Two beloved Lobos and one arch nemesis return to The Pit tonight for a WNBA exhibition game between the Minnesota Lynx and the Sacramento Monarchs.
Forwards Jordan Adams of the Lynx and Chelsea Grear of the Monarchs said they are excited to be back in Albuquerque - but Minnesota center Vanessa Hayden said she isn't so sure.
Hayden was the No. 7 overall pick in the WNBA draft last month, and she said she didn't expect to be back at The Pit so soon after her Florida Gators beat UNM in the first round of the NCAA tournament in March. She said she's happy to be back, but only because she is playing alongside a former Lobo.
"I wouldn't come back here with the University of Florida," Hayden said. "But I am looking forward to playing here."
Hayden said she is especially happy to be playing with Adams, who was a rookie last year, because the two can relate.
Hayden is suffering from a broken foot, so she will not play in tonight's game, but she maintains the Lobos have the best fans in the country.
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"They're amazing," she said. "I remember being deaf after leaving the gym."
Adams said that's exactly why the Lynx wanted to come to New Mexico for a preseason game. They know what kind of fan support is in Albuquerque - and fan support equals money.
Adams said after practice Tuesday she never expected to play with another team on The Pit floor.
"Usually when that happens you get booed," Adams said. "But it's definitely weird - like dÇjÖ vu. I'm just excited and I want to get out there on the floor again. It will be like home for me."
Adams said she still gets a lot of letters and fan support from New Mexico.
"It seems like everywhere on the road that I've been, there have been at least two Lobo fans there," she said.
Adams said it was a blow to the ego going from UNM basketball, where the offense revolved around her, to the WNBA where she was a rookie. Now in her second year, she still has to work to earn playing time. She said even though it is frustrating, she is learning her role on the team. Adams is averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. As a Lobo, she averaged 16 points and 6.7 boards per game, while Grear averaged 10.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. It is Grear's first season in the WNBA.
Grear and Adams led UNM to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history in the 2002-03 season. Tonight's game marks the start of Adams' second season with Minnesota, and she and Grear played overseas during the European basketball season, which is during the WBNA's off-season.
Adams said playing professional basketball in another country is a completely different ball game.
"When your coach is yelling at you in French and you have no idea what he's talking about, it's kind of weird," she said. "Our assistant coach knew a little bit of English, but it wasn't good enough that I knew what was going on."
Adams said she might play overseas again next year, but probably not in France.
The Monarchs and the Lynx game gets underway tonight at The Pit at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $10.
