Beyond the Hardwood:
Sophia Young

Name:
Sophia Young

Team:
San Antonio Silver Stars

Hometown:
St. Vincent

What playing professional basketball means to me:
Playing professional basketball is a dream come true for me. It was a desire and a will that I had at age 16. I knew that it wouldn't be easy and that I had to work extremely hard in order to acheive it. And by the grace of God, He placed a few great people to teach me what I needed to know and do to reach this goal. So really, playing professional basketball is the outcome of all the hard work and determination that I had when I decided I wanted to do this...

What I expected professional basketball to be:
I expected professional baskeball to be competitive, fun, a fight every game, a bunch of all-Americans playing on the same team, competing to win a title. How could that not be interesting and exciting...??!!

What it really is:
It's everything that I expected it to be

Something I wish I'd learned while playing lower division basketball:
I wish I had learned to get over a screen a lot better and how to guard a shooter.

Why I love playing basketball:
I love playing basketball because it's a stress reliever for me..
It makes me feel free and that this is what I was meant to do.
I love the competition, the excitement of it, and the heart you have to have to win. I feel that God has given me the talents and abilities to play this game and I want to use them to the fullest to bring Him glory.

The women’s player that’s most fun to watch right now...
I love watching Deanna Nolan play. She is extremely athletic, quick as lightning, can jump out the gym and can score. She's an all around player.

My most memorable coach (and why)...
My most memorable coach is Coach Kim Mulkey. She's a little woman with a fiesty spirit. She was/is one of the best point guards that ever played the game. She's a leader. She's passionate about the game. She's a role model and a fantastic mother. She has taught me a lot about life. And I won a national championship with her.

I'd go crazy on a road trip without...
My phone...that's all I gotta say about that.

A teammate (past or present) that I’ve been the most inspired by is (and why)...
That would have to Vickie Johnson. She's a veteran in this game and she knows a lot about it. She's a fighter and has the heart of a lion. She plays hard for 40 mins and never quits no matter what the result of the game is. And she's one of the best defensive players in this league.

Three things I'd like to do before I die...
Travel the world. Write a book. Start a foundation for homeless and abused children.

Advice I'd give to a younger player who plays my position is...
Work hard to be better, faster and stronger, because the game is growing fast and you have to keep up with it.

An aspect of my game that I'd really like to improve is...
I'd like to improve on my ball handling, my outside shooting (including 3 pointers) and be a better defensive player.

Website I Visit Most Often:
Bank of America and MySpace