Sept. 2, 2004
San Antonio, Texas –
by Jordann Rawls
Jocelyn Penn knows a team is like a family. She knows it takes support during the hard times and patience when things are chaotic. She learned what makes a family work when she put basketball aside for a year during college to start a family of her own. Now, with a three-year-old daughter waiting for her at home, Penn is bringing family values to the Silver Stars court.
Born on September 10, 1979, Penn was surrounded by a family of athletes making her move to the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team an easy fit. When she arrived on campus she was expected to be the best and rose to the occasion. Under the guidance of former Gamecocks assistant coach and now Silver Stars Head Coach Shell Dailey, Penn averaged 13.0 points a game, recorded 175 rebounds and had 79 steals in her freshman year. She continued her sophomore season at the same pace and proved herself a strong ingredient to her team’s success.
With high expectations entering her junior year, Penn was suddenly met with new expectations of a soon-to-be child and was faced with a situation that had the potential to hinder her academic and athletic career. After sitting out a season to have a child, Penn made her comeback in 2001 and was more determined than ever. She wanted to prove to herself, her family and her teammate that setbacks can be overcome by comebacks. During her junior year Penn helped lead the Gamecocks to a 25-7 record, a national ranking and the first NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years advancing all the way to the Elite Eight. She was named to the All-SEC First Team and East All-Regional Team.
As a senior Penn continued to dazzle on the court. She was named SEC player of the Week twice and was named to the All-SEC First Team for the second time in her career. Penn also became just the third player in NCAA history to score 50-plus points in two or more games in a season during their college career. After her senior season, Penn was drafted by the Charlotte Sting in the 2003 WNBA Draft and was later signed by the Washington Mystics. She played in 30 games with the Mystics during her rookie season and averaged 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game.
Now in San Antonio, Penn faces the challenges of making her way back into the WNBA after being cut from the Mystics roster the final day of training camp. She looks forward to the challenge of adding her name to the Silver Stars roster for seasons to come. We had the chance to sit down and talk with Penn and get her take on what it feels like to be the newest member of the team.
How do you come in with only three weeks left in the season and still make a difference in this team?
I hope to make a difference in some shape, form or fashion. Whether it is running down the court and gaining easy transition points, I’ll do that. I know Coach Shell wants a running team, so I’m hoping to help her in that aspect. I’m just a scrappy player so I want those rebounds and want to get our team to run and get the transition points, so I hope I can make a difference in that way.
What makes you an asset to this specific team and what do you feel was your best selling point the Stars saw in you?
I like to get up and down the court so I definitely think I can help that way. On top of that my running game helps on the defensive side which helps our overall effort on the court.
If you could go back in time and relive a certain point in your life, what would it be?
It would probably have to be when I started my first college game with my older sister on the court as well. My parents and family were there to support us and be together. That would have had to be my one of my favorite moments on the court.
Who or what drove you to be where you are today? How so?
My daughter. During my freshman and sophomore year in college I was selfish and stubborn and did things only for myself, but after I had my little girl that definitely changed everything. It wasn’t just about me anymore. It wasn’t just about what I wanted. I had to think about the things I was doing because they wouldn’t just affect me, they would affect my child. I strived harder to be a better role model and a better person. I know my daughter is the reason I am here today. She is the reason I come out here and challenge myself, the reason I want to get better and the reason I work harder than I ever have before.
Out of quotes, advice that you’ve been given or your own personal lessons learned, what one suggestion would you offer to young girls behind you?
I’ve learned to never take anything for granted and would offer that to anyone. With last year being my rookie season, I learned that change is bound to happen. In two seasons I have been with four different WNBA teams and learned to never take a certain situation for granted because anything can happen. In basketball and life, things can change without notice and sometimes they can change your life. You have to appreciate of the things you have now because you may not always have them.
