The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Waltiea Rolle is eager to return to the Czech Republic. She has some unfinished business to take care of with the DS Karlin before she embarks on her debut in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Drafted in April with the 36th pick in the WNBA by the Minnesota Lynx, the 22-year-old Rolle opted to travel to Europe to get some exposure to the professional league in her quest to get prepared for the 2014 season for the women’s version of the NBA for men.

“It was a good experience,” said Rolle about her four months overseas. “In the area where I was, I didn’t expect them to be advanced as they were as far as the game is concerned. They are really physical there, so it was a good opportunity for me to improve on my game. I wasn’t expecting them to be playing at that level. It was surprising for me, but it was good because I got a chance to work on my game.”

Home for the Christmas holiday, Rolle said she was pleased with her performance, averaging 14.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game through their first 20 games, 19 of which she played in at centre. However, she’s looking for the DSK Karlin to improve on their dismal 3-17 win-loss record that has them sitting in 11th place out of a field of 12 teams in the ZBL League.

“I went there to do what I had to do and I ended up performing at my best,” she said. “It showed in my stats.”

Rolle’s stats were filled with a number of outstanding games, one of which she posted a career high 24 points and 15 rebounds. The six-foot, six-inch phenom from the University of North Carolina started the season by being named the third best player in the ZBL league for the first week by Eurobasket.com.

If there was one game that Rolle would have liked to wipe off her slate it would have been their humiliating 110-39 loss to the USK Praha. In that game, Rolle played 25 minutes, but finished with just six points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field. She also had five rebounds and three blocked shots.

“I’m really pleased with the way everything turned out for me so far,” Rolle said. “The good thing about going there is that a lot of teams are out there watching me, so I’m getting some exposure even before I get into the WNBA, which should be good for me in the long run.

“So I’m pretty pleased with the decision to go there. It really didn’t matter where I ended up. I just wanted to be able to go somewhere to get my feet wet. I think I went there and I did a pretty good job.”

When Rolle returns to the Czech Republic, she will get ready to resume the 2013/14 season on January 4 on the road against the Slovanka MB before they return home to host Stokol HK on January 8. The season is scheduled to end in April.

“I’m going to do what I have to do,” she said. “I want to make sure we start winning some games and hopefully help my team because I don’t like losing. It’s very frustrating for me.”

With the WNBA looming on the horizon, Rolle said she’s eager to report to training camp, once she can improve on her post game and being able to read the defenders. She’s set to join the defending champions Lynx, who could use a defensive stopper in the middle.

“Watching them play, my purpose will really be towards defence because they have a lot of shooters, but they don’t have the size in the middle,” she said. “They’re a great team. I’ve been watching them and I’m really excited about playing with them. I know I can go there and make a contribution.”

The WNBA season is set to begin in June.