Chicago Sky rookie Boyette an open book

In 20 minutes, I learned more about Imani Boyette than I've learned about some Chicago Sky players in all my years of covering the team.

Unlike many pro athletes who can be guarded with fans and media, Boyette, a 21-year-old, braces-wearing rookie out of Texas, is an open book. And she's fun, too.

When I asked her what about her game has translated best from college to the pros, she said with a laugh and without hesitation, "Um, being 6-foot-7."

Yes, that always helps.

So do athletic genes.

Boyette, who was 6-foot-5 as an eighth grader, sat down with me Monday ahead of tonight's season opener against the Connecticut Sun (7 p.m.) at Allstate Arena. She comes from a long line of basketball success stories.

Her mother, Pamela McGee, was a four-time collegiate all-American who won a national title at Southern California with Cheryl Miller in 1984. Boyette's aunt, Paula McGee, was also on that team.

Boyette's mom was the second pick in the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997. Another aunt, Trisha Stafford-Odom, also played in the WNBA. And Boyette's grandfather played professionally overseas.

Boyette's 7-foot half-brother, JaVale McGee, plays forward on the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

Pamela McGee is believed to be the first former WNBA player to have a son in the NBA and a daughter in the WNBA.

"I was only like 3 when she was playing in the WNBA," Boyette said of her mother's time with the Los Angeles Sparks and the Sacramento Monarchs. "But I have pictures of it. It's cool to see pictures of me at her games."

Those were some of the good times she had with her mother. For most of her childhood, their relationship was strained.

Boyette's parents, McGee and Kevin Stafford, were married only a year and then went through a bitter divorce and custody battle. Stafford won that battle because of McGee's busy schedule as a pro athlete.

As a young girl, Boyette said she didn't see her mom much.

"My parents hated each other, and to protect herself my mom basically removed herself from the situation, which meant she removed herself from me," Boyette said. "The problem with absentee parents is that you fight so hard for the absent years. The parent wants to parent you for the years they weren't there and the kid doesn't want to listen, because … well, you weren't there. We spent my entire teenage life fighting."

Boyette struggled with those circumstances, and fell victim to sexual abuse, although she has never named the abuser.

Before she graduated from high school, Boyette said she had attempted suicide three times.

"Mental illness is a thing in my family," Boyette said. "My mom struggles with it, and I do too. We weren't close enough to share our mental illness with each other, so some of our bad reactions to each other would be our mental illness. And we would just go into each other.

"When I got to college and figured out a lot about me and my family and I got better, it was easier for me to talk to her."

After Boyette got engaged to her college boyfriend, Texas defensive tackle Paul Boyette (now her husband), her relationship with her mom did a complete turn.

"Something just clicked for her. She told me that she really wanted to be involved with my wedding and my life," Boyette said. "We're great now. My mom is super supportive, she's amazing. I wish I had her when I was younger."

Boyette is open about her back story because she wants to help others who suffer with sexual abuse and mental illness. And she hopes to do great things in the WNBA, much like her mother did.

The first Texas women's player to register 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks in her career, Boyette is a unique asset. There aren't many 6-foot-7 WNBA players with her speed and athleticism.

"I have big goals, but I'm not ready to put them out there yet," Boyette said. "I just want to figure out what I do well and what I can do well consistently.

"I want to be good on defense, rebounding and finishing when I get touches. I want to make sure I'm a defensive presence, running the floor well and rebounding. The rest will come, hopefully."

• Follow Patricia on Twitter @babcockmcgraw. Email her at pbabcock@dailyherald.com.

Sky scouting report

Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky, 7 p.m. Saturday, Allstate Arena

TV: ESPN3 (live); U-Too (tape-delayed at 10 p.m.)

Skinny: After three straight years in the playoffs, including a trip to the WNBA Finals (2014), the Chicago Sky has its sights set on the next step: a WNBA title. Forward Elena Delle Donne, last year's league MVP, returns, leading a cohesive team that made only one roster move since last season, additing 6-foot-7 rookie center Imani Boyette…Connecticut's roster looks much different from last year. Even head coach Curt Miller is new. The return of star forward Chiney Ogwumike from injury helps. And the addition of college stars Morgan Tuck (UConn) and Rachel Banham (Minnesota) makes the Sun dangerous and intriguing.

Next: Minnesota Lynx at Sky, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday

- Patricia Babcock McGraw