Beyond the Hardwood:
Shameka Christon

Name:
Shameka Christon

Team:
New York Liberty

Hometown:
Hot Springs, AR

What playing professional basketball means to me:
It reflects all of the hard work and dedication that I endured to reach this pinnacle of my career. I am competitive and extremely passionate about the game. It is an honor to be playing for an elite league with other elite athletes. Moreover, I am getting paid to play the game that I absolutely love and have loved since I first started playing at age 13.

What I expected professional basketball to be:
I expected professional basketball to be very competitive and a lot of fun.

What it really is:
It is very fun and very competitive, but I now realize that it is also a job and a business. It’s important to maintain the discipline that was drilled into you while playing lower division ball. It’s your job and responsibility to take care of your body. So, no more team pre-game meals.

Something I wish I'd learned while playing lower division basketball:
I wish I would have learned the defensive mechanics of man to man defense and the proper angles of rebounding.

Why I love playing basketball:
I love playing basketball because I love to compete. When I first started playing, I played because I wanted to do everything that my brother did. But it was the first time in my life that someone had told me that I couldn’t do it and that I would never become a good basketball player. With that I worked harder to become better, while at the same time I developed a passion for the game.

The women’s player that’s most fun to watch right now...
Temeka Johnson and Becky Hammon. They have to be two of the shortest players
in the league, but what they can do with the basketball is absolutely amazing. I hope that people also find me fun to watch, because of the passion I bring to the game.

My most memorable coach (and why)...
Geno Auriemma at UConn (my coach on the Junior National Team). He was always yelling at me and cursing me out. I would sit there and wonder why he would yell when all he had to do was tell me what to do and I would do it. At the time I didn’t understand it and simply thought that he needed a hug. But after that summer with him and the USA Jr. National Team, my game improved tremendously, as well as my competitive edge. The effect was positive and as a player I have a great amount of respect for him. Anne Donovan is also one of my most memorable coaches. She is really laid back and relaxed. I got to play for her in Australia with the USA National Team. She tells you exactly what she wants and she motivates you. She puts her players in the best situation to excel whether it is by teaching or whatever. She is
someone that you want to go to war for.

I'd go crazy on a road trip without...
Sudoku puzzles - I have to compete. It is me against the numbers. My iPod – I love music and I love to dance. My make-up by MAC cosmetics – I love the way it looks and that the company helps charities. Most of the time I love to dress up, so I use MAC as the finishing touch to look glamorous. My purse – I literally carry my life in my purse, however, it can’t be just any purse…all of my purses are by designers like Gucci, Fendi, Coach, Chanel, Prada and Marc. I love them.

A teammate (past or present) that I’ve been the most inspired by is (and why)...
Definitely Crystal Robinson. She took me under her wing as a rookie and made sure I was taken care of both on and off the court. She and I have the same agent and after playing together in the WNBA, we were also able to play on the same team in Israel for my first year season overseas. So she helped me through both experiences (here in the WNBA and overseas). I learned so much from her and we won the league Championship in Israel, which was such a great moment to experience with her. Crystal is the boldest person I know and I admire that.

Three things I'd like to do before I die...
Model/Acting: I’ve always been told that I have the perfect figure and personality for it. I love getting dressed up and I always enjoy the photoshoots and interviews that I get to do being a pro player.

See the world: I love to travel and experience new cultures. Basketball has afforded me the opportunity to tour and play in amazing places like Israel, Australia, the Czech Republic, etc. And I’ve gotten the chance to do charity work in places like Algeria (when I toured there with Andrea Stinson and Sam Perkins last year on behalf of the State Department). Even my dog has unbelievable amounts of frequent flier miles…he’s been with me in France and Israel several times! I hope to keep seeing different parts of the world and meeting people from different cultures.

Fashion: There is so much to do from this area that I want to experience. I absolutely love fashion and I love wearing designer clothes like Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Baby Phat, Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secret, Juicy Couture, Dolce & Gabbana, Bebe, DKNY, Versace and Dior. Hopefully one day I can meet these designers and/or model for them. Also one day I would love to have my own fashion line.

Advice I'd give to a younger player who plays my position is...
Keep positive and stay focused. Be dedicated and work hard – the rewards are great.

An aspect of my game that I'd really like to improve is...
Ballhandling and rebounding.

Website I Visit Most Often:
WNBA.com. I love to keep up with what’s going on around the league.