"There are going to be so many games and opportunities, so we are all very excited to keep making the most of what we have been doing. The feeling is even better with the team because we are winning while still finding our way," explained the American guard, who identified "communication problems on defense and turnovers" as the main areas for improvement.
In this way, the red-clad club is approaching "each game separately" in order to "keep improving." "Some players joined the team late, so we are still adapting to one another on offense. But on defense, I think we are starting to find the key, and that is what we will continue trying to do from now on," Sheppard explained, highlighting defense as one of the keys for the rest of the season.
The red-clad club currently has a 3-0 league record. Photo: Casademont Zaragoza
This ongoing process is being led by the captain at the helm of the red-clad ship: Carlos Cantero. "He is not a coach who gets angry if you take a shot because you think you are open or because it is the right decision, but he is always thinking about the next play and making sure our offense is very dynamic and that we simply connect and react to one another, without thinking too much about making the right play or delivering the perfect pass every time," the American said of the Casademont coach.
HER ADAPTATION AND GOALS
Sheppard, who has made a key contribution to the red-clad side since the start of the season, also said that she had been welcomed by her teammates from the very first day: "Playing with people like Mariona makes life much easier. She puts us in situations that help us score or make the right decisions, so I am learning a lot from her. Merritt, Laia, Nadia, Ornella and Vorackova have also helped me tremendously with my adaptation and encourage me to keep scoring and keep doing whatever is necessary to help the team."
Regarding the goals ahead, the guard said she had already achieved one: playing in the EuroLeague and making her debut with a win. "The way we are playing, we could win a lot of things. We have not necessarily talked about any specific title, but deep down we all know that we want to reach the Final Six or win the Copa de la Reina," said Sheppard, who has personally set herself the goals of "improving, strengthening my defense, making better decisions on offense and continuing to be a great teammate."
