LISTEN: Lisa Thomaidis tees up all-Saskatchewan showdown between Huskies, Cougars

The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity

The Green Zone: Is it harder to coach a team that has achieved success and getting them back there than it is to get them there in the first place?

Lisa  Thomaidis: It can be true for sure. Last year, before we won the national championship, the whole season leading up to it, we were pretty on fire, pretty motivated because we had lost in the national final by three points. And so it wasn’t difficult to get this team up for the challenge and the work that was going to be required to get back to where we wanted to be and to win that final game. And then, sometimes you fight a little bit of complacency when you actually win it all. But I’d say with this team, that’s not been an issue at all. I think their defining feature is just their incredible discipline and knowing what it takes to be at the highest level. Continuing to make decisions that maybe they don’t want to always do, but that they know they need to do if they want to stay at the top. So, it’s been a great group to work with.

Is it a relief knowing that you’ve got a lot of players in that locker room that have been with you for a while now?

Thomaidis: We have five fifth-years and three fourth-years. So you’ve got eight players who’ve really been with us for an extended period of time, and honestly, they’ve kind of seen it all, they’ve done it all. It’s just trying to refine and make sure that they’re playing at their best and in the most critical moment. It’s been super rewarding to see how far so many of them have come over the course of their careers. Now it’s just really a matter of showcasing the talent that we have and the teamwork that we have, and the high quality of basketball that’s being played here.

What do you see with those holes you’ve had to fill with players graduating and what have you seen from those that are getting expanded roles within your system?

Thomaidis: For a few of them, they’ve been waiting for this role; they really wanted to step into the limelight and showcase what they can do. So, I think a lot of times they’re ready and waiting, and just need the opportunity or the playing time, whatever it may be. Maya (Flindall) has really stepped up her game this year. I think she’s really taken it to another level. We’ve really had to rely on her offensive production. I just think we have a lot of weapons at the offensive end, and any one of them could go off for 20 points on any given night, which is fun. I think what really defines our team is our defensive intensity and aggressiveness. That’s come and gone a little bit, but as we’ve come into the second half of the season and played some tougher teams, I think that’s been sort of the difference maker.

Do you every once in a while practice for fun, mixing things up a bit?

Thomaidis: Honestly, in the last couple of weeks, we’ve kind of thought about putting some different things in just to kind of keep it fresh. When you have veteran players, it’s fun for them to learn something new or try something new instead of just the same old, same old. We’ve been playing around with a few things and I think we’ll continue to do so, just to keep motivation high and interest level high.

Have you seen anything change with Michaela Kleisinger taking over the Regina Cougars?

Thomaidis: They’re definitely doing some different things, I think at the defensive end of the floor and both sides of the ball for sure. They’re also a very veteran crew, a lot of Saskatchewan players. There’s a lot of history between some of their athletes and our athletes. They’ve played against each other for a number of years; they played together on provincial teams. Michaela has done a great job. I think they just had their first loss this past weekend against a very tough Alberta team, so we are going to have to be on top of our game for sure.

What’s it like coaching against someone you game planned against as a player with the Cougars?

Thomaidis: I’ll let you know after this weekend. She was a great player. I think she had a few triple-doubles in her time. Very smart guard, understood the game and I think she’s really bringing that to the coaching side right now. Her team seems to be responding quite well, they seem very organized and are playing hard for her. So yeah, good for her.

How important are those younger coaches coming up and giving them that responsibility?

Thomaidis: You can’t do it without amazing assistant coaches. They have been with me a long time. Laura (Dally) is with me every day. They do a ton of work helping to get these athletes ready and this team ready. It has been a good situation from our side of things and I have been away (internationally). Laura gets a chance to head-coach a little bit in league games, which I think is a great opportunity for her and for our team. Between her, Jackie (Lavallee) and Ali (Fairbrother), we’ve got things covered, that’s for sure. There’s not much that can go on in practice that doesn’t get seen, or someone doesn’t get feedback on and it’s the same thing in games. So, they’re critical. I think the consistency year to year of having the same staff and players, knowing what to expect, they know what the style of play is going to be and what the expectations are. The very high standard that we hold players to account here, I think that’s been a huge reason for our success. I’m very, very fortunate.

Has the success of women’s sports changed the conversations that you have with young athletes?

Thomaidis: I don’t think it’s changed. It’s amazing now the opportunities that are there. I think those opportunities were there, just not as prevalent, not as known. Now, a lot of our graduating athletes are talking about playing pro. Not too long ago, that was maybe a conversation, but it certainly wasn’t just a natural thing that you do after you graduate. It’s really exciting to see how many have gone on and tested the professional waters, and gained some real great life experience and basketball experience after they’re done here. To know that once you graduate doesn’t mean it has to be the end of your basketball career, that’s really exciting. There are just so many great things happening in women’s sport now.

Are these games against Alberta and Regina preparing the team for single-elimination playoffs?

Thomaidis: This is go time for sure. This is probably the most exciting time of the year for us, because you’re still in league play. You’re still kind of getting battle-tested for what’s to come, but you’re playing some of the top teams in the country. Alberta, being ranked number two at the time, Regina is now ranked three or four; these are teams that we could potentially face at nationals or teams we’re going to have to go through to get to nationals. These are the last sort of trial runs before it gets real. To plan a Thursday is going to be interesting. I hope we get a packed house, we usually do when we play against Regina. This is going to be a real playoff, national type feel, I think, on Thursday night.