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Basket hangin'
By Oscar Dixon, USA Today, 7/10/01 Jackie Stiles may never escape the doubting Thomases, but she is making a believer out of those who still question her skills. The small-town native with the engaging smile and big-time game has turned the rookie of the year race into a two-woman contest with Seattle's Lauren Jackson, who was all but handed the award when she was taken first in the draft. But Stiles, who got off to a slow start, leads all rookies in scoring (16.6), three-point field goal percentage (49%), second in three-point field goals made (24), and second in minutes played (33.1). "I think there will always be doubters," says Stiles, who went to Claflin (Kan.) High School and played at Southwest Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference. "I come from a small town and people told me I would never play in college. In college, people said I would never make it to the next level. I love the challenge of stepping up and proving my doubters wrong." In her first seven games, Stiles averaged 12.1 points and shot just 30.5% from the field. In her last nine, she is shooting 51.5% (66-for-128) and averaging 20.2 points. Portland coach Linda Hargrove says no matter what Stiles does, there will be people who will find flaws in her game. "But she is definitely gaining respect," Hargrove says. "Most of the doubters now have not been on the floor with her." Though she scored more points in college than anyone in NCAA history, there were WNBA insiders who wondered if at 5-8, 135 pounds she would be able to get her shot off in the league. "I thought if she could create enough space to get off that fadeaway shot she has that she could become a good player," says Phoenix Mercury general manager Seth Sulka. "I just didn't think it would happen this fast." Indiana Fever coach Nell Fortner got a close look at that fadeaway June 27 when Stiles scored a season-high 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field in a 68-65 Fire victory. "Everything she hit (that game) was fading away," Fortner says. "It didn't matter whether we played big on her or small. We just couldn't stop that fade-away." Talk of rookie of the year honors seem to overwhelm Stiles. "It's hard to be believe I would be considered for that award," she says. "That would be incredible. These last few months, the NCAA tournament, the draft, I've been living in a dream. I just hope I don't wake up." TO THE TOP |