2019 Mystics Media Day: Interviews with Sam Fuehring, Myisha Hines-Allen, Emma Meesseman and Natasha Cloud

On Monday, May 6, the Mystics hosted their Media Day at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights, Washington, D.C. Washington is coming off a 22-12 record and their first WNBA Finals appearance in the 2018 season. This year, a growing number of voices believe that the Mystics are the team to beat this year.

I had a chance to get one-on-ones with four players on video. Watch it above.

Sam Fuehring felt uncertain about getting drafted but is ready to hit the ground running

The Louisville post was Washington’s third-round draft pick. When asked about the experience of getting drafted, she said, “I cried to be honest.” Fuehring as the 34th overall, one of the last players picked in the draft.

Though Fuehring was one of the last players selected in the draft, she expects to be tough and relentless for Washington. Fuehring was Louisville’s leading rebounder in the 2018-19 college season where the Cardinals made the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Being tough and relentless also goes outside the court. When she was a child, Fuehring’s family was evicted multiple times according to Annice McEwan of WDRB-TV based in Louisville, Ky. Those experiences have helped her mature not just as a player, but also as young woman.

Myisha Hines-Allen talks about Fuehring, Russian play and her brother

Hines-Allen is entering her sophomore WNBA season. Like Fuehring, Hines-Allen went to Louisville for college and echoed that she will bring a lot of energy to the team.

During the offseason, Hines-Allen played in Russia for Enisey Krasnoyarski in the Women’s PBL and EuroCup Women. There, she had more playing time, averaging 13.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in domestic play. Though basketball is a common denominator regardless of where it’s played, she felt that she learned more about herself being far from home.

Finally, Hines-Allen talked about her brother Josh Allen who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. She’s very proud of him. If you didn’t see it already, here’s Hines-Allen’s congratulatory message to him last week.

Emma Meesseman has no regrets about missing last season but is ready to give her all!

After missing the 2018 WNBA season to train with the Belgium women’s basketball team, Emma Meesseman is back! She’s also back for training camp!

When asked about how she felt about not playing in the WNBA last season, Meesseman replied, “I missed it, but at the same time, it was just the right choice for me to stay home and play for the national team with my friends. I’m ready for a new chapter, a new start.”

Meesseman has matured and grown a lot as a player since February 2018. She was the 2017-18 EuroLeague Women Final Four MVP when UMMC Ekaterinburg won the title. UMMC won it again this year. And for the national team? The Belgian Cats were fourth place in the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and Meesseman was unstoppable against Team USA in the semifinals, even if they otherwise lost by double digits.

I’ll admit that we certainly have been talking about whether Meesseman’s role should be reduced this season because of Women’s EuroBasket which I didn’t ask about in the video. But she said in no uncertain terms that she’s going to give everything she can this season for the Mystics. In fact, she was ready to get to practice just one day after arriving in Washington!

Natasha Cloud worked on her shooting consistency, says she’s the best singer

Finally, I spoke to Natasha Cloud who is coming off a career-best season in 2018. During the winter, she worked a lot more on shooting off ball screens and trying to get opponents to defend her more honestly. By doing so, it will open up more opportunities for Elena Delle Donne, Kristi Toliver and Meesseman and make the Mystics nearly unstoppable on offense.

During the offseason, Cloud also worked on marketing initiatives for the Mystics and represented the team for Jr. NBA/WNBA events. She was also featured in the WNBA’s latest promotional video.

Cloud was finally asked about which Mystics player is the better singer, “Tasha Timberlake,” with her version of NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye,”

or “Elsa Delle Donne” when she was singing Idina Menzel’s “Let it Go” from “Frozen” the Disney movie.

Cloud picked herself, but you can see and judge for yourself.

Greydy Diaz also spoke to Cloud in more depth. So check out the piece below.

The 2019 Mystics season is going to be really exciting folks!