In her own words: SA Stars coach Vickie Johnson on playing youth and the Plum-Jefferson-McBride comb

Dishin & Swishin

Hello, it's been a while! It's always nice to provide WNBA fans with additional information and content, so it is time for a new "In her own words" segment here on the website. As a reminder, the "In her own words" interviews are unedited audio from a pre- or post-game interview, in its entirety, without podcast enhancements or modifications. Yesterday, the San Antonio Stars fell to 2-17 on the season, the first under the leadership of general manager Ruth Riley and head coach Vickie Johnson. Some games they are competitive, others not so much. Not in question is that there appears to be good young talent on the roster, including guards Kayla McBride and Moriah Jefferson, this year's first round draft choices Kelsey Plum and Nia Coffey, plus young posts Dearica Hamby, Isabelle Harrison and Kayla Alexander. Two questions we have "heard" on twitter time and again throughout the season though. With the young talent and a team not making the playoffs, why are the veterans like Erika de Souza and Sydney Colson starting (in Erika's case) or getting minutes that could be developing players like Alexander and Plum? Is it time, or will there be a time, when youth shall be served and they get the minutes?Plum was drafted number one overall, and all both Plum and Jefferson have played point and off the ball during their college careers. They rarely play together. Making it more intriguing is the fact that Johnson plays Colson-Plum-McBride and Colson-Jefferson-McBride but seems unwilling to play Jefferson-Plum-McBride as a combination. Obviously McBride's ankly injury yesterday defers the option to play the combo, but why the reluctance, and will we see it? I was able to ask both of these questions to Johnson post-game yesterday. The responses are interesting, and show a coach determined to continue to try to win games, not just develop players, but also a coach trying to teach her younger player