WNBA.com, 7/05/01
Q: How does it feel having earned Player of the Week honors?
Stiles: I was shocked that they gave me the award. Basically, it's a credit to my teammates and my coaching staff here at Portland. Being a rookie, they really believed in me through the up and down times because it has been a struggle making that transition. But they've been so supportive and I wouldn't have gotten the award if it weren't for them.
Q: Have you adjusted to life in the WNBA?
Stiles: I think I'm feeling more comfortable with every game, with every practice. At first it was so tough of a transition. You are moving to a new city. You are playing with new teammates, a new coaching staff, and a new style. And, of course it's a higher level. It feels like you are a freshman in college all over again, but I have such great support with the community and my teammates and coaches that with every game, with every practice, I'm starting to feel more comfortable in the league.
Q: What would playing in the All-Star Game mean to you?
Stiles: That would be an incredible feeling if I were named to the All-Star team. I never really imagined that all this would happen so fast in my first year. But, again, it's just been great support from my team and my coaches. I'd definitely share that honor with them if I were selected to the All-Star team.
Q: Talk about playing alongside a veteran like Sophia Witherspoon?
Stiles: It's been tremendous playing with her. She really took me under her wing early in training camp and really tried to show me the ropes. And just really teaching me about making it at this level and what it takes to by successful. She's also just a great player to play with on the court and I think we can really help each other. If I penetrate and draw the defense, I can kick to her on the perimeter and she does the same for me. Hopefully, we'll keep working at getting better and better.
Q: Has it been difficult trying to be live up to the expectations?
Stiles: Definitely, at first it was very tough, because I felt that expectations were so high, but again I knew how tough it would be to make that transition early and to take that step. I felt I was definitely letting people down, but basically, I set such high expectations for myself -- I'm harder on myself than really anyone else is -- I think just the way I deal with those things is my work ethic. I just try to give it everything I have every day and get my extra shooting workouts in and then I just try to go out there and do my best. And just really try to forget what everybody is saying outside and just focus on winning games. That's really seemed to help settle me down.
Q: Portland is fourth place in West. What do you need to do to carry that momentum through the season?
Stiles: You just have to stay so focussed each and every game because it is so tough. Any team you play in the WNBA is tough, especially on the road. We just got done with a five-game, seven-day road trip, so we are just going to have stay focussed and keep getting better defensively. What's winning games for us is our defensive mentality and hopefully, we'll keep getting better. It's definitely tough. We know we are in a very tough division, so we are just trying to take it one game at a time.