Tom Hovasse HC “Rui Machida WNBA debut” @ Part 1
In mid-February, many basketball fans were surprised when it was reported that the WNBA Washington Mystics contract was signed with Rui Machida, the Japan Women’s Basketball National Team PG (point guard). Machida’s interest in the WNBA was thought to be weak. But she said she got an offer after the Olympics and she wanted to challenge the WNBA.
In mid-April, Machida, who turned 29, rushed to the United States when he led the Fujitsu Red Wave to the W League runner-up. He changed his uniform to Mystics and made his debut against Indiana Fever on May 6th (7th Japan time), creating the fourth WNBA player in Japanese history.
Like many basketball fans, there are people who are excited about Machida’s challenge to America. It is Tom Hovasse head coach (currently men’s Japan national team HC) who led the women’s Japan national team to the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Hovasse asked how he saw the play of his student who made his WNBA debut.
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Rui Machida, the fourth Japanese WNBA player
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—- After the Tokyo Olympics, Hovasse said, “I want to see more Japanese female athletes play an active role overseas.” How do you feel now that Machida made his WNBA debut?
“I’m really happy and I want you to be active in the future. I think Louis got off to a good start. She wasn’t a very aggressive shooter so far, but I think I should be able to do more. (In the most recent match at the time of the interview, 8 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 out of 3 3 points were successful in 31 minutes of participation).
Now you’re trying to get used to the new system at Mystics, and you’re probably trying to be faithful to that system first. Also, I think Mike Tibaud (and GM) of Mystics is also giving Louis a lot of time to play and watching. “
—- In the third game since the start of the season, I was already in the starting lineup.
