Finding Her Way
It had become an annual rite. The Sparks, usually picking last in the first round of the WNBA draft, took a player who “could be a steal” or had “untapped potential.” By mid-summer, the player was growing cobwebs on the bench. Within a year or so, the player was gone.
Or can you honestly recall the exploits of such first-round gems as Daedra Charles, Nicole Kubik, Camille Cooper or Rosalind Ross?
This season, however, the Sparks found someone who does more than take up space on the team bus.
Christi Thomas, the 6-foot-3 rookie center-forward who was the 12th player taken in the 2004 draft, is looking like a keeper. She has gone from a reserve to a starter, helping fill the gap left by the season-ending injury to forward DeLisha Milton-Jones -- the last successful first-round selection by the Sparks, back in 1999.
“It’s been an amazing jump,” said Ryan Weisenberg, the team’s co-head coach. “[Former coach Michael Cooper] had planned to bring her along slowly, thinking that coming in off the bench behind Lisa [Leslie] would be beneficial. But fortunately or unfortunately, with injuries and people leaving, I think she has made a major surge.”
Thomas, 22, may not have gotten the attention of more celebrated draft selections such as Diana Taurasi, Alana Beard, Nicole Powell, Lindsay Whalen, Nicole Ohlde or Vanessa Hayden. But she has played in 31 games (starting eight), averaging 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds. That puts her eighth among rookie scorers and fourth among rookie rebounders.
She is the Sparks’ second-leading offensive rebounder with 43, behind Leslie’s 60. She has defended some of the league’s best power forwards and centers. And she takes pride in doing the “little things” such as diving for loose balls or drawing offensive fouls.
Thomas would have been satisfied with whatever playing time she got this year because she was more interested in blending in with the Sparks than standing out. But the increased playing time accelerated her learning curve and confidence.
“I think I’m a lot more comfortable with the game and the people around me, which has helped me a lot,” Thomas said. “I think I understand things a little better. I’m not where I want to be, obviously. But for the most part I’m happy with how things are going. There are always times and places where I can get better. I’m not satisfied, but I’m comfortable with it.”
When the Georgia graduate arrived at training camp, she was a big, athletic body with a sweet, gentle nature.
That kind of disposition was not going to last long with the punishing play of WNBA post players.
So the veterans, especially Leslie, took it upon themselves to put Thomas through a grueling camp. They took aim at Thomas with their elbows and knees and took delight at breaking her down. But they also made sure Thomas understood the daily beatings were their way of toughening her for the season ahead.
“It was about learning to stand your ground, learning to stay mentally tough,” guard Teresa Weatherspoon said. “Because this league is not all about how physically in shape you are. It’s about how mentally tough you are to get an edge. It’s still the biggest thing for her to overcome and she’s working on that.”
Said Leslie, who had a memorable exchange of elbows with Thomas in the first couple of practices: “I think she’s been one of the best on every team she’s played on. So it was a shock to recognize the next level that we play at and how hard it is. It’s been very physical for her, and she was not a happy camper during training camp.
“But she has grown so much from a mental aspect than anything else. Obviously she has the ability to put the ball in the basket, block shots and get offensive rebounds, which is her biggest strength. But she has grown more as a person and a player in understanding the physicality of the league and what it takes to be successful day in and day out.”
Thomas said the tough love was, well, tough.
“Tenderhearted, that’s the personality I’ve had all my life,” she said. “I want to be liked. Coaches have always told me ‘get that dog in you.’ And that’s one of the things that’s been hard for me. But it was something I had to do to be on the floor. And I’m still getting my test from [teammates].”
Weisenberg has high hopes for her.
“Under the tutelage Lisa is giving her, I really think she could step in and be a dominant player,” Weisenberg said. “She has to get over some passiveness, step up and be a leader. But overall she could be the fit in the middle when Lisa retires.”
*
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Rookie Ranks
In a heralded WNBA rookie class, the Sparks’ Christi Thomas was among the best. The WNBA rookie leaders in several categories, along with Thomas’ numbers and ranking:
*--* Player, Team Thomas SCORING Diana Taurasi, Phoenix 17.0 5.3 (8th) REBOUNDING Nicole Ohlde, Minnesota 5.7 3.9 (4th) FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE Laura Macchi, Sparks 49.1 46.2 (2nd) MINUTES Diana Taurasi, Phoenix 33.2 17.6 (6th)
*--*