This is my opinion,and not based on any inside knowledge.
It does not necessarily have to be a senior,or a junior,to be the floor general,who directs traffic,gets in someone's face,or instills confidence in others.
It has to be a personality,that can take control of any situation,to calm the troops,give direction,and see what is really happening through the game inside the game.
I do not believe,personality-wise,that KML has the personality to do this.Her forte is finding ways to get free from others,and score,rebound,defend.
Stewart has too much on her plate,to be the one to guide everyone else.
Kiah is still finding herself,and working hard to become a very good offensive player.
So who does that leave?
In the past,most of the time,your leader,your rock,your cool as a cucumber,when it is on the line,player,has been a guard or guard-type player.
Rene,Diana,Maya.just to name a few,come to mind.
Again it is my opinion,but either,Jefferson,Chong,or even Nurse,should be in the position,to get the focus,even regain the focus,in the game,as it is getting out of hand,or slipping away.
Being the elder of the three,Jefferson has the experience of what the team should be doing,and would be the logical choice.
However,any of the three guards could step up,to slow things down,bark orders,get people where they need to be.They all see the floor,and what is happening,generally.
Chong,looks to me to be starting to regain her confidence,and may be too involved with her own game,especially her defense.
Again,Jefferson is the logical choice,but,and here i go on a limb,the other experienced guard,Nurse,has quite a bit of experience,being point of a national team.Between the two of them,there should be the kind of communication to the rest of the team,what needs to be done,on the floor,to right the ship,as it takes on water,to instill confidence in those struggling,to see the path the game is taking,and change that path,by directing and guiding and calling plays,to change the pulse of the game.
Can they do it?IMO,they can and should.It will not get any easier against the quality teams coming on the schedule.Someone must step up,and though they may never become a Rene,Diana,or Maya,they can still progress into the leaders this team really needs,starting now.
Just my opinion and thought.