Wauters Falls Into Place With San Antonio

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Ann Wauters had 10 points and six rebounds in her debut for the Silver Stars against Seattle.

A slew of big names changed places in blockbuster deals during the offseason, but one of the more overlooked and underrated acquisitions occurred when the San Antonio Silver Stars traded for 6-4 center Ann Wauters, a veteran of five WNBA seasons and an established star overseas. Following a two-year hiatus from the WNBA, Wauters was initially slated to make her return with the Atlanta Dream this season after she was selected in the team's expansion draft. But Wauters went from a team expected to go through first-year growing pains to one with the potential to win it all in 2008 when the Silver Stars pulled off a draft-day swap with the Dream.

And Wauters couldn't have asked for a better fit than San Antonio, where she has been reunited with her former coach from her years with the Cleveland Rockers and with a couple of ex-teammates from her time with the New York Liberty. We'll have a better sense in September if Wauters is that piece the Silver Stars need to complete its championship puzzle, but for now at least it appears San Antonio has helped itself out substanitally in the post -- an area that lacked depth in '07.

WNBA.com's Mark Bodenrader caught up with Wauters to talk about her return to the league and what expectations she has for the coming season.

WNBA.com: How have things been going so far since joining the Silver Stars last week?

WAUTERS: “We had some time to practice and for me it was a good opportunity to get adapted. It’s a different style of basketball and it’s a new team so I think this practice week has been good for me individually, but also for us as a team. We want to get better each day.”

WNBA.com: Why did you choose to take so much time away from the WNBA?

WAUTERS: “Well, there were a couple of reasons. The main reason was we had a pretty big project in Belgium going on to get qualified for the Olympics. They asked me to be there full time to do all the practices and everything, so I took that opportunity because it was kind of a dream for me to go to the Olympics, but unfortunately we didn’t qualify. That took me two summers: the first one was to qualify for the European championships and then last year was the European championships where we ended seventh and only the first five can go to the Olympics. So that’s why this summer there was nothing to do with my national team and I really wanted to come back because to me (the WNBA is) the best league in the world.”

WNBA.com: How has your game changed since you last played in the WNBA?

WAUTERS: “I just got a little older, just little wiser, a little more experienced (laughs).”

WNBA.com: How much different is the WNBA compared to the game overseas?

WAUTERS: “I’ve only played one game here so far and you notice the difference right away. The pace is so much faster. The game is also more physical. And the defense is much more collective. You don’t really have one-on-ones; there’s very good team defense.”

WNBA.com: What's it like playing for Dan Hughes again after he was your coach when you played for the Cleveland Rockers?

WAUTERS: “I was really happy I got this opportunity to play for him again because I was still very young when he drafted me and I have only good memories with him in Cleveland. It’s very nice to see him again and to play for him again.”

WNBA.com: Has Coach Hughes talked to you about what role he wants you to play on this team?

WAUTERS: “We talked a little bit about it. He just wants me to play my game. In the past they really didn’t have a low-post player. I just hope I can bring that to them.”

WNBA.com: You’ve played with fellow Silver Stars Becky Hammon and Vickie Johnson before during your time with the New York Liberty. Has that made the transition back to the WNBA easier for you?

WAUTERS: “Definitely, definitely. I played with Becky and Vickie in New York, but Becky was also my teammate in Moscow, so it makes it so much easier to adapt. Becky’s not only a great player, but an awesome teammate.”

WNBA.com: What's it like playing with Hammon on the court?

WAUTERS: “It’s just great. She’s such a talented player. She’s a great shooter, but she also looks for the open player. She can make that pass so it’s fun to play with her.”

WNBA.com: Who else has impressed you on the Silver Stars so far?

WAUTERS: “I’d have to say Sophia Young. I never really saw her play, and now to be able to play with her, and not against her (laughs), it’s really great. She’s just a great, great player.”

WNBA.com: Which WNBA players are you looking forward to competing with that you haven't played against before?

WAUTERS: “The first one that comes to mine, of course, is Candace Parker. I’m really looking forward to that. She’s a great athlete. It’s going to be great to compete against her.”

WNBA.com: What do you think about the city of San Antonio?

WAUTERS: “I haven’t done much this week, but I will definitely explore it. I’ve been to a couple of restaurants and Becky’s been showing us around a little bit. I think it’s a pretty cool city.”

WNBA.com: Do you feel this team can compete for the title this season?

WAUTERS: “If we keep on working and getting better every day, yeah, why not? Last year they went to the Western finals so why not go to the championship this year?”