WNBA DRAFT

April 15, 2021

Arella Guirantes

Q. Is there anyone you're looking forward to getting into camp with, and have you had a chance to look at the team so far and maybe think about what you could bring to the Sparks this year?

ARELLA GUIRANTES: Yeah. LA has the Rutgers alum with Erica Wheeler, so I'm excited to hear the knowledge she has for me, going undrafted and being a WNBA All-Star MVP. She knows what it takes to last and survive, beat politics. I really have a number of questions for her, and I've already spoken to her. That's my sister. So I'm excited to get to training camp and ball out with her.

And as for the roster and the style of play, I know LA likes to run up and down. They like to open the floor. And that's what a lot of pro teams, obviously, their game is worked out on a pro level. So I feel like I would just fit right in with the spacing and being able to score, and also just play defense because I love playing defense, too.

Q. I know that you had some training with Dennis Smith Jr., and I know he came out with his own shoe. Tell us your favorite pair of shoes to wear on the court, and would you ever collaborate with Dennis Smith Jr.?

ARELLA GUIRANTES: First, yes. Working out with Dennis this summer was a really great blessing. He brought physicality to me, challenged me. We had a lot of fun.

My favorite shoes to wear would probably be adidas and I’m accustomed to their shoes. But my all time favorite shoe to wear would probably be in high school, I really love the Kobe 5s, probably the most comfortable shoe I've ever put on. But also I know Dennis is coming out and he's creating his own path. I love trendsetters. I love people that go against status quo and make their own path. So of course I would definitely support not only a friend but a trendsetter.

Q. Obviously you had to probably wait a little longer than you expected. What was the wait like for you, and did the moment still live up to what you thought it was going to be?

ARELLA GUIRANTES: The wait was terrifying. Yeah, the wait was terrifying. It was just a bunch of emotions flying around. I didn't know, because you talk to coaches and they're selling you a dream. So to not see other things happen from the other side of things, and just be kind of left out on an island, I can't say I'm not used to it, but it's okay. God has a plan for me. I know He doesn't play about me at all. Eleven other teams that missed out, that's fine.

Q. I'm guessing you can use this as motivation: Coach [Derek] Fisher on his press conference said he was thrilled that you were still available for him at that pick, and he was so ecstatic that he'd have a chance to draft you and potentially coach you. How much is this going to motivate you, falling to where you did against other teams you may face in the WNBA?

ARELLA GUIRANTES: If I did need any more motivation, that was it. Definitely poked the nice little bear, it's like where you don't get picked at the park and you're the last pick and you know you can play, and you're waiting on somebody to take a chance. I'm grateful for the chance that I have. But yeah, I'm definitely -- I don't need any more motivation for sure.