Life moves fast when you're a WNBA rookie—just ask Ta'Niya Latson.

In early April, she was playing for South Carolina in the NCAA National Championship. A week later, the Los Angeles Sparks selected her with the 20th overall pick. Before she could catch her breath, training camp was underway, and within a month, she was stepping onto the court for her first professional game.

We caught up with Latson ahead of the Sparks' matchup against the Fever to talk about her whirlwind transition to the pros and the journey that brought her here.

You've been in L.A. for almost a month now. How are you liking it?

"I love L.A.," Latson said with a smile. "I love the city, my teammates, and my coaches. I'm having a great time."

Leading up to your debut, how were the nerves?

"We played against the Aces, the defending champions, and it was opening night for us—so there were a lot of nerves," she admitted.

You scored your first WNBA points in that game. How did that feel?

"It felt like a relief," Latson said. "I got it out of the way. Every rookie wants to score in their first game, and being able to do that made me proud of myself."

Let's go back a bit. Why did you choose basketball? Did you play other sports growing up?

"No, I chose basketball because my cousins played overseas when I was a little girl," she explained. "I used to watch them play outside, and I started dribbling when I was three years old. It just stuck with me. I was always good at it, so I stayed with it."

When did you realize you could go pro?

"Probably eighth grade," Latson said. "That's when I started taking basketball seriously. I got my first offer from the University of Georgia in eighth grade, and that's when I thought, 'Yeah, I can go pro with this. I can go long-term.'"

From a three-year-old with a basketball to a WNBA rookie in Los Angeles, Ta'Niya Latson is proving that sometimes, the fastest pace is the one that feels most natural.