It's Monday, for the reception of the Mystics, that Gabby Williams will resume her WNBA career, and it will still be under the jersey of the Seattle Storm. Silver medalist at the Olympic Games with the French Team, the Franco-American met her teammates on Friday, then held a press conference. Even if she was a “free agent”, she did not see herself signing elsewhere.
“We've been discussing it for a year,” Williams revealed. “The deciding factor was that as long as I felt mentally and physically healthy, I would finish the season with Seattle. Physically, I feel healthy. I feel good. I took a week off mentally after the Olympics. I talked to Coach Noey all summer long. [Quinn]Talisa [Rhea] and Lisa [Brummel]the co-owner, to keep them informed about my health. We all decided to talk about it after the Olympics.”
The French “Swiss Army Knife”
Even though the roster has changed a bit, Williams will have no problem adapting, and she is ready to help in whatever role she is given.
“I feel at home”, she confirms. “It’s a system I know well, a staff I know well, players I know well. But it’s very different. Today was fun and I enjoyed training with smart players and good people. I like the culture we have here. Noey said she’s going to use me to fill in the gaps. If we ever need help at point guard, it’s going to be me. If I need to play the 3, it’s going to be me. She said I’m going to be the ‘French Swiss Army knife.’ Just being the player that adapts to the circumstances. That’s what I like to do and that’s what I’ve always done here.”
An impact on the French public
Best defender of the 2024 Olympics and elected in the best five of the tournament, she also spoke about the days following the defeat against the United States, and this beautiful silver medal.
“It wasn’t exactly what we wanted since the dream was to win gold, but I think what we did made a lot of people proud. I didn’t really realize until a few days after the game the impact it had on the country and the people. Every person who came up to me was saying, ‘Thank you for this game.’ I don’t know how to say it in English, but they were telling me that we had made them vibrate. The French fans supported us a lot and the fact that we were able to touch so many people is very important. Everyone saw how much we gave it our all and that’s what really touches me.”
