St. Louis Surge 2023 Season Preview and Tonight's PRIDE Night Home Opener

As the St. Louis Surge begin their 2023 season, the team has one goal, and that is to “finish the job”.

Coming off of a 6-5 record in 2022 the Surge bring back several key players including last year’s leading scorer, guard Shug Dickson, and point guard Kelsey McClure who returns for her sixth and final season with the team.

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Although this is her final year as a player McClure said is more focused about making memories this season rather than focusing on those of the past six seasons.

“I don’t want to talk about what I’m gonna miss because I’m in the moment right now and I just want to focus on that,” McClure said.

Dickson said she looks to build on her success from last year, where she averaged 18.3 points per game by adding to her role as a leader.

“I’m mainly just being more of a vocal leader,” Dickson said. “Just leading the team and doing the stuff coach needs me to.”

Dickson’s leadership will be needed as the Surge lose guard Sug Sutton, who is currently playing for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. McClure said that she is proud to see Sutton succeeding at such a high level, but isn’t surprised either.

“I’m more than happy for Sug. She definitely deserves it with her journey, neverending grit and dedication, and faith to get in the position she is in,” Dickson said. “It ain’t nothing new. We’ve seen it, we know what she can do and all she needed was the platform.”

To help ease the void left from Sutton’s departure the Surge added several new players this offseason. Two that have gotten the attention of McClure and Dickson are forward Emmonie Henderson and guard Rachel McLimore. McClure said that Henderson has shown several ways in which she can impact the team early on.

“She has been just a voice of force, just a powerhouse inside the paint, very vocal, high energy, and just a very impactful player. You can tell that she has played overseas, she has that pro experience,” McClure said.

Dickson said that McLimore’s shooting will be a good addition for the team.

“I just like what she brings to the team, a great shooter and just does the little things that we need,” Dickson said.

When it comes to actually finishing the job, while it is early, the Surge are off to a great start winning their first three games, all of them on the road. They’ll face the Kansas City Crossover at 7:05 on June 24 in their home opener at Mabee Gymnasium.