Mystics' secret weapon: Emma Meesseman

Swish Appeal: What was your initial reaction when you found out you made the All-Star team?

Emma Meesseman: I was kind of speechless. Once I heard it from the coach I had to let it sink in for a moment. Right after that, I was already getting nervous and started thinking what would do over there, I didn't really know anything about the players or the event.

Once I talked to my family and friends and heard how proud they were, I was just very excited to go and represent my team, my home, and my country. And I had a lot of fun!

SA: How does it make you feel to know that you recognized as one of the best players in the WNBA?

EM: It still feels pretty crazy. It is a great honor to get this recognition from other coaches, and it shows me that I am on the good road. It is only two years ago that I thought I would never make it to this league.

SA: What's something you worked on in the off-season, which you feel is helping you this year?

EM: I had a very young and kind of inexperienced team around me, so from being the youngest every single time I went to being one of the most experienced players, so I had to take more responsibility with more confidence. Having more confidence is an important thing in my game to take more shots, attack the basket more. We also worked a lot on getting stronger overseas, so I don't get overpowered as much as I used to.

SA: When you first got drafted to the WNBA, did you envision this type of success so quickly?

EM: Never. Even when I got drafted, I never believed in even making the team. When I came to training camp, I only packed for max three weeks, almost knowing for sure I'd be back home by then. In my second year, I got the starting forward position and started every game. I was just going from one huge surprise season to another one.

And then this year I make the All-Star team. At home, we sometimes think about how fast everything went, and it is just unbelievable to live this dream that once seemed impossible.

SA: You have improved steadily from your rookie year to now, what aspect of your game do you feel has improved the most?

EM: I think every aspect has improved. I am growing older and getting physically stronger, I have a lot more confidence than in my rookie year, I get to play with a lot of experienced players from who I learn to read the game in different ways. If I'd have to pick one thing that has improved the most, it'd probably be the confidence, even though I still need to keep working on that