May 13, 2008

Former TCU women's basketball All-Americans Adrianne Ross and Sandora Irvin are nearing the end of the WNBA training camp season. GoFrogs.com will catch up with both Lady Frogs over the next few days to check on their progress in San Antonio Silver Stars camp.

The focus of Tuesday's segment is Ross, who joined the Silver Stars as an undrafted free agent for the start of training camp on April 20. The 5-8 former All-American, who played shooting guard for most of her college career, has been working at the point guard spot in Silver Stars camp.

Note: Irvin, who has returned to San Antonio for her second season as a Silver Star, and fourth pro season overall, will be the focus of tomorrow's feature.

With camp winding down, Ross has survived early cuts and still appears to have a chance of making the final roster. She led San Antonio in scoring during each of the team's two preseason games, tying Irvin for team-high honors with 13 points May 1 against Houston before throwing down a game-high 17-point effort during Monday night's 74-64 win over Detroit in Lubbock, Texas.

Ross' overall preseason stats were impressive, as she led San Antonio with averages of 15.0 points and 4.0 assists per game. She shot very well from outside featuring a 6-for-11 effort from behind the 3-point arc and compiled a 2:1 assist:turnover margin (8:4).

GoFrogs.com caught up with Ross during her off-day Tuesday to get her thoughts on the WNBA experience, former Frog and current Silver Stars teammate Irvin and her play thus far during her early professional career.

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GoFrogs.com: Good to catch up with you Adrianne. How is camp going so far?
Adrianne Ross: It's going well. I have been learning a lot. It's a much different game for me (compared to college). I've never shot so many outside shots; I'm used to trying to get to the rim. I probably should have listened a little closer to Coach Mittie three years ago when he told me I needed to shoot more pull-up jumpers!

I'm adjusting to the physicality of the game. It's testing me mentally. I have retained more information than I could have ever imagined the last three and a half weeks. I feel like I am progressing well.

GF: How is a WNBA training camp structured?
Ross: We do just one practice per day. It is very organized. Usually we start with a developmental individual practice with a coach followed by team practice. Weights usually follow practice. That schedule repeats every day, but the coaches are pretty good about getting us one day off a week.

GF: How many hours do you spend with the team each day?
Ross: Including treatment, I'm usually there from 9 (a.m.) until 2 (p.m.).

GF: Is the developmental practice one-on-one with a coach?
Ross: Pretty much. You might be in there with a couple other players from your position working on different things, like 3's, ball screens or reads--just whatever might relate to your position from the offense. They have been very helpful.

GF: Now that you have your degree, how does it feel to be able to focus solely on the game?
Ross: It's nice, I will say that. That's what I worked toward in college. A lot of players don't continue after school is finished. It's a good feeling not having so many things weighing on your mind, like homework or tests, when you are in the middle of practice or a game. Any student-athlete knows that it's tough to keep those things balanced.

GF: What have you needed to change in your game to succeed in the pro ranks?
Ross: I was always a 2-guard in high school and even though I did first play point guard when I went to TCU, I spent most of my time in college as a shooting guard. Now I'm back to the point. Making that transition is just a mental thing. I'm not supposed to look for my shot all the time. The fact that I am able to score does open up more things for other people, so that has helped me.

GF: What have been the most noticeable differences between pro and college ball?
Ross: The knowledge of the game. There are a lot of smart players. I thought it was extreme in that respect moving from high school to college, but it is much more of a leap to the WNBA. Everyone on the court with you now was either an All-American or one of the top players in the nation at one time in college.

It is definitely at a different level in the mental area. The speed and athleticism are often there in college basketball, but I think at the next level players utilize those areas in smarter ways.

GF: What has it meant to have Sandora Irvin there with you in camp?
Ross: I don't know what I would do without her. It is really nice being able to play with her again. We talk all the time in practice and hang out. She's always been a friend, so it's great for someone like that to be with you in this type of situation. She has been doing very well in camp, so that's also exciting to see that and know that we have that TCU connection.

GF: How would you evaluate your performance so far?
Ross: I think I have had a pretty solid camp. I knew I needed to do that after joining as a free agent. I needed to showcase the skills I can bring, and I think I have been able to do that.

GF: What have you needed to showcase to improve her chances of sticking with a team?
Ross: At draft camp I really didn't have an aggressive scoring mentality, so I knew that was questionable. I kind of layed that out there in these two preseason games. If that was something holding me back in the minds of people who questioned whether I could play in this league, I think I have helped remove those doubts.

Thanks for the update, Adrianne. We will be sure to check back with you during the upcoming season.

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