Deanna Nolan

DETROIT SHOCK POINT GUARD

On playing for coach Bill Laimbeer
Detroit's a hardworking city, and that's what he wants us to be known for. He expects a lot. If my average is 18 points and I've got 14 in a game, he wants me to get four more. It's funny how he and [assistant] Rick Mahorn are as popular as they were in their Bad Boy heyday. In airports people recognize them first. Then they see a gang of tall women trailing 'em, and it's like, Oh, they must be the Detroit Shock.

On why, in college, she added an extra "n" to her name
Everyone said my name DEE-na. I thought if I added an n, people would pronounce it properly as dee-ANN-ah. But they still say it wrong.

On dogs
Three years ago my teammates got me a miniature pinscher for my birthday. I named him Duke Cooper. A couple years later I added three Chihuahuas: Austin Bailey (left), Dallas Austin (center) and Jasmine Nicole (right). They're so small and cute that after getting one, I wanted another and another. They're like tattoos in that way.

On outfitting them
No one goes outside naked. The Chihuahuas in particular get cold—especially in Russia, where I play in the winter. I'd say I spend $1,000 or more a year on clothes. I'll walk past a store and see a T-shirt and think, this'll look great on Dallas.

On playing abroad, for UMMC Ekaterinburg
You're a rock star. The gyms aren't big, but they're packed and fans range from little girls to 75-year-old men. I'm not saying people here aren't into our game, but in Russia you step out of the locker room and 200 people want autographs. You don't want to say no. There's always a little kid talking to you in Russian, and you don't understand. You just talk back in English.