It's 3 a.m. and I can't sleep. My mind is still working overtime and I'm really unsure how to feel…both in response to the news I received: I am going to Atlanta.
The Atlanta Dream, the WNBA's newest team, selected me in the expansion draft held yesterday. I have to admit I was shocked. Not that I had been left unprotected by San Antonio; I had expected that. But at the fact that Atlanta had looked past my injuries and taken a chance on me. I consider the selection a vote of confidence from my new coaching staff, one that I will no doubt prove worthy of once I get to training camp. Still, the unexpected news has turned me into an insomniac for the night.
So how do I feel? I feel sad. Excited. Scared. Motivated. Hopeful. Mostly hopeful. I hope more opportunities on the court will make leaving my family in San Antonio worth it (because that's really what the team and organization in San An is: a family). I hope I can finally be injury free and turn my potential and talent into a reality. I hope (like really hope) this year doesn't turn out like my first year in San Antonio (haha. Ya, we won like 7 games that year…torture). Most of all, I am hopeful about the prospect of going somewhere new and helping build something meaningful in a great city. And where else could be better than the ATL!?!
I am so thankful to everyone in San Antonio for the time I've spent there. The class in the organization is unparalleled, and the support I received through my injuries from Coach Hughes, Russ Bookbinder, my wonderful teammates, and everyone else is unheard of in this league. I will also never forget the cheers I got from the fans the first time I checked into a game after coming back from my achilles injury. If I wouldn't have had to play a game, I would've cried ;). Thank you everyone. I'm gonna miss you lots.
But don't feel sad for me (I mean, of course you can still miss me though…and I better get a few extra cheers when we come play in San An! LOL). Seriously though, I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I'm sure there are great things ahead of me in Atlanta, and I'm excited about every single one of them!
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Always,
Chantelle