Assistant Coach Monique Ambers dishes on final roster cuts, the team's offense and defense and what has impressed her most about the team in training camp.

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How hard is it to determine the final roster?
Monique_ambers: "I think the good thing about us is that we only invite people to our training camp that we know can either make our team or we want on our team. But that is what makes it hard as far as cutting it down. So it's like 'do we want this player? What does she bring to the team?' So I think that is the hardest thing about trying to decide what we want."

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While the players get mentally and physically exhausted through the rigorous training camp process, what is the most difficult aspect for coaches?
Ambers: "It's just teaching. There is just so much stuff to teach that you never feel like you have enough time. Our first game is Saturday and there is just so much more that we want to teach and we feel that they need to know."

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Is defense one of those main areas of teaching that takes an extensive amount time?
Ambers: "Yeah, it's a big adjustment for the girls who come here from college, because we play so different. First, they have to adjust to the speed at this level and then they are coming to us because we are teaching them things that their coaches probably told them not to do defensively, as far as it's OK to 3/4 stay behind the post and we're like no. Or, your whole life as a post player you're taught to body-up and use your body and we're here -- we don't fight, so that is a big adjustment. Up and to the ball and our ball pressure, our defense is our bread and butter. So people we invite to camp know that coming in."

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How would characterize the defense? Is it like a zone?
Ambers: "It's a team defense, so in that matter of a zone everybody works together, but everyone has their own man. Everybody is connected. If one person messes up, it makes it hard for everyone else."

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So it comes down to help defense essentially?
Ambers: "That and your one-on-one defense as well. But, knowing that your help is there allows you to go all out and pressure this ball or I'm going to front this post. So I have to know you're going to be behind me to help."

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What do you think is the biggest misconception of a great defensive player?
Ambers: "I think people that get a lot of steals or post players who block a lot of shots. People think, 'wow, they are so great on defense.'"

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Great help defense is vital because quick players are often able to get past the first line of defense, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the first line of defense is weak. That's what support defense is for, correct?
Ambers: "Exactly. For us, it's a matter of forcing them in to the help. So sometimes with one-on-one players, for example in the NBA you have Kobe, and in the WNBA you have Sheryl Swoopes back in her day, I'm sure Candace Parker will have the ability and Diana Taurasi has the ability, who are just hard to force into that help. They are just so good at doing what they want to do. So that is the most difficult thing. That is why in our defensive ball-pressure is key."

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What led to the implementation of the more up-tempo offensive style this season?
Ambers: "I just think from watching film in the past and knowing what we did when we played our best, it came when we were getting up and down the court. So this year we put more emphasis on that. I think it will be better for us and better for our fans. It's always an exciting style to watch."

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How is the excitement for Opening Night different as a player compared to as a coach?
Ambers: "As a player you just get butterflies because it's the beginning of the season and you're out there for the first time in front of the fans. Even if you've been there before, even if you are Ticha or Kara, it's the first time of the season. For a coach it's not a nervous time, but you're like, 'I hope we taught them enough and did we teach them this?' It's kind of like a parent whose kids are going away to college. I think, more so, that's how we feel as coaches -- I hope we prepared them well enough for the game."

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What has impressed you most about the team in training camp?
Ambers: "What's impressed me most is the team chemistry. That should be easy because I think we have the best girls on our team. But, to see Laura Harper come in and feel right at home is great. Obviously the rookies still have their rookie duties, but I think Kara, Ticha and Rebekkah have all welcomed them, made them feel comfortable and they fit right in. I think that helped so much on the court, by the way they treat them off the court."

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