{"id":2637,"date":"2012-06-25T14:30:29","date_gmt":"2012-06-25T18:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/inspiringathletes\/?p=2637"},"modified":"2012-06-25T15:00:04","modified_gmt":"2012-06-25T19:00:04","slug":"a-conversation-with-wnba-point-guard-temeka-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspiringathletes\/2012\/06\/a-conversation-with-wnba-point-guard-temeka-johnson.html","title":{"rendered":"A conversation with WNBA, Tulsa Shock point guard Temeka Johnson"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Temeka Johnson of the Tulsa Shock (Photo by Shane Bevel\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Temeka Johnson has spent most of her life as an underdog. The 5-3 point guard from New Orleans, however, fought through nagging misperceptions that she wasn\u2019t tall enough to play big time college basketball much less make it to the WNBA.<\/p>\n

Along the way, Johnson won All-SEC honors at LSU, broke the school\u2019s all-time assists record, claimed the WNBA Rookie of the Year award in 2005 and was a key part of the Phoenix Mercury\u2019s WNBA Championship run in 2009.<\/p>\n

These days, Johnson finds herself in another underdog situation\u2014helping the relocated franchise in Tulsa (where the Detroit Shock was moved in 2010) steadily grow into a playoff contender. In this Inspiring Athletes interview, Johnson talks about leadership, publicly sharing her faith and the growing collection of Christian athletes within the WNBA.<\/p>\n

Chad Bonham: How has your faith helped you deal with the transition from Phoenix to this young franchise in Tulsa?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Temeka Johnson drives to the basket against Nakia Sanford of the Phoenix Mercury on June 17, 2012 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. (Copyright 2012 NBAE\/Photo by Shane Bevel\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Temeka Johnson: I really think that God puts you in situations to test you. I\u2019ve always asked Him to help me see the leader that He\u2019s ordained me to be. I know that me being here is definitely about leadership. This is helping me grow as a person and that means more to me than the game of basketball. I love the game of basketball, but being a better person means more and it will carry you a long way. Although we\u2019re not there yet in the W column, we\u2019re progressing together as a team and I\u2019m still growing and learning. It\u2019s a test of my faith and it\u2019s a test of my leadership. It\u2019s a test of how much I truly love Him\u2014being taken out of an okay situation and being placed in the situation I\u2019m in now. I do believe He\u2019ll take you where He wants to take you. It might not be perfect right now but I know the latter part will be great. It\u2019s going to be in His timing.<\/p>\n

Bonham: How important is it for you to take opportunities to speak publicly about your faith such as leading chapel for the teams like you have done on occasion?<\/p>\n

Johnson: It is (important) to fellowship with each other across the WNBA. It\u2019s very important to share His Word and share the Gospel with not just the players that are in this locker room but players across the league. I was happy (to do chapel) but I was happier that His Word got through and that I was used to deliver it.<\/p>\n

Bonham: Are you excited to see so many other players, women like Tamika Catchings, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Ruth Riley, standing up and living out their faith?<\/p>\n

Johnson: It\u2019s great. It\u2019s good to have that. I\u2019m happy to be a part of it. God comes in all shapes, sizes and forms and He\u2019ll use every last one of us. I think I\u2019m the smallest of those that you just named, but they\u2019re all great women and I\u2019m extremely happy to fellowship with them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Temeka Johnson has spent most of her life as an underdog. The 5-3 point guard from New Orleans, however, fought through nagging misperceptions that she wasn\u2019t tall enough to play big time college basketball much less make it to the WNBA. Along the way, Johnson won All-SEC honors at LSU, broke the school\u2019s all-time assists…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":418,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[387,3,382,5],"tags":[593,1045,337,1043,585,344,1044,244,29],"class_list":["post-2637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-basketball","category-christian-athletes","category-qa","category-sports-features","tag-delisha-milton-jones","tag-lsu","tag-new-orleans","tag-phoenix-mercury","tag-ruth-riley","tag-tamika-catchings","tag-temeka-johnson","tag-tulsa-shock","tag-wnba"],"yoast_head":"\nA conversation with WNBA, Tulsa Shock point guard Temeka Johnson - Inspiring Athletes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A conversation with WNBA, Tulsa Shock point guard Temeka Johnson - Inspiring Athletes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Temeka Johnson has spent most of her life as an underdog. 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Chad is currently working on five new books including Sooner Legacy, Husker Legacy and Lessons From Sooner Football (Cross Training) as well as The Faith of Stock Car Racing (Judson Press). When he's not writing, Chad lends his efforts to various independent television and film projects. He was the coordinating producer for Choosing Life (2010) and Life Happens (2011). Chad is currently serving as producer on a forthcoming documentary about Super Bowl champion Brian Kinchen. 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