Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
About two weeks ago, Alexis Jones had her dream of being drafted in the WNBA come true, being selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the No. 12 pick in the April 13 draft.
On Friday, Jones already wrapped up her first week of training camp at the WNBA level.
“It’s going pretty good. I’m learning a lot of plays and I’m just excited to be here,” Jones said. “I’m happy and blessed for this opportunity.”
Jones admitted that being around the Lynx coaching staff and having the veteran presence of the players has helped her in her first week in Minnesota.
“It’s been very exciting. The coaches are helpful, the players are helpful. Everyone is happy and ready to be in training camp,” Jones said. “Knowing that you have the coaches there to help you with whatever you need to be helped with and also the veterans helping the rookies out with everything we need to be helped with.”
The biggest learning adjustment for Jones since making the jump from college basketball to the pros so far has been the change in speed at the pro level.
“A lot of people say that college is fast paced, but this is definitely fast paced. You learn five plays in one day, you have to come back and know those plays and then you learn some more plays the next day,” she said. “The WNBA is a quicker change of speed and you have to have that good learning ability to learn the plays as quick as possible.”
Jones knows that her rookie year with be a learning process, as it is for most rookies entering the WNBA. And she’s looking forward to getting the challenge and getting the season underway.
“Being in this environment is a great opportunity. It’s really a blessing,” Jones said. “It’s going to be a learning process my whole rookie year. It’s exciting and I’m just trying to enjoy the moment the best way I can. I’m with a great team, a great organization and it’s a blessing to be a part of this Minnesota organization and championship team. I’m just going to enjoy the moment the best way I can and learn every day.”
One Week Away
Friday’s training camp practice signified one week into training camp for the Lynx, but it also means that Minnesota is just one week away from kicking off the 2017 preseason.
The Lynx open up the preseason schedule at 7 p.m. May 5 against the Atlanta Dream at Xcel Energy Center.
Minnesota will open up the 2017 regular season at 6 p.m. May 14 against the Chicago Sky at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.