Adrian Williams

During this past WNBA season, 6'4'' Phoenix Mercury forward-center Adrian Williams, 26, took everything up a notch. Her improved results led to her first All-Star Game appearance. She is leaving her options open for the months ahead, but one thing is certain - her primary goal is to be an unstoppable presence in the WNBA.

Women's Basketball: How did you prepare for the 2003 WNBA season?

ADRIAN WILLIAMS: First I went overseas to Italy and I came back in December. Then I worked a lot on my shot with Coach [John] Shumate and a shooting coach. They gave me a lot more confidence in my shot and kind of took my shot to another level. Otherwise, I just did my conditioning and weights.

This year, for the first time, I didn't play any pick up. I wanted to focus on one ball this year and go into the season knowing the WNBA ball inside and out. Usually you play pick up with guys and you play with the guys' ball, then you go and work on your shot and you use the women's ball. You're going back and forth. This year I focused on one ball.

WB: How come you only spent part of the season in Italy?

AW: Basketball-wise I was having a great season but I wasn't happy. I had to weigh whether I wanted to stay there or be mentally and spiritually happy. So I went home and stayed with my parents in Fresno, Calif., for a while and then came back to Phoenix.

WB: What were your expectations for yourself going into the 2003 WNBA season?

AW: My expectations were to have an all-around game. The seasons before, I was focused more on rebounding and defense. That was my role. That's what the coaches expected from me.

This year Coach Shumate said he wanted me to be more aggressive offensively and focus a lot on taking the ball to the goal. He more than encouraged me to shoot.

I just wanted to play basketball. It's a simple statement but it's what I do.

WB: Even though the results weren't always there for the Phoenix Mercury in 2003, the team played pretty well together. How did it feel to you?

AW: This year we probably played better together than we ever have. We all respected each other. We all worked hard. There were no prima donnas. Every day in practice, there was no one slacking. We pushed each other and we worked as a team. I respected all my teammates. That's what made it harder to lose, because we knew what we were putting out there. We were putting out all our effort we could.

WB: What did it mean to you to make the All-Star team?

AW: Even now it makes me smile, it was kind of like a glimpse of the future, but also a gift for what I had to endure and the things that I'd gone through in the past. It was great acknowledgement from the coaches.

WB: What do you take away from this season in terms of your development as a professional basketball player?

AW: Most of the seasons I've been pretty happy about the way I ended it, no matter what our record was. But this year I end with a sense of I didn't do enough. I increased everything - my points, my rebounding and my steals. But I feel like I could have done even more.

So I have to wait until next season and try and get better for next season so I can accomplish those things. That's just the competitor in me.

WB: Will you go overseas at all this off-season?

AW: If I do go, it may be in January or February. I may play in the NWBL (U.S. winter league). It's great to not know what I'm going to do.

There are a lot of things I want to try. Maybe some radio broadcasting.

I finally get the opportunity to get back to my church (Pilgrim's Rest in Phoenix) and get involved in the youth department. That's really where my passion lies.

WB: How do you maintain your competitive edge?

AW: I believe it's God-given. I've loved basketball since it was first placed in my hands. I'm a competitor in everything I do.

To read more about Adrian Williams, log onto www.WBmagazine.com.

Copyright Ashton International Media, Inc. Dec 2003
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