Q. ...it's a young team; you're one of the vets. How has this all been like for you and what have you kind of -- how have you wanted to approach this now that you're back, but with like a lot of new faces around?
SHUG SUTTON: Yeah, I think coming back has been really exciting just with all the new faces, like on the coaching side, on the player side. So many new faces.
Coming back I've been really excited just because of where I am as a player and where with I want to be. But also I'm a vet at 26 years old and I'm able to lead and kind of tell the younger players what to do on the court and help in other ways and I really embraced that.
I think that's one the best parts about it, being able to help the other players, be there for them the way that other vets have been there for me within my career.
I think that's been the best part and that's why I'm really excited about this season, what we're able to do and what we can do this season.
Q. For both of you really, you both, your careers have kind of had that element of beating the odds. Shug being a round draft pick. I know you've played a bunch overseas before getting here. Can you both talk about how it feels to be, Shug, in your case, back in camp still in the W having this long career? And Khadijiah, for you, just getting this opportunity after the years you've spent working for it?
SHUG SUTTON: I think it's a true blessing. I think my journey is a testament to how much I have been through within the W and within my basketball career.
You know, I'm just really blessed to be here for another camp despite everything that I've been through, despite the last pick in the 2020 draft, you know, injuries and being waived.
But I continue to move forward, continue to make strides as a player, are and I continue to get better each and every day.
It's just a true blessing to be here still and on this court and with this team.
KHADIJIAH CAVE: Like Shug said, it's a blessing, and just staying ready when my number is called. Just grinding and going overseas just and working on my game and staying ready so when the opportunity comes I can take it 100% and just be my best.
Q. I was interested in the path to (indiscernible.) Shug you know this, being the last pick and Khadijiah going overseas. What do you think is the key to carve out a role like that? And for Khadijiah, like seeing players like Shug, like Emily, like Stef, like Slim who been around for a while, been through a lot of different circumstances. How is that helping you also figure out like how to carve out the role here and make the most of this opportunity?
SHUG SUTTON: I think coming into the W I've kind of took a role onto bringing energy to a team. Every single time I come on the court or every time I come to training camp I try to bring energy and play defense.
I think that's my strong suit right now being on a team. And then everything else will fall into place.
I think that's been one of the biggest things, is just trying to come in, bring energy, and be the best that I can be each and every day.
I think if I do that every single day, everything else will handle itself and my game will continue to grow as I keep going on.
KHADIJIAH CAVE: I think coming in, I've always been told just do what you do best. They brought you here knowing what you can do, so don't try to be different. So just sticking to what I know and just talking to the vets and them just being here and helping us through this process.
Sticking to what I know and seeing what the team needs and just trying to be great at that.
Q. This question is for you both: What has been the main focal point for each of you with what you're going to bring to the court within the system and philosophy and culture that is trying to be created in this short amount of time in training camp?
SHUG SUTTON: I think for me, like I said, my energy, bringing that defensive side of -- just bringing energy on the defensive side. We want to play fast, so when we want to play fast on offense we have to get stops on defense we have to be really good on defense.
I think that's one thing that I've taken into account and to be good for this team, is just be good on the defensive side and then we can run.
I think my offense and everybody's offense on this team is incredible. We have a lot of weapons, so I think it's going to be really exciting to see what unfolds this season and what we can do.
KHADIJIAH CAVE: The coach emphasizes running and I love to run. I'm athletic and I like to crash the boards, so I think I can bring speed, athleticism, rebounding, just whatever coach needs me to do honestly.
Q. Khadijiah, this is for you, with your experience overseas coming in as an older rookie, what do you feel that you can bring from a vocality and a leadership perspective? As much as you don't have the W experience, you have the overseas professional experience, which is equally giving you that opportunity to use your voice?
KHADIJIAH CAVE: Just being that leader on and off the court, and just bringing my experience, like you said, from overseas, playing with different people, different style the play. The style of play overseas a little bit different so bringing that in and just showing the different things that I learned overseas that I can bring back here.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports