Anna DeForge has just led Wisla Krakow to the Polish women's title but don't expect her to spend too much time puffing on a victory cigar.

The Wisconsin native and former star at the University of Nebraska (1994-98), DeForge is heading back to the United States to play for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA.

		“	There is no time to be tired.	„
		Anna DeForge

"There is no time to be tired," she said in an exclusive interview with Jeff Taylor on behalf of FIBA Europe.

DeForge, a 1.78m guard, made a name for herself in Poland and Europe this year. In America, she already had a big-time reputation.

After a spell with San Jose in the ABL in the 1998-99 campaign, she entered the WNBA and signed for Detroit, where she spent one season before moving on to Phoenix.

She played the next three years at Phoenix, and was a prolific scorer for the club.

Before returning to the US to play her first year with Indiana, DeForge took some time to reflect on her title-winning campaign with Wisla Krakow and also to consider what the future holds.

FIBA Europe: Anna, it's been a fantastic end to the season with Wisla Krakow with a seven-game series triumph over Lotos Gdynia to decide the Polish title. Wisla did not win as many games in Europe, going 2-8 in the qualifying campaign and then losing twice to Bourges. How do you rate the season?

DeForge: As a team in the Polish league, there is nothing more that we could have accomplished. We won the cup, finished first in the regular season and then won the championship. In the EuroLeague (Women), we were disappointed. We didn't have the talent to finish games off. We lost some close games.

FIBA Europe: You, yourself, really put up big numbers, averaging almost 19 points and more than five assists in more than 37 minutes per game in Europe. You hit a lot of three-pointers (27 of 69, 39%).

DeForge: Individually, it was a great year all the way around.

FIBA Europe: So how did you end up in Europe?

DeForge: Last year, they (Wisla) contacted me through my coach/trainer in America. They were pretty persistent in getting me here.

FIBA Europe: Who was your coach/trainer in America?

		De Forge has enjoyed her time living in Krakow

DeForge: Nancy Lieberman. I played for her in my first season in WNBA with the Detroit Shock. (Nancy Lieberman is a legend in the women's game in America and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame)

FIBA Europe: Having just experienced a year of European basketball, how do you compare the game here to the game in the United States?

DeForge: Talent - the WNBA is full of talent on every team. The European style is different. Not as fast paced, but discipline and execution (are important). FIBA Europe is very competitive.

FIBA Europe: Going back to Nebraska, why did you choose to leave Wisconsin to play for the Cornhuskers? You were twice voted All-American?

DeForge: Nebraska recruited me. It was a fine college and I had a great experience there.

FIBA Europe: What did you study and have you been able to spend any time in that field?

DeForge: I studied marketing but I don't have any time (laughing) because I'm so busy with basketball right now.

FIBA Europe: How long will you continue playing then?

DeForge: Well, I'm 30 now. If I can stay healthy, then three or four more years but I don't want to wait too long to start a family.

FIBA Europe: You picked quite a city to play basketball in this year. Tell me about living in Krakow.

DeForge: This city is so diverse, so much to do each day. It's a city of one million people, and there are a lot of churches and castles. It's a very nice city with a lot to do, and there is a university.

FIBA Europe: Was it tough leaving the US and playing in Europe?

DeForge: Anytime you travel over here, you have to get used to a different culture and language. Sometimes it can be a barrier. My transition was very easy, though. The club has made it easy.

FIBA Europe: Who are your best friends on the Wisla team?

DeForge: The Americans (Tiffani Johnson and Kara Braxton) and Jelena (Skerovic) and Iva (Perovanovic), the two Serbo-Montenegrins.

FIBA Europe: It's astonishing to consider that Lotos could win eight titles in a row. What were your expectations going into the season?

DeForge: I think because I'm 30 and have experience, you always know it's going to be tough to beat the champions. They always had a target on their back but we believed.

FIBA Europe: And what a way to end their streak, by beating them in a seven-game final.

DeForge: It was a great series for the fans to see. We hurt ourselves more than Lotos hurt us in the series. Wisla beat Wisla. But we were glad to win at home. We thought we could close it before it went to seven. The fans were amazing. Our gym may hold about 2,000 but it felt like three or four thousand.

FIBA Europe: But Lotos did not go down without a fight.

DeForge: We knew they would have a run. We were stable, though, and made our free throws. They got to within two points with a couple of minutes left, so it was a real nail-biter. I had to make free throws, a couple of others. When our center Marina Kress made a three-pointer with about 30 seconds left, we all jumped up and celebrated because that gave us about a five or six-point lead.

FIBA Europe: How difficult it is to switch leagues now with the WNBA set to start? Would you prefer a rest or does having just played a season in Europe allow you to hit the ground running in the WNBA?

DeForge: I think it's different season, different team. I'm going to the Indiana Fever this year and I'm looking forward to going into a new season. There is no time to be tired.

FIBA Europe: Are you going to play for Wisla again?

DeForge: Yes, I have signed for another year and will be back in October. They will strengthen the team. I said look, that's not good enough for me (winning in Poland). We have bigger goals. We want to break into the final four (in Europe).

Anna DeForge spoke to PA Sport's Jeff Taylor on behalf of FIBA Europe.