April 10, 2025 • 30 mins
With Georgie still away crushing it on The Amazing Race, Abbey is joined by Aussie basketball star Bec Allen — and it's a chat that goes far beyond the court.
Now in her 10th year in the WNBA, Bec reflects on her incredible career, from debuting in the WNBL at 16 to playing across New York, Connecticut, Phoenix, and now Chicago Sky.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Here at Two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
There were innerie people. This land was never seated, always
was always will be Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I'm Abby Delmi from Two Good Sports. It's sports news
told differently. And you know that if you're hearing my
voice first on this podcast, that Georgie is still away. Yes,
our mate Georgie Tunney is killing it on the amazing race.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Clearly.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Again, I don't know if you can bet on these things,
but get on that market early. We've had very sporadic
contact and she can't tell me where she is or
what she's doing, as is the nature of these things.
But it sounds like it's been an adventure. So she
and Rob are killing it. We cannot wait to watch.
There will be viewing parties, and of course we're going
to deviate from sports and do some sort of episode
(00:49):
on what really happens on reality TV when she gets back.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I can promise you that.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
But in her place this week, we have a very
very special guest.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
I love this chat.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Edible Beck Allen, the WNBA veteran and Ossie basketball legend.
Now she spent over a decade in the States, chasing
her dream and playing at the highest level of basketball
that is possible. And she talks to us about that journey,
her identity, what it's like being traded from team to
team without your consent. I just can't imagine that. But
(01:20):
also she delves into the heartbreak of missing the paras
Olympics in twenty twenty four due to injury and what
that journey has meant for her. It's a story of brasilience, identity,
but just this warm, honest, funny force of a person
that I'm definitely trying to befriend. And yes, I did
invite myself over to her new house immediately after the
podcast because she is a delight. So please enjoy Beck's chat.
(01:44):
But before we get there, I'm going to do a
good sport. I'm doing a good sport on my loansome
this week. There's not much room for reaction, but I'm
sure that you're can enjoy it at home because we
are going to gather around in the AFL and George
is not here to temper my excitement by trying to
bring up the NRL. So here we go, Isaac Rankin.
We one of our inns for the start of the
year was Georgie and I saying that we wanted to
(02:05):
see more personality from players. You don't get much more
personality than this. With an open mic and a guitar,
Isaac rankin of the Adelaide Crows belted out this.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Beauty queen Oh Hoveling eighty had some trouble with herself.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
He was always there too.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Hell eyes belong someone elm. I drove a thousand thousand una.
I had you so many times. Some I don't spend
(02:56):
in every day on your corner and the pier for
the girl, the Brocus smile, ask your issues.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
The staal sho.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I wanted to play the full version of that, but
of course you've got other things to do with your day.
But please do look it up. Isaac rank and your
ears are welcome. And in the footage there text Walker's
got his phone out, just filming like a proud mum.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
It's just one of.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Those beautiful things where you see a sports style willing
to put themselves out in a different arena.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
He's killing it.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
It's personality, It's everything that we want to see on
two good sports.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Love it, absolutely love it.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Enjoy this chat with Beck she's a special one.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Bec allan welcome to two good sports. How are you?
I'm super happy to be here. This is gonna be
a lot of fun. You say it's.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Happy to be here, but you're happy to be in
Melbourne because we were just chatting a little bit before
we pressed record.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And you rarely get to get home, do you.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
No, I'm never home and that's why I've had maybe
six months and that's like a big chunk of time
for me.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
So it's been nice just to be.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Home, see friends more than once, you know, see them
repeatedly and just I don't know, those connections are really
important to me, and then my family especially I'm now
an auntie, so that's why it's also really like good
for me just be home and share and these like
special moments together.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Is that your twin brothers?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, my twin brother which I'm sure we'll link into
how we talk about you being competitive growing up.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Imagine.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Yeah, I was about to say I had a pledge
of meeting Chris when you and I happen to be
sat at the same table at tennis.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Will take that. But tell us, so what is auntie
life like? It's so special?
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Honestly, I think I realized I'm quite an emotional person.
I think she put a beating on for the first
time and almost cries, You've got the most beautiful soul
I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
And that is the hard part as well as being away,
is having those connections, especially when they are so little
and your career has taken you all around the world,
but namely to America for the past ten years, which
is such a massive achievement.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
To a plane in the WNBA for a decade.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Some people aspire to even get one girds you, let
alone the career that you've been able to forge.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But take us back to a little beck.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Imagine the first time you put on your beanie. What
was it about basketball that did things for you?
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Well, I was originally a netballer, and I liked that
with basketball you could run everywhere you play the defense,
you could shoot the ball, so you could do everything.
Whereas a netful always put me as gold defense. I
was like, I just want to shoot it, you know, yeah,
And so it's funny. So I've become a shootout with
in basketball as well, and I've just I've enjoyed the
friendships I've made in it. I've enjoyed where it's taken me.
But I've never been that person when I was young,
being like I want to play in America. I didn't
(05:40):
even really know about the WNBA until like maybe a
year before I played there. What do you Yeah, I
didn't really know much about it at all. It wasn't
something i'd looked towards. No, that's crazy to be weird. Yeah, yeah,
is that because your career escalated at such a young age.
And I guess you talk about being involved in netball.
I wonder if you're way too young to even be
thinking this pine the sky. But is there that appeal
(06:02):
of basketball that you can play all over the world
and you can early better money all over the world
than what you can with netbull.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Or was that not even a thought?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Well, like, nepple is not an Olympic sport either. I
remember when I was young, I wanted to be Kathy Freeman.
So it was really anyway I could gets exactly. So
I think maybe that that part of it was a
played a role. But I just I like the game.
I like how fast paced it is. I really enjoy
watching it as well, and so yeah, I don't know things.
For me, it's not like I've ever been like I
(06:30):
want to get from A to B to C. Things
have just sort of eventuated as it's gone. But I'm
also I've worked hard for it too.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
I was about to say it eventuated at sixteen. You're
playing in the highest domestic competition when you're here in
the WNBL, Does that force you to grow up quickly?
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Like we were?
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Probably at sixteen? What was I was probably still weirdly
into Pokemon.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Well, actually we last no shame in that.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Georgie who's usually my co host on here, I was
voting her partner through Australian Idol and Rob Milsey Mills.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's what my big concern was at sixteen.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Were you able to still be a kid playing in
a women's league or did it force you to grow
up quickly?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
A bit of.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Both, I guess, I think because it was still semi
professional in Australia, so it's not like what I have
now in the WBA, where it's like your whole life
goes into this playing of it. So I was still
at university. I was still at high school sixteen.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Sorry at that point, I'm still at high school. So
I was high school then.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Also, I was playing dubbing bell when I was at
UNI as well, So it was like, You've still got
your two lives that you're able to do and it's challenging.
Don't get me wrong, But I think the skill that
I learned is balancing things, you know, because I've always
made time for friendships and doing the fun things as well.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
I'm a bit of a foodie. I like to go
out and eat, So.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
I think that balancing act I've learned from a young age,
and it's something that I think is the hardest thing
I think for anyone in any career, at any time
their life, is to gain that balance. But it's something
I really try to focus on because it keeps me happy.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, And it is so important to have that balance,
and particularly it's such a competitive sport, it would be difficult, right, Like,
there's already always more shots that you could put up,
there's always more training that you could do.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Is that what your advice would be for someone younger
looking to get into sport an elite level?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yeah? I think so.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
I think my advice is always take every opportunity as
it comes. I think you never know who's watching. You
don't know where things can take you don't know where
your love of it is going to go as well.
But I think, yeah, that balance piece is something that
is just really hard to.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Achieve, especially when you're at the top level.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
And so for me now, I think I'll always lose
my balance when I'm over in the WNBA or something
because your whole focus has to be basketball.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
So this time in Melbourne, like six months, I'm swinging
the pendulum. Oh my god, very much. Take me out.
Desperately need a friend.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
But I feel like I fill up my happy cup
right now whilst I'm here in Melbourne. I do all
that sort of stuff whilst working out, and I go
over to America and it's like, hey, let's just lock
into this this five six months.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
I want to drill inta.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
You just said like, if you're young and you're playing,
you just never know who's watching. And I'm sure that
you're talking about someone that can really champion your career
and take you from as you said that A to
B two C when you might not even have that
vision for yourself. Yes, was there someone that champed in
your career that you really think without them, you potentially
wouldn't have been on this path.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Yeah, It's sort of funny.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
I think at every single stage I've had, I've had
someone My favorite coach always will be Guy, my lawyer.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
I played with him and Melbourne Boomers. He's someone that really.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
He saw a lot in me and then he just
gave me a chance after chance after chance. And this
was at the WNBL level, and then I ended up making.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
How old were you when you were under him?
Speaker 5 (09:22):
I would have been. I remember I had my twenty
first when I was playing for him.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I was twenty out who you are and this person
believes in you?
Speaker 5 (09:30):
He did, and I think having that really good season
allowed me to make my first It wasn't Australian team.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
It was like for a tour.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
So that's when we went to America and that's when
I really saw, Okay, the WNBA. So we played teams
in their pre season, in their training camp and I
had some really good games over there, and that's how
I got picked up by New York.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
So I think a lot happened through Guy. You mentioned
getting picked up by New York.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Take us back to when you found out that you
were drafted to the WS, Like, how give.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Me the day? Paint the picture for me?
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Well, Firstly, I'm undrafted, so I never I wasn't in
the draft or anything like that. So I've just got
picked up purely through doing this tour. So they saw
me playing for Australia at twenty one.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Wait, so you're not even watching to see if you
get picked up. You just receive a phone call.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I just got to went through my agent. They didn't
even call you. Your agent calls you and how do
you feel about playing for York?
Speaker 5 (10:21):
So yes, I was an undrafted athlete twenty fifteen, and
that's when I get my first Bill Lambier part of
the Bad Boys for the Detroit Pistons. He was the
coach at that time and he was the one that
really sought after me, and so I played there for
seven years.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
So that's sort of funny, like how things have gone.
That's what I really mean.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Like I went into this tour because I wanted to
make the Australian team, but in the end it started
my career.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
What was the WNBA like back then?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Oh, it's tough, and it's always tough.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
And I think just as I've gotten old throughout it,
I think I've grown up as a person.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I've changed as a person.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Through those experiences, for sure, I've had to really harden up,
I think, And that's a blessing and a curse, I think.
And I just found those first couple of years is
my big thing was to never show any emotion in
front of anyone, so that it was hard, Like you there,
it's not just your coaches going at you, it's your
it's your teammates holding you accountable.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
And accountability is a word that gets used a lot
over there and a whole new fan base. The fans
are hugh, especially New York.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
They're very die hard as well, and they'll tell you
how they feel, and so it's some of it's quite
confronting in a sense. So I remember my first maybe
two years, after a lot of practices, I'd go home
and I cry after a lot of them. But like
I know a lot of other players that have been
in the same boat. But is because there were so
many new situations for me, like I've never had teammates
(11:44):
holding me accountable like that, I've never get drilled again
and again and again. You're really having to stand up
every single time. But my thing was I was never
going to show anything that was not strong. I guess
whatever word you want to use in front of in
front of my teammates.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
So I had to grow up.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
A lot, and that, I guess is probably two things.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Americans take sport very differently to Australians at all levels.
But also in addition to that, you're in New York,
like you haven't been given a self instruction into what
is more of a smaller town, like you are in
the apple of America's eye trying to cut your teeth
at such a young age. You mention like obviously that
you'd go home and you'd be emotional and I'd imagine drained,
(12:25):
both physically and emotionally, and you're like, that was just
training alone, actually getting out.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
There in the case of fun.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Do you think that we've seen a shift in sports
psychology now that that vulnerability piece and taking care of
people is different or would there still be people at
that level that would be going through those feelings.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
I think there's a both. I really think there's both.
I think that the landscape is shifted as well. In WNBA,
I think there was that mentality, go hard, go at
each other. Now you still are like that, but it's
in a different way. So we do hold people accountable
but it's done in a different way. And I think
even though, like I'm a veteran now and I know
how I would want to speak to all my teammates,
you know, so I lead in the way that I
(13:04):
would want to have been treated when I was a
rookie in the league too. So I think that when
you've got personalities like that around you, it creates a culture.
It's funny because I was talking to someone about like
culture in the WNBA, and you go, how can you
create a culture when people are getting traded constantly? So
in season pre seasons, I've just been traded to Chicago
and then you've just got to buy into this whole
(13:24):
new system and you sort of learn that fluidity.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And we sort of and I guess the nature of
it is, we're always going to see this more at
the men's level hit in mainstream media, and we saw
the Luca Donti trade where everyone lost their mind that
he didn't know, no one knew and Lebron didn't know.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Oh yeah, who knew what?
Speaker 1 (13:42):
But it's this idea that players are commodities, not people,
and that they can be traded for the best of
the organization. And you've experienced that first hand where you
think you're enjoying it somewhere and then next minute you're like, wait,
I'm going I'm going where now? Yeah, tell us a
little bit what that experience is like and is that
something that you hope will change or is.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It just part of the game. I think part of
the game. And that's what I've learned.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
I know my first trade was after doing seven years
at New York and I was traded to Connecticut.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
And I did not take that well at all because
you thought you'd found your home. You do you think that?
Speaker 5 (14:10):
And also the way things are spoken about, And that's
what I think I've learnt within it is that you know,
friendship that's quoted by a GM or all these other
things where they're trying to make you feel like, hey,
you're going to retire here.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
That's just all noise in a sense.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
You can't listen to that in a way because you
don't know what's going to happen or who's going to
become available, and they want them more than you, and
then you're a piece. Like you said, you're a commodity.
And so that's why I don't take anything as personally now.
But it can still hurt. We're all human, do you know,
Like this last trade from Phoenix, I was really hoping
that I was going to end my career there, especially
because I chose that team. But it's okay. I've ended
(14:45):
up being in Chicago. It's going to be another really
cool experience. I think been to Chicago before just to play,
so I haven't really spent like a lot of time there,
but it's going to be I think.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Wild that You're like, I'm just I'm spending X amount
of time in my life been a city that's been
nominated by someone else.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Someone, which is terrifying.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
And that's why I think having this home, like this
home time now six months and being like stable and
knowing whom coming back to every day, like that's just
been a really big breath of fresh air for me.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
So I've got I had to look at your WNBA
stats and goddamn, you're impressive.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
I say that behind your back and I.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Say it to your face, but you're the ten fastest
player in the WNBA history to record at least one
thousand points, five hundred rebrounds, one hundred and fifty blocks,
and one hundred and eighty three pointers. And you achieved
that in one hundred and ninety five games, So in
all the women that have ever played the game, you
were the tenth fastest to achieve that. There are different
stats like that, and again God bless Americans and how
(15:41):
much they record everything, tenth fastest, twenty seven degrees outside.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
On that day.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Is there something that you're most proud of in your
We'll get to your open's career in a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
But in that, WNBA, is there something that you're most
proud of?
Speaker 5 (15:55):
Probably the longevity. Yeah, it's not I'm not really a
stats person in that sense. I can find them overwhelming,
but I really, for me, it's the way that I've
been able to stay in the league.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
And it's sort of funny. You find your little niche
within things.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
And I know right now a big part of my
role is not just being a shooter and a score
or a defender.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
It's my personality.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
I think I know, so right now they've brought me
in also just to be that glue piece and something
I'm willing to chase on.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Mister genality, There's nothing wrong with that. I'm the nice one.
You're bringing me in just so that everyone has a
good time and all enjoyed that. It's really important.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
You need to enjoy if you're going to be spending
that much time together, you really do want to enjoy
each other's company. And so I know that what they're
building now is they're trying to get good people in
as well as good athletes, and we'll see where it goes.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Is there any player in your career that you most
try to model that off? Like I know that in
my industry. Again, I'll say it behind her back because
she's not here, but Georgia is someone that you walk
into a room and you can't help but lift, like
you lift a few points because just her energy is
so contagious and brings out the best in people, always
building each other up. Is that someone that at your level,
Like obviously there were elite athletes and we'll get to
(17:04):
Lauren Jackson in a little bit, but that you get
to play with that you would have idolized. But is
there someone that had that piece just that good thoughts about.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
My mine has always been Penny Taylor, because I think
you can be an elite, epic player and a great
person too. You need to be the you know, too polarizing.
You know, that's why I loved I played with her.
My first World Cup was in twenty fourteen in Turkey,
and I remember playing with her and I was like,
that's exactly how I want to be as a teammate.
(17:31):
You know, she's someone that just kept everyone together. She
wasn't also this highly emotional person WhatsApp. You know the
people that are like right, no, she's that's always the
younger ones, always the young ones that try to get
the people together.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
She but she was definitely that level and just kept everyone.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
I'm not getting too high too low, because you know
how sport there's so many highs and lows within a
tournament style play as well.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
She's really good.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
How big is a name like Lauren Jackson when you
go over as an Australian in America?
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Does everyone bring her up to you like she must
be a cousin? Yeecially like that.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
It's so funny when people say, like, I've got this friend,
you know, Derek, could you know him?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I'm like, no, it's it's no, but yeah, everyone does.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
But the respect that she's gone, especially after her career
in Seattle, like it's unreal. It's unreal what she's done
and is doing within her career and now even just
off the court as well, so she's having her impact everywhere.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Sharing the court with her as an opal.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Yeah, I mean that's that's massive because she's got an
aura about her and there's this intimidation. You also learn
some little techniques and stuff and what she'll do, and
because she's got that sort of that mentality of no
one's going to beat me, you know, so you learn, Yeah,
you learn from people like that, and so yeah, it
was really great sharing the court with her.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Now, you mentioned the fact that Netbull you can't play
the Olympics. Is that was always if you're going to
be Kathy Freeman, you need to get to Olympic level.
What did it mean for you to get that first
cap and go to Tokyo and what a weird Olympics
it was?
Speaker 5 (18:58):
Yeah, yeah, I mean Tokyo. It was awesome to be
able to go to an Olympics, you know, and I've
now cherished that probably more than I did that first time,
because that was a hard Olympics as well, because nothing
went right, you know, like leading up to it. There
was all this controversy and stuff that happened with our
lead up in practice games and then that made things disjointed.
We lost one of our main players in that moment too,
(19:20):
so then it was trying to rebuild ourselves within an
Olympic campaign, and then there's no fans in the crowds,
so it was tough.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
It was a tough first one.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
That's why I was really looking forward to the Paris Olympics,
and that didn't go super well for me, so it
was Yeah, last year was a really challenging year for me.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
You're very humble. You said Paris didn't go well for you.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
You were so instrumental in Australia's qualifying of which was
a clean sweep of that tournament, and you were playing
Canada in just the last hurdle before you were going
to get to play at the Games. Yeah, and unfortunately
did a hamstring. I hate to take you back to
that moment, but I think it's so important to get
an idea for the resilience that you need to have
as an athlete. Although in saying that athletes get injuries,
(20:01):
I think you've hit your quota.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Of reconstructions as just a teenager.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You've had some cartlidge in a knee that also ended
one of your seasons, and then you get to the
Virgin of Olympics. Yeah, at Paras Olympics, no less, and
you're crueled by injury once again. Who did you lean
on in that time? And how important is it for
you to, I guess, take positives from that and try
to find positives.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Yeah, I mean that's probably my biggest hurdle by far.
It's something and I still hope. I would love it
to not be the last thing I think about each night.
You know, it's still that thing that plays on my
mind because I didn't like how things went down personally
for me. And that's another reason why I've decided to
play this WNBA season, because my last game can't be
(20:45):
a scratch match against Canada.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
That's a pretty dull way to end your career. That's
not for me. But yeah, it was tough.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
It was tough to be in the village and then
be replaced the day before the opening ceremony and then
not even be able to pack up your stuff and
a hotel room there in lil So I found that hard.
I was waiting for a couple of days till my
parents could actually be because they were in Belgium, and
then they finally joined me. So the people I lean
on like hugely were my parents. So yeah, I was
(21:14):
in little. I was in little throughout the Olympic campaign.
Doctor you saw was in the village. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
And so I went and watched one of the games.
I went and watched the play Canada. Actually, yeah, but
it was tough. It's tough being there when and you're
trying to show your support and all of that too,
but to be up in the gods and the stands
(21:35):
as well as it's funny when you're so removed from
a team that you gave so much of yourself too.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah, is there any way upon this guy that you
look to?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
La do you dream? No? No, I can't.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
I think for me, I've given I haven't announced any
retirement yet from the Australian team, but I've given all
of what I can give to that group, and I
think it's maybe my time to step away and to
do that knowing that I gave everything and I enjoyed
so many aspects of it too.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
But my well cut before that.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
I had a collapse lung in a game with broken
broken ribs and played through it, and then the next.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Competition was an Olympics. It played through a collapse, played
two games with yeah, collapse, lung and some broken ribs.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Yeah, yeah, pardon, So there was just there's been a
lot for me that's been linked with the Australian and
but there's also my focus is to not be just
solely on that. I think that there has been some
beautiful friendships within it. There has been some beautiful moments
and so much success as well. There's been so much success,
but the I just don't know if I've got enough
(22:41):
to give, and it might maybe it's time for some
of the younger ones coming through to give it a
different a different life and a different energy.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
That's also the beauty of hitting your thirties, I think,
is you get to sit back and zoom out and
choose this is This might be what people think I
should want, but this is what I actually want and
how I want to paint a legacy for myself.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Yeah, and what feels good. Yeah, it has to be
feels good. That's exactly right. And you can't force something,
I think, and especially because playing for your country is
such a big achievement, it's such a big thing and
that you do you have to be all in, you
have to be all in, So it'd be unfair of
me to do something if I wasn't. So that's a
huge element in my decision.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
And in the meantime, you're all in on the w
NBA and excited for the new season when you see
the rise of someone like Caitlin Clark, which is remarkable
that a rookie is someone that everyone talks about like
she's reinvented the game. She has, but she has in
terms of that piece of the viewership is incredible.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Her contract with Nike.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Can anyone get a slight slither? That would be adult
light wild.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
So when you see that sort of growth in a
league that you're attached to, what do you think they're
getting so right in the States and how can we
emulate that here?
Speaker 5 (23:45):
I think that they're really leaning on her this season,
which is a really good thing and they have to.
And maybe there was controversy around, hey, we were giving
too much to somebody's just come in the league and
hasn't proven herself yet. Now she's proven herself and she's
the one that's moved that needle and just having that
view as she skyrocket you just see that every game
that she's playing on whatever court, they've either got to
move to the bigger arenas or it's a total sell
(24:06):
out as well. And it makes headlines here, Oh it does,
It does, and that's huge as well because we don't
really speak about the women's game here in Australia that much.
So even if we're not talking about how at least
we're talking about some of the Americans there. Do you
know which is it's a funny concept, but she's she's
a great player, and for a point guard to be
this good early, there's some she's just got so much
(24:27):
ahead of her.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
You've been such an incredible advocate over your time in
women's basketball, for both basketball here and just yourself as
a role model and someone that those young kids can
look up to. Is that something that you see in
life after basketball? However far away that may be? Because
you're incredible at media and I can say that as
someone You've been on the panel show with us and
afterwards our producer was like, goddamn, she's good.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
She is fun and that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
It's meant to be fun. But is that something that
you think about after? What does life look like after basketball?
Speaker 3 (24:57):
I would hope.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
So I was doing some NBL commentary year and I
realized I really enjoyed that because it gives you that
adrenaline rush, the same thing that anything live does. I
think you get that adrenaline. I know you understand this
as well. And when you're in that game, even if
you're not playing, you've sort of got to be on
your game.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
When you're doing it's still your heart rate. It's a
wild even doing offsiders right before there's the.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Three to one we're on air, I get this woom.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Oh my heart rate. But yeah, I would love to
get into that space.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
My degree is in marketing, so I'm trying to do
something I can get a job within the marketing space
that has some involvement on link to sports.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
So I'm working that out at the moment.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
And once i think I've got that, I'll feel I
feel really comfortable leaving the game because I mean, I've
done it for a long time.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Why not why not pivot? Time to pivot?
Speaker 1 (25:47):
And also, there's no find something again that feels good
and something that you're naturally inclined to be doing, which
is really exciting. And you mentioned that you've got a
marketing background, will it makes sense that Naked Soul will.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Do a collaboration.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
All the big ballers a shoe deal, so why wouldn't
you as well. Now I love the story of this
because it was such an organic partnership between you and Niona,
wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Yeah, I just I like doing things with good people.
And it's funny.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
I reached out to her because I've got a big foot.
Something that's a little insecurity, right, but it's.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
So relative to your height.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
It's allowed in Australian Champion, so that checks out.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
I apci.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
I've got a big foot, but it doesn't work with
my height, so I should really be more more presecure.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
But so she just sized up to fifteen and I
reached out to her after buying a pair that I
saw through Instagram and I love them, and then I
just had to say thank you because it's so hard
to find shoes.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
They go up for me.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
I'm just size twelve women sometimes scraping to a thirteen,
but so hard to find nice shoes, and so that's
why I thanked her.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
And then we got on a zoom and then all.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Of a sudden we're doing a collab and so it's
sort of funny how that's gone down.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
And it's interesting wearing them on off siders.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
I wore another pair of shoes on off side because
looking again, You're like, my heart is racing in my head.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
I'm like, I like her shoes.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
You're allgau they are great, They're great. I just like
that they're comfortable and they fit, do you know? And
they just look and they're just really feminine.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
That's the other part, because you don't want to always beware.
I know sneakers today, but sometimes you don't want to
wear that, do you know? And so I don't know.
I like that she's so passionate about what she's doing.
It's something that I feel I feel passionate about too,
just because we've lived they still feel comfortable and making
people feel not only discomfortable, stylish, stylish. Yeah, And I
(27:30):
just think I love how sport and fashion has been.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
I've seen the swagger intros it and they've gone through
the roof in the w NBA.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Do you like that that personality I got into it.
I got into it, like, am I swaggy? No? No,
I'm not slaggy, but you really have swag.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
But that's why I've sort of just leant into what
my fashion is you know, and that's okay too, but yeah,
some of the girls, they really really get into it.
But it's added like a whole different viewership because totally
you don't need to just be in basketball to enjoyed
that side of the game too, So they're sort of
meshing these different avenues and it's creating quite a cool
product in general. And it's all well and good for
(28:09):
the w NBA players to get custom shoes made and
different bits and pieces, but this is bringing that accessibility
to people from anywhere that can order shoes online and
feel great.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
So we love that from Naked Sole.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
We love that they're doing colubs, and especially with one
of our own, so that's unreal.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Beck.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
We usually do a fun fact on so this is
like a fun fact that we bring and I've just
made you our fun fact here on Two Good Sports.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
You love to bake? I do. Oh my god, I
just bought mixing bowls the other day. I'm back in
my baking era.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
For someone who barely gets to be home, like you've
been back for six months?
Speaker 3 (28:42):
What is it? Yeah, Okay, you're the sour dough girl.
I sour dough.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
I was the one that was like, hey, what's the
longest recipe that I so I.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Can fill up my entire day? Oh six hours? Great?
Speaker 1 (28:54):
So you bought mixing bowls yesterday? What is it about baking?
Because we love that. Of course, you just talked about
how intense that work can be and how much you
have to be dedicating everything else. We love finding out
the different side that you're passionate about that. I bet
not many people ask you about in a sporting based
in demand. So tell me about your baking. It's your
favorite thing that you've ever baked?
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Oh, apple pie? I really enjoy that.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
But I like how therapeutic it feels like it's not
even just baking, it's cooking in generally. I had friends over
last night for dinner, and I was like cooking for people.
And maybe I've learned that from my mum, because that's
her love language. She loves to cook for people and
it makes her happy as well, and I think that's
very similar for me. I really enjoy cooking out like baking.
So an apple pie. Maybe I'll make a little rubab tart.
(29:35):
I shouldn't talk.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
It doesn't mean it tastes good. Everything I'm making. It
doesn't mean it's good well, I'll just let you.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Know that we are open to baked goods anytime.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
So if you're in the area, I know that you
just bought in Melbourne as well, so congratulations to your
homeowner you and if you ever in the area, we
will absolutely take an apple pie. It's just a huge
congratulations to us on your career who you.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Are as a person, but also the career that.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
You're making for yourself in media or whatever like full
look like after basketball. We're sure that it's going to
be an outstanding success because you're just an outstanding person.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
So thank you so much for the time. That's super lovely.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Thank you
Here at Two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
There were innerie people. This land was never seated, always
was always will be Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I'm Abby Delmi from Two Good Sports. It's sports news
told differently. And you know that if you're hearing my
voice first on this podcast, that Georgie is still away. Yes,
our mate Georgie Tunney is killing it on the amazing race.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Clearly.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Again, I don't know if you can bet on these things,
but get on that market early. We've had very sporadic
contact and she can't tell me where she is or
what she's doing, as is the nature of these things.
But it sounds like it's been an adventure. So she
and Rob are killing it. We cannot wait to watch.
There will be viewing parties, and of course we're going
to deviate from sports and do some sort of episode
(00:49):
on what really happens on reality TV when she gets back.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I can promise you that.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
But in her place this week, we have a very
very special guest.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
I love this chat.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Edible Beck Allen, the WNBA veteran and Ossie basketball legend.
Now she spent over a decade in the States, chasing
her dream and playing at the highest level of basketball
that is possible. And she talks to us about that journey,
her identity, what it's like being traded from team to
team without your consent. I just can't imagine that. But
(01:20):
also she delves into the heartbreak of missing the paras
Olympics in twenty twenty four due to injury and what
that journey has meant for her. It's a story of brasilience, identity,
but just this warm, honest, funny force of a person
that I'm definitely trying to befriend. And yes, I did
invite myself over to her new house immediately after the
podcast because she is a delight. So please enjoy Beck's chat.
(01:44):
But before we get there, I'm going to do a
good sport. I'm doing a good sport on my loansome
this week. There's not much room for reaction, but I'm
sure that you're can enjoy it at home because we
are going to gather around in the AFL and George
is not here to temper my excitement by trying to
bring up the NRL. So here we go, Isaac Rankin.
We one of our inns for the start of the
year was Georgie and I saying that we wanted to
(02:05):
see more personality from players. You don't get much more
personality than this. With an open mic and a guitar,
Isaac rankin of the Adelaide Crows belted out this.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Beauty queen Oh Hoveling eighty had some trouble with herself.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
He was always there too.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Hell eyes belong someone elm. I drove a thousand thousand una.
I had you so many times. Some I don't spend
(02:56):
in every day on your corner and the pier for
the girl, the Brocus smile, ask your issues.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
The staal sho.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I wanted to play the full version of that, but
of course you've got other things to do with your day.
But please do look it up. Isaac rank and your
ears are welcome. And in the footage there text Walker's
got his phone out, just filming like a proud mum.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
It's just one of.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Those beautiful things where you see a sports style willing
to put themselves out in a different arena.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
He's killing it.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
It's personality, It's everything that we want to see on
two good sports.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Love it, absolutely love it.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Enjoy this chat with Beck she's a special one.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Bec allan welcome to two good sports. How are you?
I'm super happy to be here. This is gonna be
a lot of fun. You say it's.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Happy to be here, but you're happy to be in
Melbourne because we were just chatting a little bit before
we pressed record.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And you rarely get to get home, do you.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
No, I'm never home and that's why I've had maybe
six months and that's like a big chunk of time
for me.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
So it's been nice just to be.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Home, see friends more than once, you know, see them
repeatedly and just I don't know, those connections are really
important to me, and then my family especially I'm now
an auntie, so that's why it's also really like good
for me just be home and share and these like
special moments together.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Is that your twin brothers?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah, my twin brother which I'm sure we'll link into
how we talk about you being competitive growing up.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Imagine.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Yeah, I was about to say I had a pledge
of meeting Chris when you and I happen to be
sat at the same table at tennis.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Will take that. But tell us, so what is auntie
life like? It's so special?
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Honestly, I think I realized I'm quite an emotional person.
I think she put a beating on for the first
time and almost cries, You've got the most beautiful soul
I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
And that is the hard part as well as being away,
is having those connections, especially when they are so little
and your career has taken you all around the world,
but namely to America for the past ten years, which
is such a massive achievement.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
To a plane in the WNBA for a decade.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Some people aspire to even get one girds you, let
alone the career that you've been able to forge.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But take us back to a little beck.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Imagine the first time you put on your beanie. What
was it about basketball that did things for you?
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Well, I was originally a netballer, and I liked that
with basketball you could run everywhere you play the defense,
you could shoot the ball, so you could do everything.
Whereas a netful always put me as gold defense. I
was like, I just want to shoot it, you know, yeah,
And so it's funny. So I've become a shootout with
in basketball as well, and I've just I've enjoyed the
friendships I've made in it. I've enjoyed where it's taken me.
But I've never been that person when I was young,
being like I want to play in America. I didn't
(05:40):
even really know about the WNBA until like maybe a
year before I played there. What do you Yeah, I
didn't really know much about it at all. It wasn't
something i'd looked towards. No, that's crazy to be weird. Yeah, yeah,
is that because your career escalated at such a young age.
And I guess you talk about being involved in netball.
I wonder if you're way too young to even be
thinking this pine the sky. But is there that appeal
(06:02):
of basketball that you can play all over the world
and you can early better money all over the world
than what you can with netbull.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Or was that not even a thought?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Well, like, nepple is not an Olympic sport either. I
remember when I was young, I wanted to be Kathy Freeman.
So it was really anyway I could gets exactly. So
I think maybe that that part of it was a
played a role. But I just I like the game.
I like how fast paced it is. I really enjoy
watching it as well, and so yeah, I don't know things.
For me, it's not like I've ever been like I
(06:30):
want to get from A to B to C. Things
have just sort of eventuated as it's gone. But I'm
also I've worked hard for it too.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
I was about to say it eventuated at sixteen. You're
playing in the highest domestic competition when you're here in
the WNBL, Does that force you to grow up quickly?
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Like we were?
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Probably at sixteen? What was I was probably still weirdly
into Pokemon.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Well, actually we last no shame in that.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Georgie who's usually my co host on here, I was
voting her partner through Australian Idol and Rob Milsey Mills.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's what my big concern was at sixteen.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Were you able to still be a kid playing in
a women's league or did it force you to grow
up quickly?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
A bit of.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Both, I guess, I think because it was still semi
professional in Australia, so it's not like what I have
now in the WBA, where it's like your whole life
goes into this playing of it. So I was still
at university. I was still at high school sixteen.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Sorry at that point, I'm still at high school. So
I was high school then.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Also, I was playing dubbing bell when I was at
UNI as well, So it was like, You've still got
your two lives that you're able to do and it's challenging.
Don't get me wrong, But I think the skill that
I learned is balancing things, you know, because I've always
made time for friendships and doing the fun things as well.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
I'm a bit of a foodie. I like to go
out and eat, So.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
I think that balancing act I've learned from a young age,
and it's something that I think is the hardest thing
I think for anyone in any career, at any time
their life, is to gain that balance. But it's something
I really try to focus on because it keeps me happy.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, And it is so important to have that balance,
and particularly it's such a competitive sport, it would be difficult, right, Like,
there's already always more shots that you could put up,
there's always more training that you could do.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Is that what your advice would be for someone younger
looking to get into sport an elite level?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yeah? I think so.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
I think my advice is always take every opportunity as
it comes. I think you never know who's watching. You
don't know where things can take you don't know where
your love of it is going to go as well.
But I think, yeah, that balance piece is something that
is just really hard to.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Achieve, especially when you're at the top level.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
And so for me now, I think I'll always lose
my balance when I'm over in the WNBA or something
because your whole focus has to be basketball.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
So this time in Melbourne, like six months, I'm swinging
the pendulum. Oh my god, very much. Take me out.
Desperately need a friend.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
But I feel like I fill up my happy cup
right now whilst I'm here in Melbourne. I do all
that sort of stuff whilst working out, and I go
over to America and it's like, hey, let's just lock
into this this five six months.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
I want to drill inta.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
You just said like, if you're young and you're playing,
you just never know who's watching. And I'm sure that
you're talking about someone that can really champion your career
and take you from as you said that A to
B two C when you might not even have that
vision for yourself. Yes, was there someone that champed in
your career that you really think without them, you potentially
wouldn't have been on this path.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Yeah, It's sort of funny.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
I think at every single stage I've had, I've had
someone My favorite coach always will be Guy, my lawyer.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
I played with him and Melbourne Boomers. He's someone that really.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
He saw a lot in me and then he just
gave me a chance after chance after chance. And this
was at the WNBL level, and then I ended up making.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
How old were you when you were under him?
Speaker 5 (09:22):
I would have been. I remember I had my twenty
first when I was playing for him.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I was twenty out who you are and this person
believes in you?
Speaker 5 (09:30):
He did, and I think having that really good season
allowed me to make my first It wasn't Australian team.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
It was like for a tour.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
So that's when we went to America and that's when
I really saw, Okay, the WNBA. So we played teams
in their pre season, in their training camp and I
had some really good games over there, and that's how
I got picked up by New York.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
So I think a lot happened through Guy. You mentioned
getting picked up by New York.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Take us back to when you found out that you
were drafted to the WS, Like, how give.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Me the day? Paint the picture for me?
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Well, Firstly, I'm undrafted, so I never I wasn't in
the draft or anything like that. So I've just got
picked up purely through doing this tour. So they saw
me playing for Australia at twenty one.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Wait, so you're not even watching to see if you
get picked up. You just receive a phone call.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
I just got to went through my agent. They didn't
even call you. Your agent calls you and how do
you feel about playing for York?
Speaker 5 (10:21):
So yes, I was an undrafted athlete twenty fifteen, and
that's when I get my first Bill Lambier part of
the Bad Boys for the Detroit Pistons. He was the
coach at that time and he was the one that
really sought after me, and so I played there for
seven years.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
So that's sort of funny, like how things have gone.
That's what I really mean.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Like I went into this tour because I wanted to
make the Australian team, but in the end it started
my career.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
What was the WNBA like back then?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Oh, it's tough, and it's always tough.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
And I think just as I've gotten old throughout it,
I think I've grown up as a person.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I've changed as a person.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Through those experiences, for sure, I've had to really harden up,
I think, And that's a blessing and a curse, I think.
And I just found those first couple of years is
my big thing was to never show any emotion in
front of anyone, so that it was hard, Like you there,
it's not just your coaches going at you, it's your
it's your teammates holding you accountable.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
And accountability is a word that gets used a lot
over there and a whole new fan base. The fans
are hugh, especially New York.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
They're very die hard as well, and they'll tell you
how they feel, and so it's some of it's quite
confronting in a sense. So I remember my first maybe
two years, after a lot of practices, I'd go home
and I cry after a lot of them. But like
I know a lot of other players that have been
in the same boat. But is because there were so
many new situations for me, like I've never had teammates
(11:44):
holding me accountable like that, I've never get drilled again
and again and again. You're really having to stand up
every single time. But my thing was I was never
going to show anything that was not strong. I guess
whatever word you want to use in front of in
front of my teammates.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
So I had to grow up.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
A lot, and that, I guess is probably two things.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Americans take sport very differently to Australians at all levels.
But also in addition to that, you're in New York,
like you haven't been given a self instruction into what
is more of a smaller town, like you are in
the apple of America's eye trying to cut your teeth
at such a young age. You mention like obviously that
you'd go home and you'd be emotional and I'd imagine drained,
(12:25):
both physically and emotionally, and you're like, that was just
training alone, actually getting out.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
There in the case of fun.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Do you think that we've seen a shift in sports
psychology now that that vulnerability piece and taking care of
people is different or would there still be people at
that level that would be going through those feelings.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
I think there's a both. I really think there's both.
I think that the landscape is shifted as well. In WNBA,
I think there was that mentality, go hard, go at
each other. Now you still are like that, but it's
in a different way. So we do hold people accountable
but it's done in a different way. And I think
even though, like I'm a veteran now and I know
how I would want to speak to all my teammates,
you know, so I lead in the way that I
(13:04):
would want to have been treated when I was a
rookie in the league too. So I think that when
you've got personalities like that around you, it creates a culture.
It's funny because I was talking to someone about like
culture in the WNBA, and you go, how can you
create a culture when people are getting traded constantly? So
in season pre seasons, I've just been traded to Chicago
and then you've just got to buy into this whole
(13:24):
new system and you sort of learn that fluidity.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And we sort of and I guess the nature of
it is, we're always going to see this more at
the men's level hit in mainstream media, and we saw
the Luca Donti trade where everyone lost their mind that
he didn't know, no one knew and Lebron didn't know.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Oh yeah, who knew what?
Speaker 1 (13:42):
But it's this idea that players are commodities, not people,
and that they can be traded for the best of
the organization. And you've experienced that first hand where you
think you're enjoying it somewhere and then next minute you're like, wait,
I'm going I'm going where now? Yeah, tell us a
little bit what that experience is like and is that
something that you hope will change or is.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It just part of the game. I think part of
the game. And that's what I've learned.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
I know my first trade was after doing seven years
at New York and I was traded to Connecticut.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
And I did not take that well at all because
you thought you'd found your home. You do you think that?
Speaker 5 (14:10):
And also the way things are spoken about, And that's
what I think I've learnt within it is that you know,
friendship that's quoted by a GM or all these other
things where they're trying to make you feel like, hey,
you're going to retire here.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
That's just all noise in a sense.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
You can't listen to that in a way because you
don't know what's going to happen or who's going to
become available, and they want them more than you, and
then you're a piece. Like you said, you're a commodity.
And so that's why I don't take anything as personally now.
But it can still hurt. We're all human, do you know,
Like this last trade from Phoenix, I was really hoping
that I was going to end my career there, especially
because I chose that team. But it's okay. I've ended
(14:45):
up being in Chicago. It's going to be another really
cool experience. I think been to Chicago before just to play,
so I haven't really spent like a lot of time there,
but it's going to be I think.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Wild that You're like, I'm just I'm spending X amount
of time in my life been a city that's been
nominated by someone else.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Someone, which is terrifying.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
And that's why I think having this home, like this
home time now six months and being like stable and
knowing whom coming back to every day, like that's just
been a really big breath of fresh air for me.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
So I've got I had to look at your WNBA
stats and goddamn, you're impressive.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
I say that behind your back and I.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Say it to your face, but you're the ten fastest
player in the WNBA history to record at least one
thousand points, five hundred rebrounds, one hundred and fifty blocks,
and one hundred and eighty three pointers. And you achieved
that in one hundred and ninety five games, So in
all the women that have ever played the game, you
were the tenth fastest to achieve that. There are different
stats like that, and again God bless Americans and how
(15:41):
much they record everything, tenth fastest, twenty seven degrees outside.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
On that day.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Is there something that you're most proud of in your
We'll get to your open's career in a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
But in that, WNBA, is there something that you're most
proud of?
Speaker 5 (15:55):
Probably the longevity. Yeah, it's not I'm not really a
stats person in that sense. I can find them overwhelming,
but I really, for me, it's the way that I've
been able to stay in the league.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
And it's sort of funny. You find your little niche
within things.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
And I know right now a big part of my
role is not just being a shooter and a score
or a defender.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
It's my personality.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
I think I know, so right now they've brought me
in also just to be that glue piece and something
I'm willing to chase on.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Mister genality, There's nothing wrong with that. I'm the nice one.
You're bringing me in just so that everyone has a
good time and all enjoyed that. It's really important.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
You need to enjoy if you're going to be spending
that much time together, you really do want to enjoy
each other's company. And so I know that what they're
building now is they're trying to get good people in
as well as good athletes, and we'll see where it goes.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Is there any player in your career that you most
try to model that off? Like I know that in
my industry. Again, I'll say it behind her back because
she's not here, but Georgia is someone that you walk
into a room and you can't help but lift, like
you lift a few points because just her energy is
so contagious and brings out the best in people, always
building each other up. Is that someone that at your level,
Like obviously there were elite athletes and we'll get to
(17:04):
Lauren Jackson in a little bit, but that you get
to play with that you would have idolized. But is
there someone that had that piece just that good thoughts about.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
My mine has always been Penny Taylor, because I think
you can be an elite, epic player and a great
person too. You need to be the you know, too polarizing.
You know, that's why I loved I played with her.
My first World Cup was in twenty fourteen in Turkey,
and I remember playing with her and I was like,
that's exactly how I want to be as a teammate.
(17:31):
You know, she's someone that just kept everyone together. She
wasn't also this highly emotional person WhatsApp. You know the
people that are like right, no, she's that's always the
younger ones, always the young ones that try to get
the people together.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
She but she was definitely that level and just kept everyone.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
I'm not getting too high too low, because you know
how sport there's so many highs and lows within a
tournament style play as well.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
She's really good.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
How big is a name like Lauren Jackson when you
go over as an Australian in America?
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Does everyone bring her up to you like she must
be a cousin? Yeecially like that.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
It's so funny when people say, like, I've got this friend,
you know, Derek, could you know him?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I'm like, no, it's it's no, but yeah, everyone does.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
But the respect that she's gone, especially after her career
in Seattle, like it's unreal. It's unreal what she's done
and is doing within her career and now even just
off the court as well, so she's having her impact everywhere.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Sharing the court with her as an opal.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Yeah, I mean that's that's massive because she's got an
aura about her and there's this intimidation. You also learn
some little techniques and stuff and what she'll do, and
because she's got that sort of that mentality of no
one's going to beat me, you know, so you learn, Yeah,
you learn from people like that, and so yeah, it
was really great sharing the court with her.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Now, you mentioned the fact that Netbull you can't play
the Olympics. Is that was always if you're going to
be Kathy Freeman, you need to get to Olympic level.
What did it mean for you to get that first
cap and go to Tokyo and what a weird Olympics
it was?
Speaker 5 (18:58):
Yeah, yeah, I mean Tokyo. It was awesome to be
able to go to an Olympics, you know, and I've
now cherished that probably more than I did that first time,
because that was a hard Olympics as well, because nothing
went right, you know, like leading up to it. There
was all this controversy and stuff that happened with our
lead up in practice games and then that made things disjointed.
We lost one of our main players in that moment too,
(19:20):
so then it was trying to rebuild ourselves within an
Olympic campaign, and then there's no fans in the crowds,
so it was tough.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
It was a tough first one.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
That's why I was really looking forward to the Paris Olympics,
and that didn't go super well for me, so it
was Yeah, last year was a really challenging year for me.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
You're very humble. You said Paris didn't go well for you.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
You were so instrumental in Australia's qualifying of which was
a clean sweep of that tournament, and you were playing
Canada in just the last hurdle before you were going
to get to play at the Games. Yeah, and unfortunately
did a hamstring. I hate to take you back to
that moment, but I think it's so important to get
an idea for the resilience that you need to have
as an athlete. Although in saying that athletes get injuries,
(20:01):
I think you've hit your quota.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Of reconstructions as just a teenager.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You've had some cartlidge in a knee that also ended
one of your seasons, and then you get to the
Virgin of Olympics. Yeah, at Paras Olympics, no less, and
you're crueled by injury once again. Who did you lean
on in that time? And how important is it for
you to, I guess, take positives from that and try
to find positives.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Yeah, I mean that's probably my biggest hurdle by far.
It's something and I still hope. I would love it
to not be the last thing I think about each night.
You know, it's still that thing that plays on my
mind because I didn't like how things went down personally
for me. And that's another reason why I've decided to
play this WNBA season, because my last game can't be
(20:45):
a scratch match against Canada.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
That's a pretty dull way to end your career. That's
not for me. But yeah, it was tough.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
It was tough to be in the village and then
be replaced the day before the opening ceremony and then
not even be able to pack up your stuff and
a hotel room there in lil So I found that hard.
I was waiting for a couple of days till my
parents could actually be because they were in Belgium, and
then they finally joined me. So the people I lean
on like hugely were my parents. So yeah, I was
(21:14):
in little. I was in little throughout the Olympic campaign.
Doctor you saw was in the village. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
And so I went and watched one of the games.
I went and watched the play Canada. Actually, yeah, but
it was tough. It's tough being there when and you're
trying to show your support and all of that too,
but to be up in the gods and the stands
(21:35):
as well as it's funny when you're so removed from
a team that you gave so much of yourself too.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah, is there any way upon this guy that you
look to?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
La do you dream? No? No, I can't.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
I think for me, I've given I haven't announced any
retirement yet from the Australian team, but I've given all
of what I can give to that group, and I
think it's maybe my time to step away and to
do that knowing that I gave everything and I enjoyed
so many aspects of it too.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
But my well cut before that.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
I had a collapse lung in a game with broken
broken ribs and played through it, and then the next.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Competition was an Olympics. It played through a collapse, played
two games with yeah, collapse, lung and some broken ribs.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Yeah, yeah, pardon, So there was just there's been a
lot for me that's been linked with the Australian and
but there's also my focus is to not be just
solely on that. I think that there has been some
beautiful friendships within it. There has been some beautiful moments
and so much success as well. There's been so much success,
but the I just don't know if I've got enough
(22:41):
to give, and it might maybe it's time for some
of the younger ones coming through to give it a
different a different life and a different energy.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
That's also the beauty of hitting your thirties, I think,
is you get to sit back and zoom out and
choose this is This might be what people think I
should want, but this is what I actually want and
how I want to paint a legacy for myself.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Yeah, and what feels good. Yeah, it has to be
feels good. That's exactly right. And you can't force something,
I think, and especially because playing for your country is
such a big achievement, it's such a big thing and
that you do you have to be all in, you
have to be all in, So it'd be unfair of
me to do something if I wasn't. So that's a
huge element in my decision.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
And in the meantime, you're all in on the w
NBA and excited for the new season when you see
the rise of someone like Caitlin Clark, which is remarkable
that a rookie is someone that everyone talks about like
she's reinvented the game. She has, but she has in
terms of that piece of the viewership is incredible.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Her contract with Nike.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Can anyone get a slight slither? That would be adult
light wild.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
So when you see that sort of growth in a
league that you're attached to, what do you think they're
getting so right in the States and how can we
emulate that here?
Speaker 5 (23:45):
I think that they're really leaning on her this season,
which is a really good thing and they have to.
And maybe there was controversy around, hey, we were giving
too much to somebody's just come in the league and
hasn't proven herself yet. Now she's proven herself and she's
the one that's moved that needle and just having that
view as she skyrocket you just see that every game
that she's playing on whatever court, they've either got to
move to the bigger arenas or it's a total sell
(24:06):
out as well. And it makes headlines here, Oh it does,
It does, and that's huge as well because we don't
really speak about the women's game here in Australia that much.
So even if we're not talking about how at least
we're talking about some of the Americans there. Do you
know which is it's a funny concept, but she's she's
a great player, and for a point guard to be
this good early, there's some she's just got so much
(24:27):
ahead of her.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
You've been such an incredible advocate over your time in
women's basketball, for both basketball here and just yourself as
a role model and someone that those young kids can
look up to. Is that something that you see in
life after basketball? However far away that may be? Because
you're incredible at media and I can say that as
someone You've been on the panel show with us and
afterwards our producer was like, goddamn, she's good.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
She is fun and that's the thing.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
It's meant to be fun. But is that something that
you think about after? What does life look like after basketball?
Speaker 3 (24:57):
I would hope.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
So I was doing some NBL commentary year and I
realized I really enjoyed that because it gives you that
adrenaline rush, the same thing that anything live does. I
think you get that adrenaline. I know you understand this
as well. And when you're in that game, even if
you're not playing, you've sort of got to be on
your game.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
When you're doing it's still your heart rate. It's a
wild even doing offsiders right before there's the.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Three to one we're on air, I get this woom.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Oh my heart rate. But yeah, I would love to
get into that space.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
My degree is in marketing, so I'm trying to do
something I can get a job within the marketing space
that has some involvement on link to sports.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
So I'm working that out at the moment.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
And once i think I've got that, I'll feel I
feel really comfortable leaving the game because I mean, I've
done it for a long time.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Why not why not pivot? Time to pivot?
Speaker 1 (25:47):
And also, there's no find something again that feels good
and something that you're naturally inclined to be doing, which
is really exciting. And you mentioned that you've got a
marketing background, will it makes sense that Naked Soul will.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Do a collaboration.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
All the big ballers a shoe deal, so why wouldn't
you as well. Now I love the story of this
because it was such an organic partnership between you and Niona,
wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Yeah, I just I like doing things with good people.
And it's funny.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
I reached out to her because I've got a big foot.
Something that's a little insecurity, right, but it's.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
So relative to your height.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
It's allowed in Australian Champion, so that checks out.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
I apci.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
I've got a big foot, but it doesn't work with
my height, so I should really be more more presecure.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
But so she just sized up to fifteen and I
reached out to her after buying a pair that I
saw through Instagram and I love them, and then I
just had to say thank you because it's so hard
to find shoes.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
They go up for me.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
I'm just size twelve women sometimes scraping to a thirteen,
but so hard to find nice shoes, and so that's
why I thanked her.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
And then we got on a zoom and then all.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Of a sudden we're doing a collab and so it's
sort of funny how that's gone down.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
And it's interesting wearing them on off siders.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
I wore another pair of shoes on off side because
looking again, You're like, my heart is racing in my head.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
I'm like, I like her shoes.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
You're allgau they are great, They're great. I just like
that they're comfortable and they fit, do you know? And
they just look and they're just really feminine.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
That's the other part, because you don't want to always beware.
I know sneakers today, but sometimes you don't want to
wear that, do you know? And so I don't know.
I like that she's so passionate about what she's doing.
It's something that I feel I feel passionate about too,
just because we've lived they still feel comfortable and making
people feel not only discomfortable, stylish, stylish. Yeah, And I
(27:30):
just think I love how sport and fashion has been.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
I've seen the swagger intros it and they've gone through
the roof in the w NBA.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Do you like that that personality I got into it.
I got into it, like, am I swaggy? No? No,
I'm not slaggy, but you really have swag.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
But that's why I've sort of just leant into what
my fashion is you know, and that's okay too, but yeah,
some of the girls, they really really get into it.
But it's added like a whole different viewership because totally
you don't need to just be in basketball to enjoyed
that side of the game too, So they're sort of
meshing these different avenues and it's creating quite a cool
product in general. And it's all well and good for
(28:09):
the w NBA players to get custom shoes made and
different bits and pieces, but this is bringing that accessibility
to people from anywhere that can order shoes online and
feel great.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
So we love that from Naked Sole.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
We love that they're doing colubs, and especially with one
of our own, so that's unreal.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Beck.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
We usually do a fun fact on so this is
like a fun fact that we bring and I've just
made you our fun fact here on Two Good Sports.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
You love to bake? I do. Oh my god, I
just bought mixing bowls the other day. I'm back in
my baking era.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
For someone who barely gets to be home, like you've
been back for six months?
Speaker 3 (28:42):
What is it? Yeah, Okay, you're the sour dough girl.
I sour dough.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
I was the one that was like, hey, what's the
longest recipe that I so I.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Can fill up my entire day? Oh six hours? Great?
Speaker 1 (28:54):
So you bought mixing bowls yesterday? What is it about baking?
Because we love that. Of course, you just talked about
how intense that work can be and how much you
have to be dedicating everything else. We love finding out
the different side that you're passionate about that. I bet
not many people ask you about in a sporting based
in demand. So tell me about your baking. It's your
favorite thing that you've ever baked?
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Oh, apple pie? I really enjoy that.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
But I like how therapeutic it feels like it's not
even just baking, it's cooking in generally. I had friends over
last night for dinner, and I was like cooking for people.
And maybe I've learned that from my mum, because that's
her love language. She loves to cook for people and
it makes her happy as well, and I think that's
very similar for me. I really enjoy cooking out like baking.
So an apple pie. Maybe I'll make a little rubab tart.
(29:35):
I shouldn't talk.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
It doesn't mean it tastes good. Everything I'm making. It
doesn't mean it's good well, I'll just let you.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Know that we are open to baked goods anytime.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
So if you're in the area, I know that you
just bought in Melbourne as well, so congratulations to your
homeowner you and if you ever in the area, we
will absolutely take an apple pie. It's just a huge
congratulations to us on your career who you.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Are as a person, but also the career that.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
You're making for yourself in media or whatever like full
look like after basketball. We're sure that it's going to
be an outstanding success because you're just an outstanding person.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
So thank you so much for the time. That's super lovely.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Thank you
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