A former star at the University of Texas, the Colorado Xplosion, and overseas, Edna Campbell is now planning to take Seattle by storm.

Edna Campbell knows how seriously Seattle takes its women's basketball. As a member of the ABL's Colorado Xplosion for three seasons, she had plenty of opportunity to play the Seattle Reign on its homecourt. This year, Seattle's Key Arena will be her homecourt, as Campbell joins the Storm for its inaugural season in the WNBA.

Campbell played college ball at the University of Texas, and she was named Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year in 1989-90. She also helped the Lady Longhorns make two NCAA tournament appearances. While in the ABL, Campbell averaged 14.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and was a 1997 ABL All-Star selection. Last year, Campbell played for the Phoenix Mercury and quickly made her presence felt, contributing 9.6 points per game.

She has been honored by the WNBA off the court, as well. Campbell was one of four WNBA players who were final candidates for the American Express Small Business Services WNBA Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. Her entrepreneurial spirit is exemplified by her founding of the Young Parents Foundation, which provides parenting skills workshops, health education, and other services to young parents.

Campbell is positively psyched about the opportunity to play in Seattle. She is already writing a column for the Storm's Web site and has titled it, "In the Eye of the Storm," an appropriate title from someone who is sure to be at the center of the action.

In the meantime, Campbell is playing ball for Poland's Polpharma Clima, which is holding down the top spot in the Polish League. Alongside her is point guard Ticha Penicheiro, but the two of them will play against each other in the Storm's first game, a road trip to Sacramento to face the Monarchs on May 31. No doubt Campbell will be happy to return to Sacramento, where she scored a career-high 22 points in a June game during the 1999 season.

As if facing WNBA MVP Yolanda Griffith first-up isn't enough, the Storm will face an even greater challenge the very next day, when its first home game will be against the queens of the WNBA, the Houston Comets. Campbell will be certain to provide some of the Storm's thunder in those early games, and beyond.

So, how did we get a chance to interview Edna Campbell while she's thousands of miles away in Poland? The wonders of modern technology, namely, e-mail, turned out to be a cool way to conduct an interview. Below, Campbell answers a bunch of questions about basketball, her off the court interests, and the importance of remembering just how much has changed for women since she was a little girl.

GBall: I understand that you're playing basketball in Poland during the WNBA off-season. What is it like to play in Poland? Do you speak Polish?
Campbell: Playing in Poland is a lot of fun. The league is very competitive, and my team is the number one team here. Ticha Penicheiro and Margo Dydek are my teammates, which makes life a lot easier since they speak English. Which brings me to your next question, "Do I speak Polish?" No, not fluently. My Polish consists of a vocabulary of about 30 words.

Are you excited about playing ball in Seattle?
I am very excited about playing in Seattle. I believe that Seattle will prove to have a very strong fan base. When I played in the ABL, the Seattle Reign had great fan support, so I can only imagine the attention that the Storm will receive. I am also looking forward to playing for Lin Dunn [former Head Coach at Purdue University and 1998 ABL Coach of the Year while heading the Portland Power]. I have never played for her, but I respect her a great deal. It will be fun to work for her.

What are your goals for your new team?
As an expansion team, I feel like it will take us a year or two to establish ourselves as contenders for a WNBA title. With that in mind, my personal goal for the team is to make it to the playoffs. That would be considered a big success, since we are the "new kids on the block."

If you could play one-on-one against any Sonics player, who would it be?
If I could play one-on-one against anyone on the Sonics team I would have to say Gary Payton. He is an awesome player. I really like his game. To play against someone that I have a lot of respect for would be fun. Actually to play one-on-one with anyone in the NBA would be fun. I have never done it.

Can you talk about the differences that you've noticed in playing in the WNBA in contrast to playing in the ABL?
In comparing the ABL and WNBA, I would have to say that the biggest differences are without a doubt the media coverage and exposure. The WNBA is well publicized and well promoted, whereas the ABL was bound by limited resources to promote as well.

What is the Young Parents Foundation? What motivated you to found it?
The Young Parents Foundation was inspired by my personal experience as a teenage parent. I don't know where I would be in my life without the helping hands that were there for me along the way. I know that there are a lot of young women and men out there in the same position that I was in, and they just need a little support and guidance to keep them motivated. The foundation was founded to provide a variety of services to assist teenage parents.

Is your son in Poland with you?
No, my son is not in Poland at this time. He was here the first half of the season. It was a difficult adjustment for him, so he is at home. I miss him, but it is difficult to see him unhappy.

Are you a big fan of novels? What's your favorite book? Are you reading anything right now?
I like to read a lot. I have two favorite books, A Prayer for Owen Meany and The Notebook. I am reading a novel that was given to me by a Colorado Xplosion fan--Five Smooth Stones.

Do you think that things have changed for women since you've been a little girl?
Without a doubt, I believe that things in general have changed, and changed for the better for women. I will talk about women in sports (women's basketball) in particular. I believe that after the '96 Olympics in Atlanta, the popularity of women's basketball was at a peak. After the Olympics, we saw the introduction of two professional basketball leagues for women (ABL and WNBA). Prior to that, women had to go out of the country to play professionally. When I was in junior high school, it wasn't all that popular to play basketball. Now the acceptance of women playing basketball is incredible. Women are now respected and idolized for their athletic prowess. That wasn't necessarily the case 10 years ago.

How did you get into basketball?
I started playing basketball just as something to do. Most of my friends were boys, and they were always playing, so I joined them. The first time I played basketball was the summer going into my eighth grade year, so I got a late start. I didn't really get serious about basketball until my junior year of high school. That is when I realized that I was decent enough to get a scholarship to college. I did kind of stumble onto the sport, but I grew to love it and the opportunities that it has provided for me. Through basketball I received my college education, I have traveled all over the world, I have met some wonderful people (some who have become very good friends), and now basketball allows me to make my living. I am thankful because I know lots of people who go to work everyday and don't like what they do. I get up everyday, go to the gym, and have fun doing it.

Do you have any goals for your professional career that you are working toward?
My goals as a basketball player are definitely to win a WNBA title, and to make the WNBA All-star team. When I retire from basketball, I will devote time and energy to my foundation.

What advice would you give to a girl who wants to play professional basketball?
The only advice that I can give to a young girl who aspires to play professionally is to work hard, spend as much time as possible playing basketball (without neglecting your school work), listen to your coaches and teachers, and surround yourself with positive people that will support and encourage your dreams.

Interview conducted in late February by Gball Assistant Editor Lorraine Berry.