LAS VEGAS, NV —— First round draft pick rookie Kierstan Bell is ready to engage in the semifinal round of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs, as the Las Vegas Aces are set to host Games One and Two against the Seattle Storm starting Sunday at 1PM PT at Michelob Ultra Arena. Bell contributed to the Aces’ record making 23 made three-pointers in their Game Two opening round elimination game against an injury-riddled Phoenix Mercury team, where she made three 3-pointers.
Bell has learned quite a bit about the WNBA, her teammates, and has something in common with her head coach Becky Hammon —— they’re both entering uncharted territory as first time coach and player. Nevertheless, Bell has made it abundantly clear that the team’s mentality is a bunch of skilled, fearless dogs on a quest to raise a WNBA championship in Las Vegas.
“Playing together, being some dogs,” Bell explained. “That’s who we are are… everyone on this team is a dog. We have a coach that’s a dog too you know, she was an underdog, but she came in and did she what she had to do and now she’s the head coach and she’s put her team into a championship run.”
Between the team’s ‘Big Four’ which includes A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, Bell understood the assignment as she learned how to contribute and grow over the course of the season on and off the floor. Though she credits the above mentioned players on her team, she continues to be focused on putting in the work consistently and being ready when her name is called by Hammon.
“I think everyone has that type of balance this year,” Bell said. “We all have been having fun around each other, coach has fun with us coach you know she has her jokes, and we all know when it’s time to take care of business, and we all know when it’s time to laugh and giggle.“
The best part of her transition from college to the professional level is how similar the coaching styles were from her college head coach Karl Smesko to Hammon.
“My coach at FGCU and Becky have similar game plans and how they want to play the game. Just adjusting to the plays she’s putting in, learning different positions, because I played one position coming out of college. Instead of coming into the league now having to learn the three and four or the two and the three. If you want to get into the game, you got to know that position very well, but you have to know multiple positions as well.”
The style of play for her has been the ability to make reads, reading defenses along with the pace of the game including the physicality while learning the intricate details of the game, and being locked in for forty minutes. She also highlighted how the late great Kobe Bryant inspired her and how that translated into her work ethic.
This is a team that sticks to its principals and truly plays for one another with the willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. From the superstar to the player looking to make a name for themselves, no one is too big for the work it takes on this team in order to have success. The stakes have been raised, the crowd will be packed, and the atmosphere will be lit across WNBA fan bases on Sunday. It’s sure to be the most grueling five game series between these juggernauts in the West between the Aces and Storm. Win the series or go home!
