Seattle Storm head coach says WNBA game in Edmonton ‘gives a dreamer something tangible’
Global News
The Seattle Storm will face the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday at Edmonton's Rogers Place, the second WNBA exhibition game to come to Canada in as many years.
Noelle Quinn can’t wait to bring the WNBA to Western Canada.
Quinn is the head coach of the Seattle Storm, who will face the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday at Edmonton’s Rogers Place, the second WNBA exhibition game to come to Canada in as many years.
Quinn, who will be the lead assistant coach for Canada’s women’s team at the upcoming Paris Olympics, said the pre-season matchup is an opportunity for young people to be inspired.
“For the fans to be able to see an actual game live, it gives a dreamer something tangible,” said Quinn on Monday in a video conference call with reporters. “To be able to see Jewell Loyd and see Nneka (Ogwumike) and Skylar (Diggins-Smith) doing their thing, but also knowing that there are opportunities that can arise from basketball.”
Quinn recalled her own childhood in L.A., going to see Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie lead the Sparks.
“There’s just something about being in the seat and imagining that you yourself are on the court that makes that dream a little bit more tangible,” said Quinn. “It made me want to go home and work harder on my game, or go home and watch more basketball because of that.
“I think we’re growing the sport as it relates to fans, but I also think we’re growing the minds and hearts of individuals who really, really strive to be at our level.”
Quinn also acknowledged the history of women’s basketball in Edmonton, specifically the Grads, an amateur team that maintained an astonishing 95 per cent winning percentage from 1915 to 1940.