Stacey Dales Chat Wrap

Jan. 23, 2001

Stacey Dales at 5:03pm ET
My name is Stacey Dales and I'm a shooting guard/point guard/whatever from the University of Oklahoma. I try to do a lot of different stuff here. So fire the questions away, because I love to talk.

Cristy from [203.134.67.3], at 5:03pm ET
Is there any meaning to the #21 you wear?

Stacey Dales at 5:05pm ET
There really isn't any particular reason. When I was a young girl in the upcoming basketball scene, I watched a lot of men's basketball. And Dominique Wilkins caught my eye. He wasn't always in the limelight -- and was in the shadows of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, the bigger stars -- but he made great contributions to the game. Hew was very athletic, fun to watch, and he wore No. 21. And me being an avid men's basketball watcher, he caught my eye. After that, there was no defining moment. And then the number kind of stuck with me.

Cristy from [203.134.67.3], at 5:05pm ET
Hi Stacey . . . What do you think is your strongest asset as a player and what is your weakest? What are you doing to improve?

Stacey Dales at 5:07pm ET
I think my strongest asset is my versatility. I'm able to read the defense, pass the ball when necessary, shoot when necessary and defend key players on other teams. I think that versatility makes me unique. As for weaknesses, I could sometimes be a little more patient. I tend to get so wrapped up in the game that I make some hasty decisions at times. If you had seen me as a freshman, that would have been the first thing you noticed. But I have improved in that area, and need to keep improving. Nothing is ever perfect, and you can always improve yourself. And of course, being a right-handed basketball player, I've also tried to better my left hand.

Alan McAskill from [63.254.141.224], at 5:08pm ET
Hi Stacey, Something I asked Coach Coale about and have yet to hear back is that I've been wondering what it was like playing at Colorado while OUr football team was playing in the Orange Bowl. It's a good thing that it wasn't played in Norman or the crowd would have been really sparse and hopefully it kept a good deal of the Colorado fans away from the game. Apparently it didn't affect the team's concentration, you beat them quite soundly. Also, what's become of Jamie Mayer? Beat Kansas tomorrow night and better still, beat Texas Tech on Sunday. Yours sincerely, Alan McAskill

Stacey Dales at 5:09pm ET
Initially we were a little disappointed we couldn't watch the game. However, you can't change things, and we prepared for Colorado, and when we stepped on the floor, there wasn't a thought of what our football team was doing. We were concentrating on the task at hand, and won by 20 points. After the game, we definitely were prepared to celebrate with all of the Oklahomans for the victory.

As for Jamie Mayer, she's no longer with the team. She left for personal reasons. She was a great worker for us, and we really loved her.

Mike Hefferly from [63.59.252.247], at 5:09pm ET
Are you very superstitious? If so, what are some of your good luck rituals?

Stacey Dales at 5:10pm ET
I have a ton of little things I do immediately prior to the game ... right before we take the tipoff, I always stand directly to the right of coach Coale. I'm also the last shooter on the court for our team after warmups. Those are two of the primary ones.

eric from [63.36.38.93], at 5:11pm ET
Do you pay much attention to teams outside your conference? For example, did you watch the UConn-Notre Dame game on MLK Day?

Stacey Dales at 5:12pm ET
I think that everyone in America is watching when a team like UConn or Tennessee plays. They have been the benchmark for women's basketball for several years. They're the top teams, you want to see how they're doing and get a sense of what makes them successful. So yes, I definitely catch those games when I can, but it's hard with our schedule.

Mike Hefferly from [63.59.252.247], at 5:12pm ET
Stacey, Being the great player and offensive weapon that you are, how do you plan on attacking the stifling defense of Texas Tech in your two upcoming contests

Stacey Dales at 5:13pm ET
As a team, we're definitely looking to push in transition. That's our primary option. But we're also doing very well as of late in execution in the half-court set. So that's the second plan. Personally, I can't tell you right now what I'm going to do ... it just comes to me. That's the way I play. It just happens as it happens. Kinda my thing this year has been if you play me to pass, I'm going to shoot, and if you play me to shoot, I'm going to pass. Whatever you play me to, I'll do the opposite.

Thomas from [63.21.26.83], at 5:14pm ET
Your style of basketball reminds me a lot of how Magic Johnson used to play the game. What players did you admire and what players influenced your game as you've developed into the player that you are now?

Stacey Dales at 5:17pm ET
To be honest, I absolutely loved the way Magic played the game. He was an architect for how it is to be played. He was someone I watched while growing up. Anyone who could really sit above everybody else in some unique way, I was amazed by. And Magic had that. I love the way my fellow Canadian Steve Nash plays. He has such a unique way of distributing the basketball, and really electrifying a crowd. Men have always had that ability. I think women, as young girls growing up, haven't tried as many of the "show-boat" type of moves. It's not show-boating in my opinion, but demonstrating your passion. But if you can do something that can rip a crowd from its seat, and send an electricity from person to person, then you really truly have a special gift in whatever it is that you do. And so someone like Magic who has that gift, you definitely try to model your game after someone like that. I've really tried to be a risk taker and that risk taking has really led me to become the player I've become and will continue to become.

Dan Hiatt from [192.188.155.37], at 5:17pm ET
Stacey, the team really cooked in the second half against North Carolina on Sunday. Do you feel that the team is rounding into form, or do you feel that a lot more improvement can be made before the postseason?

Stacey Dales at 5:19pm ET
There's definitely some improvement that we need. We're still turning the ball over too many times, missing crucial block-outs at key times ... small things, intangibles to people on the outside who might not read so deeply into the lines. Those are the things we need to clean up. We're running very well, getting it in transition extremely well. And I'm really pleased at how well we've adapted to one another. That might be our greatest strength as we continue to evolve into the season. For example, making an extra pass in the offense can really demoralize the other team when you're on a momentum run. And we've been doing that so well, and I hope that continues to improve as we progress.

Norie Spence from [207.61.101.2] at 5:19pm ET
HI Stacey, LGSSAA sends its regards! We watched you have a great summer and Olympics as Canada's "2" guard. You obviously improved from all the tough competition all summer, but how did it tramslate over to you playing the point with the sooners!.

Also it's nice to see oyu guys winning the close ones. At the seaon start, you lost a couple, but have confidence since your OT victory out west!

good luck

Spence #43

Stacey Dales at 5:23pm ET
Hi, Norie, and thanks for getting touch. There were some major translations from this summer to this season. And I think most of those transformations were intangible things I was able to bring back to this team, stuff like mental toughness and work ethic. We've always had a great work ethic here, but practicing twice a day and playing eight games in the course of 12 days at the Olympics was tough. International basketball is very physical. You have to be able to persevere through the adversitites that arise, and they pop up out of nowhere. So that mental edge I brought back to the team really improved my leadership qualities. And at this point of the season, I'm very comfortable leading this team, and so much of what I'm doing was derived from my experiences at the international level. Physically, just playing the physical basketball we played prepared me in such a powerful way for this season. For example, finishing a layup in transition and drawing a foul at the same time, and being able to withstand the foul and finish the basket, were things I was able to learn this summer and incorporate into my game in a much better way.

Billy from [203.134.68.3], at 5:23pm ET
What do you like about playing at OU and for Coach Coale?

Stacey Dales at 5:25pm ET
Passion. Fire. Spontaneity. All these point-blank words come to mind because they express and symbolize what we represent. We love to run the fast break. I think it's been to my benefit that I came here because coach Coale has let me showcase what I have, and let me play my game. She's never said, "Stacey, don't do that." As a result, my risk-taking abilities have improved, and our team has gotten so much better -- every single person on our roster. We share a common passion for this game, and that starts with the coaches' recruiting and the style we implement on the court. I really think we're a fun team to watch.

Rob from [216.86.29.1] at 5:25pm ET
Stacey, Who is the toughest player to guard in the Big 12?

Stacey Dales at 5:26pm ET
Well, I have to say that dating back a year, Edwina Brown from Texas. She, to me, epitomized sportsmanship and athleticism and versatility in a basketball player. She was extremely tough to guard, and I got the duty every time we played them. There's also some upcoming players from A&M who are tough ... Saunders is a great offensive weapon. Stacy Frese was also tough to defend. I'm sure glad I didn't have to guard Phylesha Whaley, though.

Kevin Cinnamon from [207.61.101.2], at 5:27pm ET
Stacy,

Congratulations on the season so far!!!! When ever I've seen you playing on National Tv, You seemed to be very focused. I was wondering if you have a crazy side that likes to let loose and have fun every once and a while?
When you were in highschool, were you as serious or more of a class clownBest of luck on the rest of the season!!!

Kevin Cinnamon
BrockVegas, Ontario
cinnamonk@ucdsb.on.ca

Stacey Dales at 5:33pm ET
I have a crazy side. I'm aspiring to perform on Saturday Night Live. You wouldn't know it on first impression, but that is my fantasy job. And Kevin probably knew that. And yes, I was the class clown. I try to be the team clown as well, but we have a few.

jarren@ou.edu from [129.15.37.113], at 5:35pm ET
Stacey, do you plan to play in the WNBA next year or do you have other plans?

Stacey Dales at 5:36pm ET
I'll still be around at OU next year -- for my fifth year. My aspirations after college .. the WNBA is a definite possibility. To be honest, however, I don't read into the future too much. You can really jinx yourself. I try to let things come as they may. If it's to be, it'll happen.

Stacey Dales at 5:37pm ET
But I would love to get into some aspect of television, broadcasting or commentating, or a journalism-oriented career. I'm a communications major.

Sooner or later from [162.64.254.254], at 5:38pm ET
Who do you look towards for inspiration?

Stacey Dales at 5:40pm ET
I really look to my parents for that. They have been the most important factor in any of this, in any of the stuff I've ever done. They let me go. They said go off and do your thing at OU, and that was the hardest thing I've had to do. Our relationship has absolutely blossomed, and it was great before. But they have given me the opportunity. They said, "you're great at this or that, and we'll support you in whatever you'd like to try." There have been thousands of tears shed from my eyes because of the distance between us, but they are always in my heart. They are my inspiration. Mom will call out of the blue before a game, and sometimes they'll do that, and they just said they loved me. But it was great to hear from them. It may sound corny, but they are truly what has pushed me through all of the tough times.

Manning in IL from [152.163.197.212], at 5:41pm ET
hi there. what is the transition like from high school ball to the college game? thank you!

Stacey Dales at 5:43pm ET
Maturity. It's all about maturity. You may think you're the most mature person heading into college, but there are so many things you have yet to see and appreciate. Gaining that independence, and the individuality is really tough because as you enter college, you're still seeking your identity. You don't know who you are yet. And with all those things in mind, plus the physical imaturity you experience as an athlete, are a lot of things to have to overcome. I came in as a weak freshman, and stepped out onto the floor and tore my ACL the first game because I wasn't mature physically. Besides that, I was thousands of miles away from my parents. So not only did I have to recover physically, but had to toughen up mentally and push through this adversity.

Tiff from [152.163.201.191], at 5:43pm ET
Do miss Cananda and do you plan on going back there when you're done at OU

Stacey Dales at 5:44pm ET
I really miss Canada. I love everything about Canada. I love the landscaping. I love the vast environmental beauty of it. And I certainly miss some people in Canada -- family and friends. But to be honest, I probably will get a job in America when I'm through with OU, and make American money. That will work to my benefit, and I probably will marry an American, so I'll probably be "stuck" here anyway. I'll most likely end up here. I'd love to live near my family, but again, it all depends on the WNBA or whatever job I get.

Pat from [63.59.252.73], at 5:46pm ET
What made you choose to go to Oklahoma? Who else recruited you out of high school

Stacey Dales at 5:50pm ET
Well, I was initially headed to Syracuse, which is only two hours away from home. It would've been a place my parents could have seen every single game. But Pam DeCosta, who was an assistant at OU but is now a coach at Kansas, saw me play in a gym in Canada, and decided to call me. We developed a great relationship, it extended to the rest of the staff. My fifth visit was to OU, and it was kind of a shot in the dark. I couldn't have told you where Oklahoma was on a map. I'd tell people at home I was going to Oklahoma, and they were shocked and didn't know where it was, either. I came down here, saw the campus, saw the surrounding area. It was really simple to me. I liked the simplicity of it all. But most importantly, I like the program, it intrigued me. I like the direction the program was headed, and the people who were heading it. They played fast, free-lancing, crazy and spontaneous basketball that I wanted to be a part of. So here was a program that wanted to play the way I did. Add in the Big 12, and that really sparked something in me. The Big 12 sends 50 percent of its teams to the NCAA Tournament every year. The Big 12 had Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech, popular teams I'd heard of, and it was something special to me. Between the Big 12, the coaches and the coaching style and passion, I think that really lured me here.

Besides Syracuse, I also visited Wake Forest, Boston College and Vermont.

Stacey Dales at 5:51pm ET
Another thing that was really important was to go to a team that was struggling -- not high in the ranks. I really wanted to contribute profoundly. I wanted to make an impact in a program. And that was OU. And if you look at our progress, coach Coale went from going 5-22 in her first year to the Sweet 16 last year. And I'm so excited to be a a part of the transition this program has made. And that's what I wanted to do. I asked myself, "Where can I do and help?" And it was OU.

Stacey Dales at 5:53pm ET
That's all the time we have for now. Thanks to everyone who typed in and shared their thoughts and questions. I'm very appreciative. Thanks for supporting OU basketball. We sure appreciate it as a team. Please continue to support us because we're going to some great places this year.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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