Walker- Kimbrough motivated to join WNBA’s elite
The words of wisdom arrived years ago from Shatori Walker- Kimbrough’s maternal grandfather: “A satisfied man is a dead man.”
It is a message that resonates with the former Hopewell High and University of Maryland basketball star. So much so that Walker- Kimbrough referenced it while discussing her third season with the Washington Mystics, the 2018 WNBA runner- up.
“The message is, ‘ There’s always room for more, always ways to improve yourself,’” said Walker- Kimbrough, the sixth overall selection in the 2017 draft. “You have to stay motivated.”
A 5- foot- 9 guard, WalkerKimbrough is in the midst of her best WNBA season, averaging career highs in points ( 6.8), rebounds ( 1.8), assists ( 1.2), field- goal percentage ( 45) and minutes ( 16.7). She would eventually like to move from her reserve role and into the starting lineup, yet she understands the value of coming off the bench for a team that owns the league’s third- best record ( 14- 7) and is among the favorites to win a WNBA title.
The Mystics feature standouts such as five- time all- star and MVP candidate Elena Delle Donne, who ranks second in the WNBA in scoring, and three- time all- star Kristi Toliver, another Maryland alum who moonlights as an assistant for the NBA’s Washington Wizards. Washington recently welcomed the return of former all- star Emma Meesseman, who missed most of June while competing for Belgium in Women’s EuroBasket.
As the fourth- youngest member of the Mystics, Walker- Kimbrough gleans as much as possible from her veteran teammates.
“This process is taking a little longer for me than it did when I was in high school or college, but at the end of the day, this is a profession, a business, and it takes time,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot from Kristi and Elena, two allstars — which is what I want to be in this league. I watch their leadership and communication skills.”
Walker- Kimbrough hopes to collaborate with her talented teammates to bring a WNBA title to the nation’s capital. Her championship resume features a WPIAL crown as a junior at Hopewell — where she earned Post- Gazette Athlete of the Year honors — and Big Ten regularseason at Maryland, and tournament which twice titles reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
Not a bad run for a young player, but Walker - Kimbrough wants more. And she wants it this season. “Absolutely,” she said, cutting off a question about the Mystics’ chances of winning a title in ‘ 19. “I just see how we’re playing and how many weapons we have on offense. If you look at how we’ve been winning [ an average margin of 10 points], it’s really hard to stop us. Someone is going to have to beat us in a five- game playoff series, and I think that will be hard to do. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted in the championship last year [ Washington got swept by Seattle], but we have the blueprint now.” Walker- Kimbrough arrived in Washington after a tremendous career at Maryland. Among her highlights: Led the NCAA, and set the Big Ten record, in 3- point fieldgoal percentage at 54.5 as a junior; three- time first- team AllBig Ten selection; Big Ten Most Outstanding Player in 2016; AP and ESPNW thirdteam All- American; Wooden Award Watch List.
As a pro, she aspires to similarly dominate — “I want to be a top- 10 player,” she said — and is willing to make the sacrifices to get there. For example, she spent her offseason playing overseas ( like most WNBA players) in Hungary, where she heeded the advice of Mystics coach Mike Thibault and refined her ballhandling skills ( while also averaging 18 points).
“The more you can do, the more you can help your team,” she said.
She will return to Hungary after the season as she continues to work on her game.
“I don’t have time to do much off the court right now in my life,” Walker- Kimbrough said. “It’s pretty much all about basketball. It’s about being the best player I can be. It takes time — and I’m willing to put the time in.”
Because, as her grandfather once said, “A satisfied man [ or woman] is a dead man.”