By John "Woods" Armwood III
For Maddy Siegrist and Diamond Miller, basketball has never just been about the box scores or highlight reels. It’s been about the grind — the injuries, the setbacks, the days where perseverance mattered more than talent. Both players embody the reality of what it takes to carve out a career in the WNBA: resilience, faith, and the unshakable belief that no obstacle is too large to keep them from their goals.
Miller’s Relentless Drive
“I mean, my career has not been the easiest, to say the least,” Miller admitted. “But you keep pushing. And that’s one thing about me — I’m not going to stop until I get my goals and what I want to accomplish. And this is just a part of my journey. I’m so thankful for God for doing this for me because it’s just another opportunity to prove myself right.”
That grit defined Miller’s rise with the Minnesota Lynx, where she weathered injuries but still found ways to produce when the opportunities came. She doesn’t just view challenges as setbacks; she sees them as stepping stones.
“With the opportunities I did get with the Lynx, I did what I had to do. … I do definitely believe in myself,” she said. “And I’m excited for this new opportunity.”
Siegrist’s Homecoming Dream
For Siegrist, the homecoming element of her career has added an extra layer of motivation. Playing in New York, just across the river from her New Jersey roots, is more than just a professional opportunity — it’s a personal milestone.
“It’s definitely exciting to be back in New York,” Miller continued, smiling. “I’m from New Jersey, so it just brings a little piece of me. I’m happy to see my family today. … I know I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to be with a team that wants me, and that’s exciting. But yeah, it’s definitely been a whirlwind of emotions, to say the least.”
Whirlwind Emotions, Steady Belief
The emotions are tied to more than geography. Both Miller and Siegrist know what it’s like to fight their way through uncertainty, to question how their bodies would respond, and to step back on the court not just as players, but as women determined to write their own stories.
“Games like these, opportunities like these, you don’t take for granted,” Siegrist added. “Obviously, New York’s a great team. Anytime you get to compete against the best, it’s a great opportunity. And to be close to home — dreams come true.”
Their journeys — Miller’s through the highs and lows of injury recovery and Siegrist’s through the balancing act of expectation and opportunity — converge on one common theme: basketball as a testament to resilience. Every rebound, every bucket, every moment on the floor is layered with the knowledge of what it took to get there.
For fans, their stories are a reminder that perseverance isn’t abstract. It’s real, lived every day in practice gyms and training rooms, in quiet moments of doubt turned into fuel. For Siegrist and Miller, it’s not just about surviving the whirlwind — it’s about thriving in it.