What was your experience like playing overseas in Wales?
I played for the Cardiff Met Archers, who are the only Welsh team in the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL), so that was special in itself. A lot of the teams are also partnered with universities so I was able to continue my education while playing at the highest level in the UK. I was pretty busy over there because I was coaching a little bit, going to school for a digital marketing master’s degree and I also had a job working for the athletic department doing some social media and marketing. The league itself is competitive and is continuing to grow. This year, we made playoffs for the first time in five years so that was cool to be a part of.
How did the opportunity come about for you to join the Cardiff Met Archers?
When I was still at UCI, Coach T came to me with the opportunity and connected me with the coach out there, so I was excited to get a chance to keep playing while also continuing to build other aspects of my life. This was after my senior season had finished and right as the COVID shutdowns had started. I was originally supposed to go out in September 2020, but that got pushed back another year due to the pandemic. Then I had to wait another three months for my visa, so I didn’t get there until November, about midway through the 2021-22 season.
How did you stay in playing shape during the shutdown?
I focused a lot on anything I could do outdoors like cross training, biking and running. I would also find places where I could shoot outside, or just take it back to the days when I would shoot in the driveway. I eventually started coaching a high school team in Orange County so I was able to get in the gym there. It was tough though, for the first time in almost 15 years I wasn’t in the gym for over six months.
While you were in Wales, did you get a chance to travel outside of basketball?
For Thanksgiving, I met my mom in Madrid which was a really cool trip. For Christmas, I met my friend in Budapest; she was playing out there. It was fun to connect with people from back home who were also playing overseas. Then after this season I took a road trip with my roommate, who is from Switzerland. We went from the UK, through France, through Monaco, through Italy and then up to Switzerland. That was unreal and it’s so cool to think all these places I’ve been able to travel to is because of basketball.
What’s next for you?
I just signed a professional contract to play for ACD Ferragudo in Portugal. It’s super exciting; it looks beautiful there and it’s on the water which I’m used to from being here at UCI. They just got promoted to the top league in Portugal so it will be competitive. I’m excited to compete at the top level and keep this thing going.
Do you stay connected with the UC Irvine women’s basketball program?
Definitely, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Coach T and Coach Cece so keeping that relationship has been really special to me. This past season I would stay up until 3 a.m. sometimes watching way too many overtime games. Then being able to see the team clinch the Big West regular-season championship when it went down to the wire was special. It’s been nice to represent UCI overseas. I even had the chance to connect with another alum, Luke Nelson, who was playing in London. I went to their championship game and saw a guy wearing a UCI shirt so it’s just cool to see UC Irvine represented at the international level.
You were here from the beginning and played a big role in the turnaround of the program. Was there a sense of pride for you seeing the team bring home a championship in 2022-23?
It feels like every year the program has the right pieces, is getting better, placing higher and winning more games so it was really special to see that first regular-season championship. I can’t take credit, I’m so far removed now but there is that sense of pride in representing UC Irvine and knowing that the process does work. Every time I come back I’m reminded how special this place is and I appreciate it and I’m happy for all the success. It’s nice to see some rings and banners happening for sure.
