CASSANDRE PROSPER: First of all, I want to express my gratitude to Notre Dame, an amazing university. Graduating from there, I think, is beautiful. My coaches, my teammates. Secondly, my family. The most amazing people in my life.
I think lastly, I'm going to talk to myself. I feel like I am so proud of the woman that I've become, and to start this chapter today, it's been a beautiful day. I'm just so excited. The Mystics, Washington, I've heard so many great things about Washington. So I'm excited and I'm really very proud and grateful for the opportunity.
Q. In terms of what your experience with the Canadian national team has helped prepare you to be here, and sort of the flip side of that is, how much do you feel like the WNBA experience is going to allow your international career to reach another level?
CASSANDRE PROSPER: Absolutely. Playing for the national team is always an honor. I've had the opportunity to be playing with the senior national team since I was, I think, 17 or 18. I feel like I've had a lot of opportunities where I'm playing in royal tournaments against pros, going to the Olympics last year. I feel like training with pros and then against pros, so I have kind of that international feel.
Then now I feel like it's about transferring all the knowledge that I've gained from my teammates and playing against high-caliber players to the W.
Q. You started this off by talking about just how proud you are of your growth. Even in your game over the last couple of seasons, you've grown so much. What do you think you're most proud of or what have you leaned on the most when things aren't going your way to keep on going so you can get to where you are today?
CASSANDRE PROSPER: A lot of it is just the belief and faith in myself. I've gotten to know myself very well throughout my college career. Just having the trust that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be and all the adversity that I'm facing is leading me right where my journey is supposed to be.
So in moments like this, today, I get to soak it all up and be just grateful for all the adversity I've faced. But especially just all the faith and belief that comes within me that I'm really grateful for.
Q. Just want to know, what are your general thoughts right now with Washington? They had three first-round picks, top of the second round every year. They just got another player in the second round. A lot of young talent coming in, new culture kind of building. What's kind of going through your head? What are you feeling about going to D.C.?
CASSANDRE PROSPER: Well, I'm so excited. First of all, it's amazing to see the amount of youth. I've heard great things about Washington. My old teammate Soni (Sonia Citron) plays there, so I've just heard amazing things about the whole team, the whole program. I feel like I'm very privileged and it's a great opportunity for me to just to get to work and show how well I'm going to fit with this team.
Q. Obviously getting to go play with Sonia Citron, former teammate at Notre Dame. What has she told you about coming to the Mystics and how excited are you to be reunited with her?
CASSANDRE PROSPER: She's told me a lot of great things. She loves her coaches. Really loves her teammates. Just loves the overall program. I remember going to see her play against Chicago last year. She was just telling me how great of an experience she's had with Washington so far.
She was actually my first text. My phone is just blowing up now. But she was my first text, just saying how excited she is. She said welcome to the W. Welcome to Washington.
I'm excited, first of all, to see her because I haven't seen her in a year. She said she was going to come see us at Notre Dame and she hasn't done that. But to see her and just play with her, I'm really excited.
Q. What were your reasons for coming out into the draft? Obviously you had more eligibility.
CASSANDRE PROSPER: I think deciding to declare and go into the W, it came from a lot of self-reflection and just believing in myself. I think this year was a great season for me, and I'm always looking to grow and get better. I was like, the W is the next step for me where I know I'm going to be able to grow as a player, as a person. I was just like, where can I get most uncomfortable? So I approached it that way.
And in terms of getting to this venue, it's always been a dream for me to go on stage and be with Cathy and just get my jersey and stuff, the hat and stuff. I really wanted to be here.
So, yeah, just making that happen for me. I wanted to be in New York and just experience the whole vibe around the W. I knew that I was going to get drafted. It was just a matter of where and when, but I wanted to be here during that special moment.
Q. You have quite the fit on tonight. Can you walk us through the thought process on the fit and story behind it?
CASSANDRE PROSPER: Yes, first I'm going shout out my cousin, Melody Roman. She really designed this whole fit. Actually, this fit is from a Haitian designer named Jovana, but my cousin is the one that kind of set that up for me. She just styled me completely. I wanted something that's very me. A suit, I feel like is very professional, it's classy. But I wanted to add a little spice. That's why it's silver and a little bit glittery.
But yeah, it's a special moment. It's something I get to live once in my life. So this is the occasion to put something flashy on, for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports