"We get together and watch games, whether it's at our apartments or we go out to eat and watch the games," rookie forward Glory Johnson said. "We try to watch every game they play, and they've been doing a great job.
"We have to keep supporting them."
Johnson, along with teammates Jennifer Lacy and Scholanda Dorrell, attended the Thunder's Game 2 first-round home playoff victory against Dallas last month.
"I think I had been in Tulsa for a week before that, and it was the first great experience I had in Oklahoma," Johnson said. "The atmosphere was great and the fans were awesome.
"I knew we had practice early the next morning, but we had to be at that game and we stayed until the end. It was a great experience and I'm so glad I got to go."
First-year head coach Gary Kloppenburg and daughter Carlotta were in Chesapeake Energy Arena last Wednesday night as Oklahoma City clinched the Western Conference championship against San Antonio.
"I don't think we sat down the whole game," said Carlotta Kloppenburg, a junior guard at Ventura (Calif.) College. "It was awesome."
The rest of the team watched the game from Tulsa.
"It was moving for the whole state of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City as well," rookie center Lynetta Kizer said. "We really think we're a part of that. It's definitely fun."
Gary Kloppenburg and Shock assistant coach Jason Glover also went to a postseason game against the Lakers.
"I really just love the way those guys play, their whole chemistry and their attitude," Kloppenburg said. "It's something that every good team wants to emulate."
Tulsa's WNBA team also sees the Thunder as an inspiration. After relocating from Seattle to Oklahoma City, the Thunder struggled in its inaugural season, starting 3-29 before finishing 20-30 and experiencing a turnaround over the next three years.
Since moving here from Detroit in 2010, the Shock has compiled season records of 6-28 and 3-31.
Said Kloppenburg: "(The Thunder's success) sends the message: 'Just keep battling, keep trying to get better. It may take some time, but you can get there.' I think that's the great story about the team."
Kizer also feels a special bond to Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant. They are both from the Washington, D.C., area and have a connection to David Adkins, one of Kizer's assistant coaches at Maryland and a development coach who has worked with Durant.
"Just to have him this close and see him play and where he's come from, it's a great honor to be in Oklahoma with him," Kizer said.
With eight of 12 players having been in the league for two seasons or fewer, the Shock can relate to the Thunder's youth.
"With most of them being 22, 23 years old and what they're doing, they definitely go out there and have that chip on their shoulder," Kizer said. "Nobody can tell them anything. That's kind of the atmosphere we want to build here."
Durant shares an agent with Shock center Elizabeth Cambage, who is playing for Australia's national team before returning to Tulsa later this season. He has been vocal in his support of the Shock and last season attended a game.
"Any level of basketball I always watch, and I think women's basketball, they play the right way," Durant said then. "A lot of fundamentals, and I enjoy watching. I also can learn a few things as well."
Thunder reserve guard Daequan Cook also sat courtside twice last year.
"What I've found is a lot of the NBA guys are really supportive of WNBA because they know how hard the women work to get to that skill level," Kloppenburg said. "Hopefully we'll see those guys come down after they win that world championship."
Original Print Headline: Thunder's run inspires Shock
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
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