LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—After officially making the final roster of the WNBA Tulsa Shock, UALR women’s basketball alum Chastity Reed is busy preparing for the opening game at San Antonio against the Silver Stars on Saturday.  Reed became the first UALR women’s basketball player to be drafted and play on a WNBA team.

Talk about making the team and what that means to be on the official roster.

Reed:  “I have been putting it off for a while trying not to show any emotion, because I know I have had to work so hard.  I found out, and I was like okay it is time to get down to business.  Everybody has been asking me if I have been excited.  I have been excited, but I haven’t really had the chance to lay back and think about it.”

Are you excited about the first game on Saturday?

Reed:  “I am excited about it just as much as I am excited to go to practice every day.  It really is not a difference to me.  It is another chance to play.”

How has it been playing with Sheryl Swoopes and Marion Jones?

Reed:  “Marion Jones is the sweetest person you are ever going to meet.  She has been helping me since day one trying to learn the offense and help me with plays and stuff.  This is a different type of offense than I have ever ran in my whole entire life, like constantly running.  I am going to be in the best shape of my life when I leave here.  As far as [Sheryl] Swoopes, she gets into her groove, and I think I am going to try and steal some moves from her, because she really is a legend.”

What made you decide to go to the number 0?

Reed:  “I was number 00 in high school in Texas.  I took the zero from that and the zero from number 20.”

Just sum up what it means to reach your dream of playing in the WNBA.

Reed:  “Before my grandmother died, I always told her I was going to buy her a house.  That I was going to take care of her.  Since she passed away, that went on to my mother.  I am just ecstatic that I am going to be able to take care of her.  That is the main thing.  I want to be able to be the rock for my family and to be a rock for my team.  This is the highest level of basketball.  I want to be able to prove to myself that I can hang with anybody.”

After the Shock open up Saturday in San Antonio, Tulsa plays in Minnesota on Tuesday, June 7.  The Shock open the 2011 home season on Friday, June 10 against San Antonio.

2011 Tulsa Shock TV Schedule

June 14: at Indiana, ESPN2
July 10: at Phoenix, NBA TV
July 17: at New York, NBA TV
Aug. 14: at Minnesota, NBA TV
Aug. 26: at Los Angeles, NBA TV
Sept. 8: at Phoenix, NBA TV
Sept. 9: at Los Angeles, NBA TV
Sept. 11: vs. San Antonio, NBA TV