Courtney Williams may simply be one of the best trash talker within the WNBA

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — On Tuesday night time, when the Connecticut Solar and Minnesota Lynx confronted off in Sport 2 of the WNBA semi-finals, Courtney Williams and Marina Mabrey made headlines for some third-quarter trash speak.

“Advised her she couldn’t guard me,” Williams mentioned matter-of-factly after Minnesota’s 77-70 win, during which she helped prepared the ground with 17 factors.

On Friday morning at shootaround, Williams grinned when requested about the place she ranked among the many league’s finest trash-talkers.

“I’m up there,” Williams mentioned. “I ain’t gonna say I’m one of the best, however I’m like a clean trash talker.”

The important thing for Williams? Protecting issues gentle, she mentioned. Some gamers get private, others get emotional. However Williams stays glad when she goes at different crew’s rivals.

“Like, I don’t actually get mad after I trash speak,” Williams mentioned. “Some individuals trash speaking — they be mad, on the market enjoying mad. I trash speak, I’m nonetheless smiling and glad, so there’s totally different ranges. Some individuals take themselves out of video games after they begin trash speaking.”

Photograph by Khoi Ton/NBAE through Getty Photographs

Williams and Mabrey very effectively may go after it once more tonight when the Solar and Lynx run it again tonight in Sport 3 on the Mohegan Solar Enviornment. The duo goes means again: earlier than they have been fiery rivals battling within the WNBA semifinals, they have been teammates and pals on the Chicago Sky.

“That’s my dawg now,” Williams mentioned.

However, when the 2 groups face off at Mohegan Solar Enviornment tonight, that friendship will probably be put apart — and all Mabrey and Williams will probably be is rivals. Mabrey can generally deal with her trash speak, Williams mentioned jokingly, whereas making clear that for her it’s by no means a distraction.

“I understand how to regulate my trash speak.”

Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman attested at shootaround that there are few trash-talkers within the WNBA who rival Courtney Williams.

“Courtney’s in all probability probably the most assured individual I’ve carried out ever met,” Hiedeman mentioned. “I’m not gonna lie, she may very well be 0 for 10. She’s nonetheless gonna speak, she’s nonetheless gonna pop it. However I feel that simply goes to indicate who she is as an individual. She’s very, very assured.”

Photograph by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photographs

Hiedeman’s mentioned that Williams’ trash speak has been contagious for the Lynx, in a optimistic means.

“She instills that confidence in in all people,” Hiedeman mentioned. “So, man, I’m glad we on the identical crew, you understand what I’m saying, as a result of when she get to speaking… however nah, she’s undoubtedly a high 5 for positive.”

And, she attested that Williams’ back-and-forth by no means will get too heavy.

“To her, it’s a basketball recreation,” Hiedeman mentioned. “So, every thing that occurs on this court docket stays on the court docket. Hers is extra like — she’s going to speak, she’s going to let you understand she’s right here, however it’s nothing loopy.”

It’s necessary to notice that Williams’ trash-talk isn’t restricted to video games — it comes out in apply, too.

And, when the Lynx are simply hanging out.

“She talks all the time,” Hiedeman mentioned. “She’ll in all probability speak once we go to breakfast. Irrespective of to who.”