Now that you've had a few months to look back on the season, do you feel that 2000 officially put you on the WNBA map?

Becky Hammon: Well, it definitely felt good to be a part of last year's team and play a bigger role than my previous year. While this year was exciting and I learned a lot, I still cherish my rookie season because it allowed me to learn a lot about myself. The fans have always been wonderful to me and it was a great feeling for them to be cheering for me. It's also great to see them wearing my t-shirts, holding up signs and sending me fan mail. It was all wonderful and very appreciated!

Midway through the 2000 season you became a starter and soon after that, a 'go-to' player on offense. You seemed to thrive each time you were put in a new pressure situation. Have you always been that type of player?

BH: I think so. I love it. I loved being that kind of player in college. I love the energy of a big game and the environment that the crowd provides. It's a kind of energy that you don't ever experience anywhere but in a big game.

You've been to the WNBA Championship in each of your first two seasons. What will this team need to do differently for the third time to be the charm?

BH: Well, I think that the championship just slipped through our hands this year. Cynthia Cooper hit two big shots against us, and they were really the deciding factor in both championship games. But we have to learn from it and come away a better team, and apply everything into the Liberty's 2001 run for the championship!

Without question you have become the newest Garden fan favorite. After just two seasons in the league, what does it feel like to have 19,000 people cheering you and people wearing your jersey every night?

BH: It's absolutely amazing to think about where I have come from, and the struggles that I went through to finally have everything come together like it has. It is just breathtaking. There is no way I could ever describe the feeling you get seeing all those signs and t-shirts. It really is just AWESOME!! I can't wait until the spring!!