to draft Jordan Hobbs as well, and what you see in her game that you liked?

Coach Quinn: “Yeah, same thing. A big who can stretch the floor. I really like the system that she played in. As we're talking about having some versatility with our three-point shooting, so when you have a player of her stature, maturity, stayed in a system for four years, really committed and loyal and grew within the player that she is, I think it's amazing to bring not only an athlete that can do things on the court, but a high character athlete as well. I'm so excited to have her here.”

Question: With Dominique coming in with pro experience, does that make you guys feel better about her being able to, on a quick turnaround, maximize this point of Nneka's career? Skylar's obviously having the resurgence. Does it make you guys feel better about being able to slot her in right away?

GM Rhea: “She's been playing against a lot of players and with a lot of players that are in our league. And so there'll be a sense of comfort, I think, for her in that. Obviously, our league is totally different than what she's experienced. And to go night in and night out against the competition in our league will be an adjustment. But knowing that she's done it before, I think, is a huge advantage and a confidence builder for her, and just how she's had to approach being a pro already for so long in her young career. I think it is a very big advantage to making the transition.”

Question: One point that was mentioned a lot last season was how the team was in need of grit/heart on the court. And Dominic Malonga mentioned in her post-draft press conference that one thing that FIBA basketball taught her was toughness because every game is intense and every game is hard. Is this something that you had in mind when drafting her? And do you think that this is something that makes international players attractive to WNBA teams?

Coach Quinn: “Yeah, international players… having experienced it as a player, sometimes you go over there and you're like ‘this is a foul!’ but to absorb the physicality, also the grind of the season, you have an appreciation for international play and players. And for her to get that experience and have that and bring that over here at such a young age, I think it is vital, not only to her growth and development, but to what she can contribute to this team. Again, I think we've done an excellent job with the current players that we've had building this team. And we have a lot of gritty players now. We have a lot of players who are hungry. And I think Dominique will definitely contribute to that as well.”

Question: Are you expecting to keep 11 or 12 players? Because that was the deal the past year. And what's the latest with Nika? Will she be available at the start of the season? Or do you think you may get her back at some point in time during the season?

GM Rhea: Our plan is to start the season with 11. We'll see how everything goes. We may have the opportunity to make changes throughout the year, potentially add a roster spot. And right now, Nika won't be available for the start of the season.

Question: For Coach, not to put any unrealistic expectations, but can you look at maybe the New York Liberty with what they were able to do with having Jonquel and Stewie and having that size and length, and maybe learning from that or utilizing that with Dom and Ezi?

Coach Quinn: “Definitely! Honestly, if you look at it, they are the defending champions, and you have to make a roster that can compete against all of the teams in this league, but also the defending champs. And I think we're not saying Dom is JJ, but the projection or the ability to get her to do the things that make a versatile big in this league really elite, shooting the three, playing inside, and outside. It does work. And if you look at what Ezi has done as well. She's extended her range. She's had an amazing EuroLeague final, and she's grown in her own way. And so you do… I think it's a dynamic lineup that can definitely make waves in this league.”

Question: You've seen Ezi’s growth from the very beginning, from when she joined the team to becoming an All-Star, and you’ve been experienced with all that. Do you think that'll help you as far as being able to work with Dom and develop her as well?

Coach Quinn: “Yeah, Ezi’s first season was in the Bubble, but it feels like it was just yesterday, you know? She’s a vet. She's the one who has won a championship in a Seattle Storm jersey, and to see her growth has been tremendous. And it's not only on the basketball court, but growing into the woman that she is. And it's like I'm a proud auntie, almost with Ezi. But it takes work, and it does take time. And I think what Ezi had was a great vet in Lang (Crystal Langhorne) when she was here. So I think about Dom and having a great vet in Ezi, and a great vet in Nneka, and a great vet in AC (Alysha Clark). That really, really propels that development. And again, it's not pressure to be a fast or escalated development. It's a process and Dom understands that, but we've seen it with Ezi and I feel like we can definitely project that with Dom as well.”

Question: Do you anticipate adding anybody else to the roster before the start of training camp?

GM Rhea: “We're still looking at it. I think we're at 16 players to start camp and trying to evaluate just numbers and what we feel like we need of depth at any other spot. So potentially.”

Notes:
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