SHRINERS CHILDREN'S OPEN

October 10, 2023

Taylor Montgomery

TPC Summerlin

Press Conference

Q. Coach Adair, great to see you. I'm sure it feels a little different coming back for season 2. You've got 10 newcomers, a lot to talk about with your team. Where are you at going into the season?

NATASHA ADAIR: We're healthy. I'll start there. I'm exciting to be in the gym now with a team that you a year ago we just didn't have this opportunity.

But we talk about the energy, the enthusiasm, the competitiveness, and I think that's the energy right now that we're healthy but we're competing.

I'm just excited moving forward less than a month away. Scrimmages coming up.

I want to see us in live action, but I'm excited, pleasantly surprised with the newcomers, but we're competing.

Q. The loss of Tyi Skinner, talk about how that gives you a really quick change of focus.

NATASHA ADAIR: Well, again, we know the impact Tyi has had on our team, on the game, on our conference, just nationally. To lose just that leader, because that's where I will start, it was a blow, but this group is no stranger to adversity, and with, like you said, the 10 newcomers, it's next woman up.

But I will tell you, Tyi, three days after surgery was in the gym crutching around leading, leading. Hasn't stopped yet. In the huddles talking, talking to to Tray, talking to Jadden, talking to the team, and that's what we will continue to have even if she's not on the court.

So a blow, but she's going to lead in a different way.

Q. You and I had a conversation about Skinner going down with the ACL. I want you to share with everybody about her vision board and the fact that the Final Four is coming to Phoenix in 2026.

NATASHA ADAIR: Well, again, she's no stranger to me. We've been together now four years, and even in her worst moment, she said, you know what, there's a reason, and she said, Coach, we're not done yet. She said, the Final Four is here, and that's still the goal. I'm going to work. I'm going to do what I need to do. I'm going to lead in this locker room. You're still going to have to tell me to be quiet. I'm not going away.

To she's turned this negative, if you will, into a positive, but just having that vision of what's to come is going to motivate her even more.

(video interruption; remaining to follow.)