Monarchs forward Kim Smith entered this year's training camp with renewed confidence. Now she is looking to contribute more in her third season.

Was there a particular aspect of your game you worked on during the offseason?
Smith: "This offseason was just about getting smarter. I�m not really getting much quicker as I get older, so it is more important to become smarter -- trying to keep people in front of you, using space and using gaps. I am never going to be one of those quick types, but I can be smarter by keeping people in front of me. So that was my biggest emphasis."

It seems like training camp is a very physically and mentally taxing experience, how would describe it?
Smith: "It definitely is. You normally get here in the morning around 10 a.m. and you are here until about 4:30 pm. or 4:45 p.m. It's definitely tiring, but it's fun. It is what you love to do. It's not all that bad."

Have you had any two-a-days?
Smith: "No, we haven�t had any two-a-days. We are here from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. because we have to lift and get in extra shots. When you are in training camp there is a lot of treatment. You spend a lot of time in the cold tubs and a lot of time on the treatment tables just taking care of yourself."

Is there any aspect that gets easier as you get older and more used to this process?
Smith: "I would love to say you are less nervous, but I still get a little nervous during training camp. I think as I have gotten older, I've learned how to take better care of my body. Maybe the first year I wouldn�t use the cold tubs or wouldn�t take advantage of treatment. Now this is my third year and I know what it takes. You have to do everything you can. You have to eat smart. Your life has to accept that you are in training camp. You can�t be staying up late. You have to make smart decisions."

From the outside looking in, it appears that the team has a lot of fun together and you guys have a lot of camaraderie. Is that true?
Smith: "We do. This is a great team. It is a lot of fun to be part of it. All the girls get along really well. Everybody is really helpful, whether it is the veterans or even the rookies. Everybody just tries to help each other out. It�s a really cool team atmosphere."

Have there been any entertaining moments of training camp?
Smith: "There is something we laugh about almost every day, whether it's rehashing stuff from previous years or silly comments somebody makes. We are always cracking up. When you are on the court you kind of have to get down to business and be a little bit more serious, but in the locker room, before practice, or even if something happens during practice, if somebody slips we will laugh."

Who is the team jokester?
Smith: "There are a couple -- Adrian, Kara has some crazy stories too. She gets animated [laughs]. There are quite a few actually."

How would you like this season to pan out for you?
Smith: "I would love to get some playing time this year. I want to help contribute in any way I can, whether it�s scoring points or getting a rebound. I would love to be out there this year and do a little bit more."

Have you had a discussion with Coach Boucek about your individual goals?
Smith: "It doesn�t really take place between coach and player. It's collective. It's like this is what our team goal is. You have to know your own game and fit your own game into the team. It's whatever you bring personally and then showing that you can bring it on a consistent basis and showing that it can benefit the team."