From Resilient Storm push past Shock by Mechelle Voepel:

“People are going to just see the score, and they’re not even going to realize how tough a game it was,” Bird said. “And people might look at our record and think we haven’t had any close games. But, aside from a few, almost every game we’ve had to work. We’ve often had to come back. That’s the resiliency of this team.” – Sue Bird

I think that’s what I like most about this year’s squad. They don’t make excuses if they play badly, they tough it out despite “feeling like crap”, and they pull a win despite being down most of the game. I couldn’t say that to the previous year’s groups. Maybe it was the addition of awesome vets Le’Coe Willingham and Svetlana Abrosimova in the bench. Or maybe it was because everybody’s game stepped up (Swin, Camille, and even T Wright). Maybe they’re finally clicking in both ends of the court. But maybe it was because they have this mental toughness with them this year — like they just wouldn’t quit until the final buzzer sounds or something. They had quite a few comeback games under their belt as proof of that.

This team is far from perfect (hello, injured Birdy) but I like their guts and their swagger and I hope they will weather all through the storm that will come their way. And also, I hope that they make it out of the first round of the playoffs alive. Five (or six?) first round exits is already enough.