Whiles equipped for a do-or-die Sport 7 on Saturday – managing nerves and preparations for one of many greatest video games of the gamers' lives – guard introduced a little bit of levity.
Sport 7 ideas off on Halloween night at Chase Heart. So Chen arrived on the sport wearing a scorching canine costume and sun shades.
"Properly, it's Halloween, and it was both costume up and need to placed on a standard tunnel match or put on a Halloween costume," Chen stated. "And clearly, a Halloween costume is manner simpler than really dressing up."
Why the recent canine?
"Restricted picks at Spirit Halloween," she stated. "I don't know, it was simply nice. I discovered it, I used to be like, ‘That is good.'"
Chen's teammates walked into the world principally dressed of their typical trendy or comfy apparel, able to play the Atlanta Dream for the title in WNBA's first Sport 7 in league historical past.
Head coach didn't see Chen's get-up earlier than her pregame media session.
"Hey man, it's Kaitlyn being Kaitlyn," Nakase stated. "I believe the great thing about Kaitlyn Chen is that she's going to search out pleasure in each second and I believe somebody who could make enjoyable of themselves – that's a uncommon factor."
A little bit of goofiness is welcome throughout the pressure of a Sport 7. There are few secrets and techniques and changes to make between two groups which have been battling forwards and backwards for weeks. Throughout a quick movie session, Nakase despatched a direct message to the Valkyries in regards to the technique for Sport 7.
"We're punching first. It's non-negotiable," Nakase stated. "We're popping out with physicality, a centered mindset, a dictation. We're dictating the primary go, we're dictating the whole lot tonight. Like we're going to be tremendous aggressive."
Nakase additionally inspired Valkyries gamers to make Saturday's historic sport really feel as regular as potential. Pregame, veteran s stated she did her typical routine – strolling the canine, spending time along with her household and making ready for the sport.
"We’ve got so many ranges of personalities that they are often themselves," Nakase stated. "You bought Kaitlyn attempting to make everybody giggle. You bought Tip Hayes, who stays cool, calm and picked up. And simply able to struggle. To allow them to do no matter they need so long as once they get into that locker room, we speak about pregame, we lock into our execution, our sport plan, after which they get on it. We need to be the group that wishes it extra, and that's what issues."
Employees author Luca Evans contributed to this text
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