“Once we leave the locker room, we leave everything behind and just focus on tomorrow. We lost, but [we] let it go and move onto the next game,” said Kamiko Williams, rookie guard with the New York Liberty, following last Saturday’s 85-67 drubbing by the Los Angeles Sparks. The next day, the Liberty scored an 88-82 road win over the Atlanta Dream.

Currently 10-13 and in fifth place, the Liberty are still in contention for a playoff spot in the tightly packed WNBA Eastern Conference. Still trying to find their chemistry, coach Bill Laimbeer continues to tinker with the lineup. Even though she’s not a prolific scorer, Williams has found herself starting in nearly half the games.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee (UT), where she was coached by the legendary Pat Summitt, Williams said that despite the ups and downs this season, she has remained tough-minded. She learned tenacious defense at UT, and Williams also credits the off-court lessons with helping her earn a spot on the Liberty roster.

Laimbeer continues to adjust the Liberty lineup. Point guard Samantha Prahalis had two seven-day contracts, followed by guard Chucky Jeffrey, who was waived on Sunday. In a bold move, the Liberty has now signed veteran forward DeLisha Milton-Jones, a two-time WNBA champion with the Los Angeles Sparks who had been playing for the San Antonio Silver Stars. Hopefully, Milton-Jones will provide the team an additional dose of winning mentality.

For Williams, who has greatly appreciated the veteran wisdom of guard Katie Smith, Milton-Jones will provide additional perspective on how to succeed in professional basketball.

“I just take their competitive edge and their smarts about the game,” said Williams of the veterans. “I’m a rookie, so I still do rookie stuff. Gotta get out of those habits. I try to do what they ask me to do and know they’re our go-to’s. … I try to perform and give them what they need at the time.”

The Liberty are back in action on their home court on Friday night against the Washington Mystics and then head out on a three-game road trip.