Vibe Focused on Staying Sharp as Holiday Break Nears Ahead of Jan. 8 Opener

The Atlanta Vibe head into a short holiday break this week with their sights firmly set on the January 8 season opener.

After three weeks of training and acclimation at the Georgia State University Sports Arena, the message from players and coaches is clear: enjoy the break, but don’t lose momentum.

“The challenge is that we can’t come back after break and start again from ground zero,” Vibe head coach Kayla Banwarth said. “We have to be able to pick up where we left off.”

Week Three of training camp pushed the Vibe deeper into six-on-six competition, with an emphasis on game-like scenarios and decision-making under pressure. The work has only expanded the options available to Banwarth as she evaluates lineups.

With talent and effort spread throughout the roster, Banwarth believes the next step is figuring out how the pieces fit together.

“Is there a rhythm? Is there a flow?” Banwarth said. “They’re all so good, so it’s going to be some of those intangible things that might start setting people apart.”

For Leah Edmond, who has been with the Vibe since the franchise’s inception, this training camp has been about efficiency. The reigning 2024 league MVP is focused on turning potential mistakes into opportunities — valuing consistency and clean execution.

“How do I bring down my level of mistakes or errors in certain situations that I have maybe had before?” Edmond said.

Edmond also pointed to the collective professional experience on the roster, noting that live game reps have elevated the level of competition throughout camp.

“Anything can happen and you’re having to react,” Edmond said. “I think being able to take some of the things that we’ve been really working on slowly and putting it into game pace has been really good.”

With elite competition looming after the holiday break, Edmond emphasized there will be no easing back in.

“You need to be ready for that date,” she said. “Because now we’re going toward that goal.”