On Wednesday’s episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, host Howard Megdal sat down with Imani McGee-Stafford to discuss her planned return to the WNBA. Imani and Howard discuss her year abroad in China and how it’s shaped her as a player, as well as her aspirations for herself and for the league going forward.
Howard and Imani open the show by discussing Imani’s first full season overseas. Much of the season in China, for Imani, has been focused on getting back in “game shape” and fighting for opportunities to come back, after she’s been away from the game for a while. China has been a success story for Imani – she’s getting lots of playing opportunities and hitting 45% of her threes. Imani’s goal as the season progresses is to keep playing “around 38 minutes” and keeping up her efficiency, while also getting her numbers up. Imani acknowledges that now, because she is a little older and a little slower, her game has changed, so coming bak to the game has required her to adjust her playing style. But, she’s still preparing to stun – per Imani, “a lot of people are surprised that I can do as much as I can.”
Imani and Howard then move onto discussing Imani’s unique legacy in the WNBA, as the first second-generation player in the league. “Being the daughter of a WNBA player, you know, I don’t take that for granted,” Imani says. So much of her career, and her comeback, are dedicated to continuing her mom’s legacy. “I’ve got a lot of champions in my family,” Imani remarks, “so I’m trying to carve my name in the record books, as a team player or just for years in the league.” And as she mounts her return, Imani is proud of what she sees when she looks back at the WNBA. “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” she says. “Seeing us get this new CBA and just continue moving forward as… one of the most established women’s league in America… it’s beautiful to watch.”
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