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American-born Australian Kelsey Michelle Griffin has made quite a name for herself in basketball.
Griffin was a star for Nebraska Cornhuskers during her college career in the United States and had plenty of moments to shine in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) with Bendigo Spirits in Australia.
The 30-year-old forward also had a stint with Connecticut Sun in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), which didn’t quite work out the way she had hoped. However, it was her decision to move to Bendigo midway through the 2012-13 WNBL season that reignited the passion for the game.
“I came to Australia six years ago and upon being there for two days. I realised this feels more like home than anywhere else I have ever been. That really started my transition to becoming an Australian citizen. At that time I was not serious but longer I stayed and played in Australia, the more I got to know the people and the culture. The more I was like, this is where I am meant to be,” Griffin said.
The Spirits’ four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Griffin finally got her due when she was called into the national side for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
“It’s such an amazing honour to put on the green and gold jersey and represent them in basketball,” she said.
Griffin has been a revelation for the Opals in the tournament. So far, she contributed a solid 15 points in their opening win over South Korea and produced a fine show in Monday’s victory over Philippines.
On Tuesday, up against the defending champions Japan. Griffin emerged Australia’s second highest scorer with 16 points and provided four assists in their nail-biting 83-74 win.
“I am really excited about the team’s win. Everyone came in and contributed. We had a ton of energy and we made several in-game adjustments. But credit to Japan, they played really well. Especially No 1 (Fujioka Manami), she dominated the second half. Japan will definitely be there in the end. You can tell they are a great team. They play to each others’ strengths,” Griffin explained.
The shift to Australia also helped Griffin meet her life partner Erin, a national-level volleyball player. “I met her after I went to Australia. We started dating two weeks before I had to return to USA to play in WNBA. It was very complicated. Should I return and should I stay? I ended up staying. I’m so happy that I did,” she recalled.
The couple got married in Griffin’s native State in Alaska in the US.
Griffin was a star for Nebraska Cornhuskers during her college career in the United States and had plenty of moments to shine in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) with Bendigo Spirits in Australia.
The 30-year-old forward also had a stint with Connecticut Sun in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), which didn’t quite work out the way she had hoped. However, it was her decision to move to Bendigo midway through the 2012-13 WNBL season that reignited the passion for the game.
“I came to Australia six years ago and upon being there for two days. I realised this feels more like home than anywhere else I have ever been. That really started my transition to becoming an Australian citizen. At that time I was not serious but longer I stayed and played in Australia, the more I got to know the people and the culture. The more I was like, this is where I am meant to be,” Griffin said.
The Spirits’ four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Griffin finally got her due when she was called into the national side for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
“It’s such an amazing honour to put on the green and gold jersey and represent them in basketball,” she said.
Griffin has been a revelation for the Opals in the tournament. So far, she contributed a solid 15 points in their opening win over South Korea and produced a fine show in Monday’s victory over Philippines.
On Tuesday, up against the defending champions Japan. Griffin emerged Australia’s second highest scorer with 16 points and provided four assists in their nail-biting 83-74 win.
“I am really excited about the team’s win. Everyone came in and contributed. We had a ton of energy and we made several in-game adjustments. But credit to Japan, they played really well. Especially No 1 (Fujioka Manami), she dominated the second half. Japan will definitely be there in the end. You can tell they are a great team. They play to each others’ strengths,” Griffin explained.
The shift to Australia also helped Griffin meet her life partner Erin, a national-level volleyball player. “I met her after I went to Australia. We started dating two weeks before I had to return to USA to play in WNBA. It was very complicated. Should I return and should I stay? I ended up staying. I’m so happy that I did,” she recalled.
The couple got married in Griffin’s native State in Alaska in the US.
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(Published 25 July 2017, 19:11 IST)
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