Guest blog: Bri Kulas reflects on San Antonio Stars training camp, a friendship with Kayla McBride, and the future

Being able to be a part of the San Antonio Stars training camp was an amazing experience and even though I was only there about two weeks I think that I learned something new every day. It was a blessing to be around a group of welcoming individuals.

The Stars have a great group of experienced woman on their team. Becky Hammon is one of those women. She knows so much about the game of basketball and it was fun to see her play and teach us younger girls everything that she knows. I think that when she is done with her career she will be a great coach.

There is definitely a difference transitioning from college basketball to professional basketball and I think that is the biggest thing I learned from being at training camp. Basketball is now my job and I now know what it is like to play at the next level.

After talking to Coach (Dan) Hughes, I think it is also imperative that I become a more assertive 3 player. Of course I am used to playing the 4 position but in this league I think becoming a 3 player will help me personally be more successful. I plan to use this summer to develop my game in that area.

I not only had an eye-opening basketball experience while I was in San Antonio, but I was able to do a few things outside of basketball as well. We went to the river walk one evening and that was an enjoyable place to have dinner and walk around. I also had the opportunity to go to a couple of the Spurs game, which was really cool. The atmosphere was crazy there; people in San Antonio are very passionate about basketball.

Another aspect that I was thankful for during this experience was building relationships with all of the other rookies (Kayla McBride, Whitney Hand-Jones, Carolyn Davis, Heather Butler, Jessica Kuster and Karla Gilbert). They are all amazing young ladies and I'm glad I got the chance to meet them. It's crazy because I actually played against a couple of them in college and when you are on the court playing against them you don't know what their personality is like outside of basketball, but getting to know the girls on a more personal level was cool.

Before I got to San Antonio I had never met Kayla McBride, but we actually decided to share a car while there. Usually when I first meet people I'm really quiet and reserved and like to observe my surroundings. With her it was different and we instantly clicked from day one, we liked the same type of music, we both love shoes and it was easy to talk to her about anything.

We would always joke around with each other and it was funny because one day one of the older players was like "you guys fight like your sisters." Which was very true: we got on each other's nerves sometimes but I am thankful to have met Kayla and I have no doubt that we will continue to be friends and I wish her nothing but the best of luck - I am expecting big things from her this year.

Although things did not work out how I wanted them to, I am very blessed and thankful for this opportunity that was given to me. By no means am I done here though. I am very confident in my abilities and I think that as long as I continue to work hard for what I want I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.

I am very positive about the situation, and again I am beyond thankful for Coach Hughes and his coaching staff for this opportunity and allowing me to be one of very few women who can say they were a WNBA draft pick. I plan to spend my summer doing an internship so I can graduate from college and also working out to develop my game.

This is only the beginning for me and my career. I appreciate everybody's support thus far, and I couldn't ask for a better support group.

For more of Kulas' blogs about her journey to this point, check out our San Antonio Stars offseason storystream.