Veteran forward Rushia Brown is helping the Cleveland Rockers remain in contention for a second-straight playoff appearance this year despite losses of key teammates to injuries and family crises. Her season-high scoring total of 18 came July 10 against Seattle, in a game that put the defense-oriented Rockers back into first place in the Eastern Conference over arch-rival New York Liberty. Her .524 field-goal percentage is fourth in the WNBA.

Brown, 29, came relatively late to basketball, taking it up only in the 10th grade. Once smitten, however, she's been dedicated. After a great career at Furman University, where she was named Southern Conference MVP all four years, she began her professional career in Europe, where she still plays in the WNBA offseason.

She helped Parma, Italy, win the prestigious Ronchetti Cup and played in the Italian League All-Star Game. She's also played in Spain and France.

In this interview, Brown talks about the Rockers' rivalry with the Liberty, facing Rockers teammates in Europe, and about avoiding burnout while playing two pro seasons a year.

Gball: Does being in a close race with New York make the season more fun and intense?
Rushia Brown: Normally when we play New York it's always a bigger game. But in the whole scheme of things it's just like all the rest of them. We just have to try to focus on what we're supposed to do to win. Each one counts the same. New York always adds a little extra intensity.

Where are the best and worst places to play?
New York is really hard to play--mostly because of the rivalry. But then Houston is difficult to play, too, because their fans are really good.

What was playing in Europe like?
It was a good experience for me. It gets kind of difficult being so far away from your family and not being able to be in contact. But it's also a good experience professionally so that I can work on things I need to work on in the off-season.

Does it get tiring playing the season here and the season there?
It does. If your body's physically in good enough shape to do it and you're not over-exhausting yourself it can work for you, but when you get to the point where you do it too much it can work against you.

I think I am reaching the point where it's coming to be a little bit too much. It's five years that I've done both. I'm trying to get a vacation before I reach that burnout point.

Did you play against any of your Rockers teammates in Europe?
Yes, I did! It's great to play with Mery Andrade in Cleveland, but when you have to play against her it's different. I know all her antics. To have to play against her and to know that it's coming, it's kind of frustrating. But I know that when we come back here we'll be on the same team. I play more games with her than I do against her. I also played against P.J. [Pollyanna Johns] and Vicki [Hall, whom the Rockers have waived].

What is different about playing pro here from Europe?
There's not as big a following as there is here. Sometimes you go to a game and there'll be 50 people in the stands. I come here and play in front of 10-, 12-, 15,000 people.

Do you feel more pressure here?
Actually, it's more relaxed. Everybody on our team is capable of being a star so everybody's just enjoying themselves. In Europe, they have two, maybe three foreigners on a team. You're expected to do everything, as opposed to being part of a team.

You came to basketball a little bit late (sophomore year in high school). How did that come to be?
Just being as tall as I was, the p.e. teachers were always trying to get me to play basketball. [She's 6-2]. But, I had no interest at all. I mostly hung out, just reading, TV; I wasn't doing anything special. Then, once I started playing, I enjoyed it and I kept at it. Eventually, I just fell in love with the sport.

What's your best basketball memory?
Every year brings something different. Up to this point our win on Sunday was big, not only for myself but the team [the Rockers defeated the Comets in Houston, 63-53; Brown had a team-high 11 rebounds]. There have been things in high school, college. Everything has something different.

In practices, what do you work on most?
Just trying to make good decisions, whether it be on offense or defense. Just trying to put myself in position to always be in play.

Do you have any pregame ritual that you go through?
I don't have anything special I do. i just make sure I get a nap or lie down and rest.

I understand you work with some youth clinics in South Carolina.
Those mostly are basketball camps. It's just going out speaking to kids in the community, trying to give them positive encouragement and letting them know that anything is possible, that all the things that you want to do are possible if you work toward it and stay dedicated.

What's it like playing the Sting, in Charlotte, which is near your hometown, Summerville, S.C.?
Every time I come to Charlotte I have to buy like 40 tickets. I have all my family and friends coming in, past coaches, high school and college.

What are you looking forward to in basketball this year?
We're definitely looking forward to continuing to play well, defensively and offensively, and making it to the playoffs. Our ultimate goal is a championship.

Interview conducted by Gball Assistant Editor David Hill.

Photo: (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)


Check out last year's q&a's by clicking here