Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loyd REACT to the Storm's BLOWOUT WIN over the Mercury

uh and for Skyler first off congratulations on on the record um I was listening to a podcast I think it was Sue where she said where you told her that you were on your third your third version of your body uh she told you that she said no I am uh and uh you've had your struggles in the W uh you're um question for either you um it's by no means surprising to see Jordan hon play significant impact minutes um but it felt like particularly in the second quarter when you were building out that lead after the first um the CL first quarter um she was really impactful just what did you see from her today I think was the shoes shoes or Kobe um no she's just active and she's active she's able to do a lot of great things and um you know she's super athletic so just being you know put back on the floor things like that and um that's what she is um and then held grinder to I believe Four Points in the end um what do you just feel like was working today compared to maybe other matchups where bigs have gotten quite a few points on you guys dang you had to say it like that really had to get us dang just no it was the activity defensively um I I credit you know I did a great job um we were doing some you know uh doubles on her obviously um she's a tough single coverage um we were doing some I thought helps side was there um we were trying to make her get it you know have to get rid of it and then play on the backside but I thought it was our activity defensively um particularly with BG just trying to make her take tough shots trying to have her catch it in different places um but that activity led to us being able to have some successes on offense when's the difficult and they're difficult towards the business end of the season and but just what does a win like this do for you all just I think a the execution and then also just the Feelgood part of it yes it's definitely momentum you know you want momentum playing um playing well you want everything kind of clicking in the right direction heading into playoffs and I think that's what this does for us um we we know what we're capable of and sometimes you need to see it you want to feel it and you're able to to do that tonight and and this is a full team team effort and um you know obviously it helps when you're playing at home and the crowds with you too but um you know we know what we can do and it's nice to see it and have a full complete game and I I'm going to ask about Skyler ask you but she gets the assist record what is it about her her ability to you know to to distribute the ball and everything else I'm sorry to talk about you you're in the room but can you just talk about her vision and her ability to pass the ball yeah I mean I think it starts with really to get downhill um it might look easy U but to get downhill you know she's consistent and persistent with that and change of pace I think she's always had a really good change of pace um and that's hard to guard um you just don't know and so her ability to kind of give the defense um some of the think all the time and then her obviously really to see where the right pass is all the time helps and that's what you want as a point guard and um you know I'm glad she's there I'm bless you I got a lot of good people that can make shots for me that's all that means you know play with a lot of talent around here when surrounded by Talent um it's it's easy to get assists shout out to Su though obviously we know the impact that she has um continues to have on our game and and on our league and being one of the shoulders that we stand on in this league one of the pillars and so I recognize that and I know what coming here meant um and I always want to honor her in that way um respectfully what she's built and here and just try to be uh you know try to build off of that and and play with that essence of uh you know being a winner and trying to take that mindset and so I I I don't take it lightly being in the same uh category same sentence same breath as her and um hopefully I could just continue to build off of this let's take a few from the zoom um then we'll come back here to the room Jeff Brown go ahead yeah Skyler kind of a two-parter um first kind of your comfort level now compared to the beginning of the season and you guys were so good from three-point range in this game um just kind of talk about how when you guys are hitting threes like that how much more it opens up the offense um yeah I mean I coming off my turny to leave you know I knew I probably wasn't in the shape I would have liked to be to start the season um it just is what it is when you kind of in Uncharted territories but um you know I just appreciate my teammates and um the organization having a lot of patience with me uh the Olympic break did me well I was able to get a lot of time in and just try to be ready when they came back from the Olympics and be ready to do my part and kind of Turn It Up um as far as three points I talked about like ball movement and player movement today just trying to play off of each other um when we Shar the basketball like that we were able to get some good looks we were able to play in transition um but I I I'll say Jeff I really think it started with our activity defensively not to be redundant but but when we can lock down there when we're on helps side when we're getting deflections we're able to get out and run with good spacing uh we're capable shooting the basketball and for juel um in the last game Gabby had 17 points tonight Jordan has 16 when you have both of those players kind of able to step up like that what does it do for you guys I mean obviously makes this a tough matchup um you know I think they're they're so similar in how they move in their activity level and athleticism as well so when they're both active on both s the floor just allows so much more movement spacing um it just put a lot pressure on the defense um and their ability also to push the ball ahead themselves this is another guard too another point guard so um it's great to see that they're both in Rhythm and you know that's what we need from them yeah awesome thank you ladies Christian go ahead Christian go ahead my first question is for Skyler you've already answered the questions about being the the the new assist leader but considering you were out of the League last year and then the impact that you've made such a little time with this franchise could you just kind of give us a glimpse of what the work it takes to get get to where you've been right now kind of off the scen no we don't have that much time um but yeah I mean obviously watching this team a lot last year I got to see you know I didn't know where I would end up but I watched a lot of the WNBA um last year and got to see um you know I knew this team has a record first class organization record for winning championships um people that have won championships that were you know pillar that is a pillar of this team we still here and and opportunities you know with good bones you know good coach good coaching staff um a franchise player that showed their commitment to the organization and just being able to add you know Superstars like NECA um to complement pieces that were already here so um you know it really was above me but um I think this is what was the perfect landing spot for me and um you know just just trying to be productive here and and and try to make a run this last stretch to put us in position to you know have a lengthy playoffs and Joel you shot 50% from the field 50% from three a lot of your shots based off of motion um whether it be eie Skyler or NECA finding you uh coming around the key how does it feel to know that performances like this that you guys had all year kind of building up into this going into the playoffs and contining that I mean honestly I I don't want to keep saying this but I think our our team and we're active we're really we're really good um you know I think we're hard to guard remember we're in move movement um but no one's just standing I think I think that's when we get stagnant but um we're just hard to guard remember we're moving we have a lot of Playmakers on this team and you know we know everyone's abilities and and what they are really good at and so um you know for me it's just staying active on both ends of the floor I think that's that's been our mindset from the from the start right thanks Christian let's bring it back to the room go ahead uh I have one for juel one for Skyler so uh ju last year you were carrying a lot of the load for the team uh in several uh points of the Court uh with Kyler taking is Skyler taking over the floor General role how does that allow you to play more freely um on the wing yeah you know it's a tale of two seasons right um you know I've been very fortunate to to be on a lot of different teams and obviously be played together in college too so uh knowing what she can do is a comfort right you understand the ability that she has and um all the players really and knowing how the team last year and what we needed and uh for me is you know I'm I'm not um this is I'm not like this possessive this is my team no one can come in here I never was like that and that's what I preached from the start and uh we wanted everyone here for a reason um I believe everyone's talent I believe that we have everything we need to really push forward and so for me it's it's not about carrying the weight it's allowing everyone to be a leader everyone to have a voice everyone do what they need to do and be great I really do believe that and that's the that's how you win that's how I learn how to win from our team with Sue and everything like that just understanding everyone has greatness um it just need to bring it out uh and for Kyler first off congrat congratulations on on the record um I was listening to a podcast I think it was Sue where she said where you told her that you were on your third your third version of your body uh she told you that she said no I am yeah uh and uh you've had your struggles in the W uh you're having a stellar season coming back is that validating what does it mean for you to be having to have such um strong numbers and doings this season yeah I appreciate that um yeah I've definitely had my share of ups and downs in in this league um been in multiple jerseys you know what I'm saying um been out been on maternity leave been injured you know every role um and so it it really is um you know finding a landing spot that feels like home being able to enjoy luxuries like having a practice facility and being able to utilize those resources there um it just was kind of tailor made to my situation um being able to share this experience with my kids my daughter is one my son is five they're at the games cheering so I think that's the most special um part of my journey was struggling but letting them get to see a little bit of that struggle too and then being able to overcome some of it so it really is you know the reason why I'm alive is cuz my children the reason why I live is cuz my children and so to really share this experience with them you know when it wasn't just uh always great even when it was hard or it wasn't linear you know it was up and down as far as the progress goes but great support from my teammates and the organization like I said and um it's it's great to be here but I don't I'm not just settling on that no juel isn't either and so we're looking to to build something bigger and you know it's it's performances like this that we want to take into um the rest of the season the how-to of tonight taken into that mindset but yeah I'm I'm I'm appreciative for being in this position I don't take it for granted and um if you in this league this long you got to be a little bit crazy um and so I'll accept that as well self-proclaimed um but I'm happy to be here and just looking forward to the rest of the season Kitty juel your ability to create shots and involve your teammates was on full display tonight how important was it for you to balance scoring as well as facilitating offense tonight and how did you feel your leadership impacted the team's performance yeah no I I think you know for me it you know kind of talked with you know um our coaches and stuff and it's just like regardless if I'm over for 50 or 20 for2 the defense guards me the same so use that to my advantage you know I know that people will high hedge so I have the the role or you know I have the pool so understanding that and then sometimes you have to take your shot and just keep them honest right and so I think I've evolved in that you know category of understanding who I'm playing with and what the team need in that moment um obviously um my job is to score that's my job but at the same time I know that I because of that I'm able to have easier passes for the set of my teammates thank you and Skyler I have one for you too what a game and congratulations on the kids thanks for bringing that up um with such an impressive performance tonight what do you think was the key to your success and I know you mentioned to us a few times yeah but what was the the the real key to your success tonight and what do you want to share with young girls watching you um well 40 to 24 points in the paint um we were able to hold them all four well three of the four quarters we were able to hold them under 20 points um we had two big we had second quarter was 28 to 13 I thought thought that's where we obviously created some separation was able to 15 at the half after um you know it being tied up in the first quarter um I thought it was the bench contribution today Mercedes Russell came in did good Sammy came in and knocked down some crucial shots Jordan hon was seven for eight today and so it really was the production of of Joiner came in and had some buckets she had seven three for six so it was a solid bench production mixed with um you know eie had a good game she got it going a little bit for us in the first quarter um and so it was just like ju said it just was a total team effort tonight and um that's so we can look like everybody's capable of contributing ladies thank you for your time appreciate it I'm bringing coach in just a minute