Another Season in the Books

What a lovely couple of chats with Basketball Spokeswoman and one of Australia's finest, Marena Whittle.  A diamond in the rough, she's truly one of a kind.  A contagious personality, Marena lives life with gusto, on and off the court.  You can find her on the 3x3 circuit, playing in Europe or currently playing in Hungary.  From Melbourne, went to college at North Dakota State University and conti...

Just a small town girl from Port Wing, Wisconsin, doing her thing out on the court, getting paid for something she doesn't even view as a job, and she's been doing it for 16 years! Humble, genuine, funny, Jolene Anderson is a great basketball player, person and student.  I had a great time getting to know one of my former Big Ten rivals and learning about her hobbies and interests, for example, Ch...

A German great, Leonie is young and accomplished.  She's a star on the German National team and there's no doubt in my mind we'll be seeing much more of Leo in the near future, possibly in Paris at the Summer Olympics and maybe even in New York with the Liberty.  Leo has a great attitude, a competitors mentality and a soft spot for coffee and German chocolate.  

Rachel is a 7 year pro out of the University of San Fransisco.  What's the secret sauce to her success?  Easy, professionalism, hard work and R.E.S.P.E.C.T.  In a relaxed and genuine conversation, Rachel shares a little bit about her journey on and off the court, her family, her love for music, croquetas and her home State of California. Enjoy!

De Pamplona y siempre lo será pero durante los últimos 20 años María ha vivido en unos cuantos lugares gracias al baloncesto profesional.  Sigue jugando pero este año se encuentra en su ciudad natal, jugando y siendo protagonista en su nuevo proyecto, Play Your Best.  Ha aprovechado maravillosamente su tiempo como deportista, jugando y estudiando, formándose en el ámbito deportivo. Una de las base...

Una gozada de conversación con Armantina Santiago Aizpuro.  Inteligente, sabia y sobre todo, con un sentido de humor espléndido. Nacida en los 60, abogada y jugadora profesional de basket en los 80, viajera del mundo, amante de las películas de Almodóvar, amiga de muchos y muchas, una trailblazer if I ever saw one.  A disfrutar de las historias de Manti, que tiene unas cuantas. 

In Madrid, Spain Jaycee Carroll is well known and loved by many.  10 years playing for Real Madrid, ten years being one of the best 3pt shooters in the league and in Europe. He led the ACB (Spain's top Men's league) in scoring for two straight seasons, 2009-2011, he was named the best foreign player by Gigantes magazine, he won the 3pt contest twice and a long etcetera.  His journey to the top is...

How many Euro League caliber basketball coaches have degrees in agricultural engineering, have created their own scouting software, play the guitar and the drums, write and sing songs in their second language and have homes full of books on psychology, science and physics?  Jota Cuspinera is a unique individual with many passions and talents, however, it's basketball that puts food on his table. ...

Nadia Fingall says she wasn't the most coordinated kid growing up.  She says she was a chunky chunk.  She says she started playing basketball for the friends.  Well, she's come a long way since those early days, so far actually that she's now a Stanford Student Athlete Alum and a current professional athlete.  She's a one of a kind type of person and I have no doubts you'll enjoy listening to her...

She's a post player through and through even though her dad did try to get her to extend her game like her big sister, DeWanna Bonner.  Erica is a beast on the boards and in life.  She's a graduate of Stanford University, has played for 4 different WNBA teams and this year is playing EuroLeague with Perfumerias Avenida in Salamanca, Spain.  Oh, and did I mention she also has her own podcast? Check...

Perhaps she was a late bloomer, but bloom she did.  From suffering through AAU practices and sticking with it because her mom and coaches pleaded her to do so, to receiving a college scholarship, breaking records, being invited to a WNBA training camp and going pro overseas.  Tinara Moore has faced challenges she never imagined for herself, but in doing so she has been able to lead a life she love...

She was never drafted into the WNBA but continued to play overseas and for the Great Britain National team.  Her skills improved and perhaps most importantly, her confidence.  When the LA Sparks came a calling, Karlie was ready.  She's played in NCAA Final Fours with Stanford, EuroLeague with Spanish club Perfumerias Avenida, and shared locker rooms with Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggns and Candice Pa...

Destacaba de pequeña y se fue de casa aún siendo bastante joven.  Aprendizaje, madurez, presión, son solo unas de las muchas cosas que Mariona Ortiz Vives tuve que gestionar estando sola y lejos de casa, pero gracias a aquellas experiencias ha podido crecer y vivir momentos muy bonitos también.  Aquí hablamos de todo un poco, incluyendo su programa preferida de pequeña, Shin Chan. 

Tanaya grew up in New Haven, CT, playing basketball outside with her brothers, but it wasn't until she was 12 years old when she tried out for an actual team.  She made the squad and the rest is history.  Many awards and accolades later she's just wrapped up year #4 as a professional athlete overseas, having lived experiences in Australia and Spain.  She's humble, hungry and in constant evolution.

She's from the Wolf Pack, and it shows in her views on life, her self confidence and her thirst to explore, investigate and make new connections.  Northwestern University was lucky to have her and it sounds like she was lucky to have them.  She's got that growth mindset.  The world is your oyster, Abbie Wolf (even though you prefer lobster)!  An attitude of gratitude, that's how she roles.  Enjoy...

Podcast host, Leslie Knight, is interviewed by former teammate and long time friend, Ana McCusker Fernandez.  Leslie played basketball at Hopkins High School in Minnesota.  Her senior year was highlighted by a State Tournament Championship win and being crowned Miss. Basketball of Minnesota.  She went off to college at the University of Minnesota where she played a total of 35 (or so) minutes duri...

From Flower Mound, Texas and being a multi-sport athlete as a young girl to winning National Championships as a Baylor Bear and going Pro, Lauren Cox talks about the nuances of her journey as an athlete, world traveler and Type 1 Diabetic.  Fun, surprising and educational, get to know this humble, hungry, turn around J post player with the long, golden locks.  

After accepting a walk-on role at San Diego, Johnny Dee unexpectedly found out he'd be receiving a full ride scholarship.  His desire to improve and his lethal 3pt shot earned him a spot on the starting lineup, staring every game but one (due to senior night) his freshman season.  After graduation he took his career overseas and has been playing professionally ever since, except for a little stint...

First generation American, Vionise Pierre-Louis makes her way through life, leading with love, compassion and an insatiable desire to learn, grow and to share all of her newly gained knowledge with those around her, specifically, her family.  From a young age Vivi loved books, and then basketball was added into the mix, taking her places and giving her the opportunity to change the course of her l...

¿Como era lo de ser deportista de baloncesto en los años 60 y 70 en Madrid?  Vicente Ramos, quien fue votado el mejor base europeo en 1970 te va a contar bastantes curiosidades sobre su carrera como deportista y su carrera académico.  Un tipo muy interesante, capaz de hacer un poco de todo y a sus 75 años sigue siendo activo, dedicando su vida a la humanidad. Un 10 de ser humano, ¡y que bien habla...

Muchos años jugando como profesional de baloncesto en España, una base que era capaz de hacer mucho de todo.  La jugadora Gallega tuvo su primer hijo hace 5 años, volvió a jugar un par de años más y ahora se está preparando para oposiciones.  Una crack y una persona fantástica.  Vaya capacidad de compaginarlo todo. 

From Colombia to Texas to Purdue University and then on to WNBA training camps and Europe, Erika Valek has lead a colorful life for almost forty years.  Erika talks about the ups and downs of her athletic as well as academic journeys, how she overcame obstacles, both mental and physical and what she's up to now.  I love this story and am positive you will, too.  

Desde Vitoria y el País Vasco Itsaso (Mar) Conde viene a Madrid a jugar en su tercer año como deportista profesional en la máxima categoría de baloncesto femenino, la Liga Femenina Endesa.  Juega, estudia para ser profesora y es aficionada de su air fryer, donde dice que las alitas son la mejor receta.  

Kate has been playing basketball for her country since 2003.  Now, at the age of 37 she's entering her third straight season as captain of the Greek national team.  For almost 20 years Kate has been juggling her life as a basketball player, a student, a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister and a friend.  The road hasn't been easy but she has learned an immense amount about herself, she's traveled t...

Una jovencita no tan joven.  A sus 25 años Laura Quevedo ya ha probado lo que es jugar y estudiar en los EEUU, ha ganado una medalla Olímpica en Rio, ha jugado en 7 equipos diferentes de la Liga Femenina Endesa y anoche metió 28 puntos contra ASVEL en el primer partido de EuroCup el la historia del club Movistar Estudiantes. Y lo que le queda. Maja, humilde, trabajadora, sincera, da gusto escuchar...