With the 40th pick in the WNBA Draft, the Monarchs selected UTEP center Izabela Piekarska. Get to know more about the 6-foot-5 Piekarska in this exclusive Q&A.

How have your first couple days of training camp been?
Izabela Piekarska: "It�s hard, but I�m really excited about it because the WNBA is the highest level in women's basketball. I am really excited to be here and compete at this level."

How much did playing at UTEP help you prepare for this opportunity?
Piekarska: "Playing at UTEP helped me with conditioning and believing in myself. A lot of post players don�t believe in themselves, but UTEP helped me believe in basketball and pushing through when I am weak."

There have been a number of good women's basketball players who have come from Poland, what is the development program like there?
Piekarska: "Polish women�s basketball is really good and [they play] at a high level. Right now, we are getting more money and more sponsors for it. They are looking for young talent because of the physical aspect of being big and tall. We have a lot of big guards and big post players. People see that, see the potential and just invest in it."

What is your hometown of Warsaw like?
Piekarska: "Warsaw is the capital city of my country, so it is very modern. After the Second World War, it was destroyed completely. But, I think now it is one of the nicest cities in Eastern Europe. It has nice malls and it's growing."

What�s your favorite native dish?
Piekarska: "Pierogi, which is stuffed noodles. People who know Polish food know what I'm talking about." [Laughs]

What did it mean to you to have your UTEP teammate Natasha Lacy also drafted (Detroit Shock) in the 2008 WNBA Draft with you?
Piekarska: "Lacy and I are really close. She is one of my favorite U.S. players on the UTEP team. She competes every day and she is really smart. She learned a lot and brought that with her to UTEP. Not only is she an outstanding teammate but she is also a great friend. She is goofy and I love it. We keep in contact."

Can you give us a scouting report on your game?
Piekarska: "My strength is outside shooting but here I need to play more inside because of my size. My thing is leave my heart on defense and do whatever I can do on offense -- put backs, rebounds, screen for my teammates -- and if I have an open shot take it and score."

What's one thing that stands out that you have learned this week?
Piekarska: "Mental toughness."

Have the veteran players given out any rookie duties?
Piekarska: "No, I was kind of scared about that. They seriously love new people. Adrian, she is an amazing person. The first practice I had a little accident with her, but she came and talked to me about it and we're cool. They are amazing people, they really help us. They have a lot of experience and they all talk to us and make us feel very comfortable."

What are your first impressions of Sacramento?
Piekarska: "I like the city. The thing I loved most was when I first came here and saw the court, I said, 'I love it! I want to come back here'."

What�s your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Piekarska: "Being on the computer. I am big on the internet."

Are you an animal lover?
Piekarska: "Yeah, [laughs] I have three dogs and a lot of cats at home. I already told my parents that over the summer, if I am overseas I am taking one with me."