Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kayla McBride, of the Minnesota Lynx, and we had an opportunity to discuss the new SIQ basketball and app engineered specifically for women. This innovative system tracks shots made, swishes, hand placement, finger placement, and more. Perfect for any shooter and this system has elevated McBride’s game to the next level.
Kayla and I discussed her transition this season, from an overseas champion and MVP, to coming to a new team and what was the focus approaching the 25th year of the WNBA. Kayla said that she wanted to keep the momentum going from the summer and bring that same energy to the Lynx. She stated that the Lynx already have a championship pedigree and drive and that she just wanted to add to that.
Kayla started using the SIQ ball and app back in January and the SIQ team came out and captured amazing images of her on court. She practices with the system at game speed as much as possible. By using film, to watching her hand motions and hand placements, the SIQ ball guides where her hands are and what trajectory the ball will take.
As a shooter, it is normal for the shot to feel good leaving your fingers and hand, and it still doesn’t fall. I mentioned this to Kayla and she explained that everyone has those kind of nights, but she tries not to dwell on them. She said that her team needs her to be “McBuckets” and she has surely lived up to her name – dropping 24 points on Sunday on 9-13 from the field and 4-6 from three, and on Wednesday, she lit up the floor for 26 points, shooting 9-13 with a crazy 5 of 7 from the three-point line. Using the SIQ app and game film, Kayla is able to hone in on small details that most wouldn’t notice or change. With the app, you can see where the hands are placed off a screen or a particular pass, and practice with that particular play and shooting motion. Kayla told me about the first time she let her little sister see the ball and play with it, and expressed the excitement on her face. She said that being the face of something so innovative and it being exclusively for women, makes her very proud and has her grind harder to be an example for others.
Since we are big on sneakers at MADE for the W, I had to ask what shoe Kayla enjoys playing in the most and she claimed that the KD 10 from her first year in Las Vegas was her favorite, explaining that this shoe is the most comfortable and cleanest, but now the PG 5 is her go-to. She shared how her and PG have a great relationship and she also likes to play around on Nike By You and create exclusive pairs, like the PG 4 she wore during her championship run overseas. I also asked the craziest thing she had done for a sneaker, where Kayla described hitting up the Mall of America and spending $2,000 on a pair of Travis Scott x Jordan High 1. Definitely a must-have.
Lastly, I asked Kayla what comes to mind when she hears MADE for the W. She stated that she “thinks about the swag, the tunnel shots, the gear – just everything. MADE for the W gave women a voice and showed things that no one was showing. Pre-game, in-game, the sneakers, the clothes, just everything.”
Be sure to stay tuned and check out Kayla McBride in her next game with the Minnesota Lynx, as they make a run for another championship after the Olympic break.
