Super Sami Balancing Basketball & Family Time
Sami Whitcomb racked up plenty frequent flyer points playing for Perth, and she’s earned even more since signing for Townsville. But aeroplanes are far from her favourite mode of transport.
“Yeah I actually hate flying I get sick flying I have to take medicine and I’m really afraid of heights, so flying is like my least favourite thing in the world honestly.”
A confession which makes unrelenting air miles clocked up this season ever more extraordinary. The guard has spent countless hours in the skies travelling for away games or heading west, to be with her wife Kate and two sons, the youngest of which arrived in December.
“Obviously getting back for that was really important and I flew to Perth following some road games. Then flew back to Perth again and had a little bit of an extended time there around Christmas and then I flew back again after our last road trip Melbourne, to spend some time with them for about 48 hours. You know you have to get it in where you can, it’s really crucial to get that quality time, especially when Reef is so young.”
3 year old Nash is hoping his little Brother grows up fast.
“He’s super excited Reef’s here now because for a long time he was just waiting for whatever was in his mum’s belly. But I think he had greater expectation for him to be less of an immobile potato at the early stages. I think he thought Reef was going to come out and be his play mate and best friend straight away so that’s probably been the hardest part for him.”
Flying back and forth across the country has mean missed training sessions and a game against the Lynx late last year but the captain has done all her travelling with the blessing of the club.
“It’s really lovely the club’s let me do that and that my teammates have been so supportive and understanding.”
The WNBL stalwart has used all of her experience adjusting to balancing basketball and being present at home. Sami who’s used to leading on the court, commends Kate’s inspirational role for allowing her to prolong playing the sport she loves.
“The load she takes on is nothing short of heroic, so she’s definitely the head our home.”
A happy household of four for the moment, with no immediate plans to lock in a starting five. An extended Fire family continues to grow though.
“We have really great fans and it’s such a community here and there are so many familiar faces that you see out around town that comes to the games and their support is just really genuine.”
Still searching for her first WNBL championship, Whitcomb would love nothing more than to lift the trophy in front of the orange army come March.