Q. Darianna, I'll start with you. What were the conversations like on your end with the Mystics, with your agent, about being a developmental player, and how are you approaching camp in that role?
DARIANNA LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS: It just started off kind of like, "We want you on the team," and how I look at it is just a great opportunity to get better. The W is different. It's not college or whatever. Everybody is really good, and there's a lot to learn.
But just approaching it as getting better, and they have faith in me, so they want to keep me on the team. That's just kind of how I've been approaching it, taking it one step at a time. I've talked to some of the vets, and they've just told me the same thing, like just take your time and breathe. Don't take it in all at once, especially being day one of training camp yesterday. So that's just kind of how I'm approaching it.
Q. Who are some of those vets you've leaned on, because there are a lot of rookies in here?
DARIANNA LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS: No, I talk to all of them. I talk to Kiki and Georgia and Lucy yesterday, and they kind of told me, hey, one step at a time, you're okay, it's day one, they're going to throw stuff at you and it's coming fast, but you're okay.
Q. Rori, I know you played against Georgia once in college. What do you remember about that and what are you looking forward to being a point guard tandem with her now?
RORI HARMON: Yeah, it was fun. She's just always bouncing around. She's just a great player, a great point guard. She's looking to get other people better on her team and she shoots the ball really well. But her IQ is the one thing that stands out to me and that's something I want to learn from.
I've been sticking around Georgia pretty close, just to pick her brain and also talk to her about her injury and how that's coming along because I've been through that myself. I was super happy to see her on the court again being a year out. But I'm excited to keep learning from her.
Q. Rori, this is for you. With your position being a point guard, what has been the biggest challenge, and I know it's just been a sample size with one day of training camp, but how do you want to impact this portion of your professional career as a point guard in the WNBA?
RORI HARMON: Yeah, I just want to develop as much as I can. I came from a place that's very fast paced and very aggressive on defense. There's a lot of offenses. A lot was thrown at us the other day. I think I can take that in. I think just getting chemistry with my teammates, flowing with the offense. Learning how to put your style of basketball into their offense is definitely going to take a little bit more time than just one day, but I think I can impact the game a lot with just facilitating, my IQ, getting to my spots, just creating for other people and obviously creating havoc on the defensive end.
Q. What advice would you give to young girls who look up to you and are playing to be playing at the next level?
CASSANDRE PROSPER: I think the biggest thing for me, I think, growing up, I always had my goals of making it to the W, but I think I would say protect your love for the game and make sure that you're having fun. It's supposed to be something that you love and enjoy doing, so don't make it about your goals too fast.
Just enjoy it, learn. The goal is always to grow. Then when you're going to get to the college level and then the W, when it gets to being more serious, you'll have that love for the game to fall back on.
DARIANNA LITTLEPAGE-BUGGS: I'd say be true to yourself always. That's going to carry you further than anything. If you're trying to be like other people and try to imitate other people, it might not work out how you want it to be. But if you stay true to yourself and you grow in your strengths and just work on your weaknesses you'll be all right.
Like Cass said, too, protect your love for the game. It gets harder the higher you go. Don't let that deter your love for the game, and always just protect that and work hard.
The sacrifices are worth it. I don't think people realize how much you really have to sacrifice to get here, and it doesn't stop when you get here. There are plenty of sacrifices, but those sacrifices are definitely worth it, it's just balance it out with life and just have fun.
RORI HARMON: They said that really good.
Q. Rori, I saw a tweet that was going around Mystics Twitter after you asking for recommendations in the D.C. area, want to know if any Mystics fans have given you any places to try, and do you have a list going?
RORI HARMON: Yeah, I have a list going. I'm hearing about Balos and Osteria. I've tried a lot of chai places. I know I didn't put that out there to give me recommendations, but that's just coffee spots.
But yeah, I am a foodie and there was a long list. I couldn't tell you every name that was on there, but I'm hearing that D.C. has a lot of great food, so I'm excited to try it out.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports