UNCASVILLE, Conn. — On Tuesday evening, when the Connecticut Solar and Minnesota Lynx confronted off in Recreation 2 of the WNBA semi-finals, Courtney Williams and Marina Mabrey made headlines for some third-quarter trash speak.
“Informed her she couldn’t guard me,” Williams stated matter-of-factly after Minnesota’s 77-70 win, wherein she helped cleared the path with 17 factors.
On Friday morning at shootaround, Williams grinned when requested about the place she ranked among the many league’s greatest trash-talkers.
“I’m up there,” Williams stated. “I ain’t gonna say I’m the perfect, however I’m like a clean trash talker.”
The important thing for Williams? Preserving issues gentle, she stated. Some gamers get private, others get emotional. However Williams stays comfortable when she goes at different staff’s opponents.
“Like, I don’t actually get mad once I trash speak,” Williams stated. “Some individuals trash speaking — they be mad, on the market taking part in mad. I trash speak, I’m nonetheless smiling and comfortable, so there’s totally different ranges. Some individuals take themselves out of video games once they begin trash speaking.”
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Picture by Khoi Ton/NBAE through Getty Photos
Williams and Mabrey very effectively might go after it once more tonight when the Solar and Lynx run it again tonight in Recreation 3 on the Mohegan Solar Area. The duo goes method again: earlier than they had been fiery opponents battling within the WNBA semifinals, they had been teammates and associates on the Chicago Sky.
“That’s my dawg now,” Williams stated.
However, when the 2 groups face off at Mohegan Solar Area tonight, that friendship will probably be put apart — and all Mabrey and Williams will probably be is opponents. Mabrey can typically deal with her trash speak, Williams stated jokingly, whereas making clear that for her it’s by no means a distraction.
“I understand how to regulate my trash speak.”
Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman attested at shootaround that there are few trash-talkers within the WNBA who rival Courtney Williams.
“Courtney’s most likely essentially the most assured individual I’ve performed ever met,” Hiedeman stated. “I’m not gonna lie, she might be 0 for 10. She’s nonetheless gonna speak, she’s nonetheless gonna pop it. However I feel that simply goes to indicate who she is as an individual. She’s very, very assured.”
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Picture by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos
Hiedeman’s stated that Williams’ trash speak has been contagious for the Lynx, in a constructive method.
“She instills that confidence in in everyone,” Hiedeman stated. “So, man, I’m comfortable we on the identical staff, you recognize what I’m saying, as a result of when she get to speaking… however nah, she’s positively a high 5 for certain.”
And, she attested that Williams’ back-and-forth by no means will get too heavy.
“To her, it’s a basketball recreation,” Hiedeman stated. “So, every thing that occurs on this court docket stays on the court docket. Hers is extra like — she’s going to speak, she’s going to let you recognize she’s right here, however it’s nothing loopy.”
It’s necessary to notice that Williams’ trash-talk isn’t restricted to video games — it comes out in apply, too.
And, when the Lynx are simply hanging out.
“She talks all the time,” Hiedeman stated. “She’ll most likely speak after we go to breakfast. Regardless of to who.”
