WNBA DRAFT

April 10, 2023

Jordan Horston

Seattle Storm

Q. How do you feel about getting drafted?

JORDAN HORSTON: Man, surreal. It's a surreal feeling. Just thankful to God. I give all glory to Him. I wouldn't be here without Him. All the hard work that I've put in allowed me to be in this position. Like I said, I'm just grateful for this opportunity.

Q. You do so many things effectively on the court. What do you feel like is your carrying tool, the thing that will carry over the most and see right away when you get to the W?

JORDAN HORSTON: I can be a lockdown defender. Like you said, I'm pretty versatile. Can't really put me in a box. I'm going to do whatever it takes. Whatever the team needs I'm going to do it. I work hard. I'm a big guard so I can guard fours, bigger guards, smaller guards. Like I said, I'm really focusing in on bringing that defensive impact.

Q. Obviously Tennessee has a very rich history of players in the WNBA. Have you talked to any of them or do they give you advice over time --

JORDAN HORSTON: I was literally just talking to Tamika Catchings. The first time she texted me I was star struck. I was like, this is Tamika Catchings, she has my number, she knows my name, what the heck.

But no, she's been there. She's been giving me advice and encouraging me. I'm so thankful for her.

Q. Is there anything specific she said to you?

JORDAN HORSTON: She just told me to be me. She said she knew that I would make it. Just continue to do the things that I've been doing, and she's rooting for me.

Q. I'm just curious if you can take us through the calculation you made to decide to come to the draft rather than take another year in college, especially when you had teammates at Tennessee that decided to stay.

JORDAN HORSTON: Yeah, I mean, either way it went, I feel like it was going to be a good situation. It was two really good situations. That's why it made it even harder for me to decide. But to go back on everything that I've worked for is for this moment.

I've always had aspirations and dreams of playing in the W. I've watched it growing up. I feel like this is my time. God was giving me this opportunity, and I feel like I had to jump on it. I'm honestly so happy that I made this decision. I'm a strong believer in everything happens for a reason, and this was meant to happen.

Q. Who are the players currently in the W that you're most excited to either play with or play against?

JORDAN HORSTON: Ooh, I'm excited to play with all my teammates at Seattle. We've got another Tennessee Lady Vol over there (Mercedes Russell), so I'm excited about that. And then just stepping out on the court and playing against everybody. Like I said, I'm a big fan of the W. I watched it growing up all my life. So I look up to a lot of people in the W. Every team that I play against, I'm just honored to be out there.

Q. I just want to know when did this moment become so real for you?

JORDAN HORSTON: Things really set in after my name was called. I was walking out and my nerves were high. I walked out and they pulled me over and they showed my this video of my aunt or my cousin Sylvia. She coached for North Carolina and also played in the W. She showed me this video of her speaking and it kind of made me tear up. Just realizing this is what I've worked for. She's always told me that I had what it takes to be in the W, and it's just crazy that it's finally here.

Q. I want to get your insight on what you think the fit is like with Seattle and playing alongside Jewell Loyd?

JORDAN HORSTON: Oh, man, I'm so excited. I'm so excited to pick her brain. I'm so excited for her to take me in and to be a part of this. They have a great fan base. I'm just excited to get out there. Like I said, I'm always ready to learn, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes to help this team.

Q. Have you had much conversations with people from the Storm, and what do you think about Seattle and what would seem like a chance to get some early playing time?

JORDAN HORSTON: Well, actually Seattle was probably one of the only places that I didn't have a conversation with. I've talked with a lot of coaches on Zoom, and they was actually one of the ones that I didn't. I'm so thankful that they saw potential in me. But like I said, they come from rich history. Sue Bird, she held it down there. Jewell Loyd, she's a dog. I'm just really excited.

I'm just going to do whatever I need to do. I'm going to continue to be me, be a great teammate, be a sponge, be ready to work.

Q. You were just out in Seattle for the NCAA Tournament. What was the city like, and did you have any idea at that point that you might be starting your career there?

JORDAN HORSTON: None. I had no idea where I was going. The city was beautiful. It was amazing. The only thing that I've known about Seattle prior to going for the NCAA Tournament was Grey's Anatomy. I only knew it was a pretty beautiful city. But no, I did not have any clue on where I was going to end up.

I'm excited to embark on that new journey.

Q. Obviously your college career ended in Seattle and now your WNBA career is going to debut in Seattle. I know it's been a whirlwind since you got drafted. Have you had a chance to talk with any of the Seattle coaches from there in New York via FaceTime or phone?

JORDAN HORSTON: Yes, actually I did. Yeah, I did talk to all the coaches. We got on the phone. They were excited, I was excited. Just made me want to go there right now.

Q. You and Kellie Harper seemed to have a pretty special moment once your name was announced and I know you guys have a special relationship. Can you talk about what that moment meant and to have her in the building tonight?

JORDAN HORSTON: Honestly, the whole draft I could see Coach. She was in the corner. I'm over here, hands, palms sweating. Every time I would look at Coach, it calmed me down. I would just look over at Coach, she would be just looking around and I was like, all right, I'm good, I'm good. But that goes to show you she brings me peace. I can be myself with her, and I love her so much. She's done so much for me, and whatever I can do to give back to her, I'm going to jump and do it.

Q. I was wondering if you think playing at Tennessee prepared you to play at the professional level, and I'm also wondering if you've talked to Mercedes anytime recently or maybe during your recruiting process?

JORDAN HORSTON: Definitely playing at Tennessee has prepared me for the next level. You look at Tennessee, you see Candace Parker, you see legends that come out of Tennessee. I feel like just having those people that came before us, they came back and helped us out. I feel like that's been a good thing. I feel like also with the coaching staff, they were amazing on and off the court. I feel like they're the best in the country.

As far as Mercedes, I haven't spoken to her, but I'm going to get on that real soon. I remember coming on a visit, I don't remember how old I was, but she was there and I was looking up to her. So I'm excited to play with her.

Q. Adding on to what Ryan said, you join a long list of Lady Vols who got drafted to the WNBA. What does it mean to not only have your name in the record books at Tennessee but now added to that list of drafted Lady Vols?

JORDAN HORSTON: Man, it's crazy. I still can't even believe it. Like I said, I have to give all glory to God because without Him I wouldn't be here. My family, the people who supported me, like I said, it's still a blur. I probably won't even realize this until long, long, long down the line. So I'm just trying to take everything in, but I'm just so grateful.

Q. I was going to ask about the handshake. How much did you and Kellie Harper practice that handshake?

JORDAN HORSTON: Okay, so we actually we actually made that handshake maybe a week before the draft. We were like, we're going to be one of those cool people, like we're going to do a handshake. We showed everybody in the office, so we probably did it about 12 times.

But it was cool. I think we looked pretty cool. We pulled it off.

Q. For the third year in a row a Lady Vol has been drafted ninth overall. Have you talked to Rennia Davis or Rae Burrell leading back to this process being in the exact position that you are now?

JORDAN HORSTON: Yeah, okay, so I actually talked to Rae a couple weeks before. She was just asking me where my head was and just, you're going to be good. Just be you. Go in there. Work hard. Just the things that a good teammate would say.

And then Rennia texted me today just telling me she was proud of me and she was rooting for me. But that just goes to show that the sisterhood is real. We stay in touch. Like I said, I look up to them. They brought me in and they showed the ropes to me, and hopefully I was able to do that with somebody else. But like I said, it's a sisterhood, and it means more here at Tennessee.

Q. Walk us through that fit; how did you pick that out? I think you may have won the fashion for the WNBA Draft.

JORDAN HORSTON: Do you think so? I mean, it's nothing too crazy. Actually, it was just thrown together last minute. I got it yesterday. I didn't want anything too crazy, but I needed something that had to make a statement. I feel like this was the right fit for me. I think I pulled it off.