Dawn Staley's Diary: It's Playtime

Dawn is back on her feet and ready to help her Sting teammates roar back from a slow start

Against Seattle, Staley (5) didn't let anything stand her way. Noren Trotman/WNBA

Lying in bed the night before the first game this season, I couldn't sleep. My doctor had just cleared me to play, and I was really anxious about how I would perform coming back from my knee injury. (I had arthroscopic surgery in February.) I was thinking about how I hadn't really played in three months, whether I was in game shape, and whether or not my shot would be off. It's normal to have some insecurities after an injury, but I almost drove myself crazy. It was a tough night.

When I walked onto the court, my adrenaline was pumping. I was sooo excited! The doctor told me to take it easy and not to push too hard, so even though my knee felt strong and steady, I only sprinted full speed when I had to, and I avoided sudden moves. For the first few games my timing was a little off, my shot was a little off, but my wind was surprisingly on point. Physically I felt good, but I was disappointed that we kept getting beaten. (We started out 0-5.)

Typically, I can be pretty silly off the court. But because the victories have been hard to come by, I've been a lot more focused and serious. I'm one of the leaders on the team, and I feel that my attitude sets a tone. Don't get me wrong -- I don't walk around straight-faced. But these days I mean business. I hate losing.

Staley felt no pain reading the whirlpool after the game. Noren Trotman/WNBA

Our team is not performing at 100% because we have a number of players, like Shalonda Enis and Larecha Jones, who are recovering from injuries. Also, because of changes in the team's makeup, we are still adjusting to each other's style of play. That's especially true for me because it's my job to magnify my teammates' strengths and hide their weaknesses. I put people in position to do their thing. I have to know who has good hands, and who doesn't like bounce passes. I have to be aware of when someone is tired or is running too fast to make a layup -- little things like that. Yes, getting adjusted and getting healthy has slowed the process, but everyone on the Sting is working hard. The fact that we all genuinely like each other and communicate well is a major plus.

Despite our slow start, I predict that by midseason we'll all be healthy and making a good run at the Eastern Conference title. In the end, we'll prevail. Don't sleep on the Sting!

Peace from inside the Hive.

 
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