Former UM stars offer a peek into life in the WNBA bubble as playoffs get underway
After 10 weeks sequestered at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Shenise Johnson has gotten used to life in the WNBA bubble, or the “Wubble” as it has affectionately become known.
The former University of Miami guard, who now plays for the Minnesota Lynx, has settled into her routine: temperature check each morning, daily COVID-19 test, three meals a day from the hotel dining room, games every other day, practice, yoga, Pilates, scouting sessions, and, for fun, podcasts such as The Read, a pop culture show with Kid Fury and Crissie West.
As she prepared for Thursday’s second-round playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury (7 p.m., ESPN2), Johnson said bubble life has had a few silver linings.
The players have bonded on and off the court and feel a true sense of community as they confront the pandemic and social justice issues. They opened their season wearing Breonna Taylor’s name on their jerseys — a tribute to the young black ER technician who was killed by Louisville police while sleeping in her apartment.
On a personal note, Johnson reconnected with Hurricanes teammate Riquna “Bay Bay” Williams of the Los Angeles Sparks, with whom she had not spoken much since they left college.
But living among the entire WNBA family — 144 players, 125 staff — can have its awkward moments.
Last Friday morning was one of those times. Still annoyed by a loss to the Las Vegas Aces the night before, Johnson went to the hotel pool to relax. Also lounging poolside was the referee from the previous night’s game.
“It can be a bit overwhelming having all of your opponents and referees around all the time,” Johnson said. “At first it was kind of cool to run into everyone. But we’ve been here a couple of months now, and it’s not easy to see the ref you just had at the pool. You have to refrain from saying `Hey, what was up with that call at the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter?’
“On the other hand, it’s an opportunity to see that we’re all humans, so that’s the perspective we have gained being here.”
Players were given the option of staying alone in a hotel room, in a three- or four-bedroom villa with roommates or in a lodge, which is where most of the players who have children are staying along with their babysitters. There is a golf course and beach nearby.
All three former UM players — Johnson, Williams and rookie center Beatrice Mompremier of the Connecticut Sun — chose to stay in the hotel. Johnson and Williams are staying four rooms apart.
Williams, a self-described homebody, spends most of her down time in her hotel room playing video games, binge-watching the TV crime series “Power” and writing in her color-coded journal.
Most nights, she pays a visit to team trainer Courtney Watson, who has set up an area at the hotel that players call “Courtney’s Corner” or “Courtney’s Penthouse”. In addition to normal physical therapy equipment, Watson has set up a lounge with puzzles, games, and a TV, so players can relax.
Williams calls it her “chill spot,” a place she goes to clear her mind.
“I’ve always been to myself, so when I’m in the hotel, I rarely come out of the room, except go to testing, get my Door Dash deliveries, and go to the training room,” Williams said.
She usually eats alone, except for a few team dinners. One night the whole team gathered in a room to eat Chipotle. Another night, teammate Candace Parker cooked for the team.
“Sometimes when people knock on my door, I don’t bother to even answer,” Williams said. “Personal space is mental time for me. Everybody doesn’t swim, golf, or enjoy going to the beach. In this bubble, you have to find what works for you. Being in my room with video games and journals works for me.”
Among the few players she has chatted with is Johnson. They were co-stars at UM, but Williams’ Hurricanes career ended on a sour note after being suspended and left home from the 2012 NCAA Tournament for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Johnson tried to reach out on a few occasions over the years, but Williams was not receptive. This summer, things were different.
“Me and Shenise, after we left college, we stopped talking,” Williams said. “When we got to Bradenton, we sat down and talked. She asked, ‘How are you doing?’ and said, `It’s ok. You can talk to me. We’re like family.’ We were together for four years at UM, so it felt good to talk again.”
Johnson is delighted to be reconnected with Williams.
“I think it’s just timing, growth, maturity,” she said. “I’ve always been outgoing and Bay’s been more shy, more reserved. You have to let people come out of their shell when they’re ready. I think initially I was trying to force it, but now it happened organically and I’m truly grateful that we’re able to have conversations and talk about things we accomplished together even though we were not on great terms.”
Mompremier, the other former Hurricane in the WNBA bubble, is also spending a lot of time in her room because she is taking four UM courses with plans to graduate with her master’s degree in December.
“I have extra time right now, so this is a good time to finish up my degree,” said Mompremier. “I e-mail my professors all the time, and they are working with me. If I miss class because of a game or practice, they give me the readings to take the pressure off me until the end of the season.”
The Sun plays the Sparks Thursday at 9 p.m. (ESPN2).
Playing in a bubble without any fans in the arena has been unusual, but the WNBA pipes in music and fake crowd noise.
“You have to create your own energy because the building is empty,” Johnson said. “Luckily for us, we have a younger team and they’re always sparked up. It’s loud on our bench. But I do miss interacting with the fans.”
Williams can’t wait to drive her car again, with windows down and music playing. Mompremier and Johnson crave family dinners. In the meantime, they will embrace the good things about bubble life.
“There’s a sense of community, a sisterhood,” Johnson said. “You see it and feel it every day when you’re walking the hallways. Sue Bird saying good morning to you. That would never happen if we weren’t in this 2020 bubble. We all made the sacrifice to be here, and it’s about more than basketball.”
This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 11:06 AM.