WNBA ALL-STAR GAME

July 9, 2022

Ariel Atkins

Rhyne Howard

Brionna Jones

Team Wilson - Media Conference

Q. Do any of you have a memory with Sue Bird or Sylvia Fowles that you would like to share with the public and that kind of takes into account who they are as people and players on the court?

ARIEL ATKINS: I guess I can start. My most I guess memorable memory with Sue is when we won the gold medal together and she put the medal on my neck. That was pretty special for me just because I've been growing up watching her play, and then to be able to play against her and just learn from her, it was a pretty special moment.

And then with Syl, Syl is just such a mama bear. She's actually helped me figure out how to put a garden in my kitchen. Yeah, that's a fond memory I have of her because she's been really helpful with that for me.

Q. Rhyne, I walked out to the court where the skills contest is going to be and where everyone was practicing, and the announcer was talking about how for the skills contest each of you are going to be paired with a young person. I'm curious as to what you know about the young person you're going to be paired with, and can you tell us about the impact you'd like to have on that person and just young people in general by performing in the skills contest?

RHYNE HOWARD: I only know the name, and we just figured that out like 30 minutes ago. But I plan to just be a player that they can look up to and have that hardworking mentality that they can try to achieve.

Q. Just to follow up, this is your first All-Star Game. What are some, I guess, tricks of the trade that you've heard from maybe your teammates on this team or maybe from Tiffany Hayes, who I believe has been an All-Star, if she's given you some advice?

RHYNE HOWARD: Like advice about being an All-Star?

Q. Yes.

RHYNE HOWARD: Just be yourself. I got that from Ariel Atkins.

Q. Rhyne, how has it been just this year has been such a whirlwind, going from competing with Kentucky to getting drafted first overall and now getting that experience playing in Atlanta? What has all of that been like, particularly the part about playing in Atlanta?

RHYNE HOWARD: Atlanta is a really fun city and it's super great. It's a sports city, so all of our games are close to sold out or sold out. Just to be in there and be around that environment is just fun in itself. I couldn't imagine going to somewhere where it's like super empty, not that I'm saying other places are, but I think Atlanta is a great place for a rookie.

Q. Rhyne, question for you: In your first season in the WNBA you are in the All-Star Game. What does it mean for you about your season and about everything that you would like to share with your career and everything about basketball? What does it mean for you?

RHYNE HOWARD: This is just a great experience, and just a great opportunity to be a part of, so what it means to me, just that I've been working hard and that it's coming to fruition.

Q. Rhyne, you and Kelsey Plum are the only two players that are in all three skills contest, 3-point contest and All-Star Game. Can you talk about what that means for you as a player and what that means about your versatility, and also, are you excited for all three?

RHYNE HOWARD: I'm super excited for all three. They asked me if I wanted to do it, I was like, sure, just put me in it. But I think that just shows like me and Kelsey, like we can both shoot, we can both play make. I feel like amongst other players, but I feel like that's just a part of All-Star Weekend is just having fun, and I feel like those events are fun.

Q. Rhyne, I want to get your thoughts on questions about playing in the WNBA up until your first All-Star appearance in your very first season.

RHYNE HOWARD: Yes, what does it mean to be in your first All-Star?

Q. Yes.

RHYNE HOWARD: Just capitalizing on what I said earlier. It's just a great experience, a great opportunity to be a part of.

Q. Ariel Atkins, do you notice any trash talk between your teammates?

ARIEL ATKINS: Yeah, I mean, we're competitors. But it's all fun and games. But we are competitors, we all like to win, and that's our goal.

Q. Bri, you're here at the All-Star Game; what do you feel like you built on from last season? You had a really strong season, to where you are here in this position again recognized as one of the best players in the league?

BRIONNA JONES: I think it's my consistency throughout the season that has brought me back to the All-Star Game. I think being a dominant presence in the paint for our team has definitely -- it's one of the reasons why I'm here, so I think just being able to build on that and working on my game in the paint and extending my range to the mid-range and being able to attack the basket. I think that's what's allowed me to be an All-Star again this year.

Q. We know that Brittney Griner is being honored today. How do you guys feel about the whole situation regarding her?

ARIEL ATKINS: I feel good about it because her presence needs to be felt. I think she needs to be all and through everything that we do because she needs to be home. I think the rally yesterday was a good start as far as us kind of just talking about it in a different type of light. We want whoever has the ability to get her home to be able to do that, and so we support everybody who's trying to help her do that, and then I know that we're doing everything that we can, us writing and calling and making sure she's constantly visible and she's constantly on people's minds.