There is more to success than just physical skills

By Team CoachList

Born and raised on the southside of Chicago, my mom made sure to expose me to different experiences when growing up, including taking part in ballet, jazz, gymnastics, and other extracurricular activities. However, it was basketball that quickly became my true love.

I knew instinctively that basketball was going to be a big part of my life. Unfortunately, in high school, I didn’t have many opportunities for camps and clinics. And if I did, it was mostly with the boys, roughly 15 of which also aspired to play in college. What’s more, there also wasn’t much mentorship available to us since there was only one coach. That setup proved to be pretty overbearing, so there was no one to talk with or walk me through each step, especially as a young woman.

Following two seasons at the University of Kentucky, I chose to be a walk-on at Ohio State, even though I know I could have attended other schools where scholarships were available.

In the end, I had to earn my spot on the OSU roster. I did it, and had my best season as a senior, helping to lead the Buckeyes to the Big Ten Tournament title.

During my career, I’ve had the honor to play on seven USA Basketball teams and multiple seasons for my hometown WNBA team, the Chicago Sky, as well as continuing to play the 3×3 circuit today as part of the independently-owned Force 10 3×3 division.

Looking back, I’m glad I took the route I did at Ohio State. Because of my first-hand experiences, I know what it’s like to go un-drafted. I know what it’s like to be told ‘no,’ then get invited to training camp and still not make a roster. I know what it takes to get a full ride to college, as well as take out student loans.

And I know the feeling of failure, success, transferring schools, traveling abroad, launching a non-profit organization, staring a coaching business, and I now get to bring that knowledge to each young athlete I work with at CoachList.

Of course, aspiring professional athletes need to master the physical skills required for success, but I know too well how important it is for them to also know about financial literacy, strategic planning, marketing, branding and the other pieces that make up a successful journey in to the world of sports.

This is why my focus is not just on what happens on court, it is also about mentorship and advising athletes and families on how to best help their children grow and expand within their sport.

Here, I can be hired to help with everything from the physical to the mental to the financial as we work to build the foundation for success in basketball and in life.