Carly Wilson calls time on glittering career

After making her WNBL debut at the age of 15 in the 1998/99 campaign, University of Canberra co-captain, Carly Wilson announced yesterday morning that she will be retiring from professional basketball at the end of the season. Although still featuring in the UC Capitals starting lineup and playing an important role for the team, Wilson said it was a decision that had developed naturally over time. “The time feels right, and I think it’s one of those things that when you know, you know. I have been playing this amazing sport, in this wonderful league since I was 15 and while I have loved it, it’s time to move on,” she said. “I think knowing the time is right and that I am going out on my own terms makes my retirement a lot easier to deal with. Having said that, I can’t pretend I am not sad about it, and I know I am going to be very emotional at the end of the season.” Wilson said that although she is looking forward to having a break from the game and having more time to herself, moving on to a coaching role at some point in the future feels like a ‘logical step’ for her. When reflecting on such a long and illustrious career, Wilson said it was hard to look past her three WNBL championships as the highlight of her time in basketball, and that she still has ambitions of adding a fourth to that list before the season is finished. She also gave mention to the special moment of winning gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in her hometown, Melbourne. “To win gold in front of a packed Hisense Arena crowd, a lot of which were family, friends or people I knew, was something that still gives me goose bumps when I think about it,” she said. Wilson joined an exclusive club in round 9 when she played her 350^th WNBL game against the Melbourne Boomers. She now sits in seventh position for the most games ever played in the league.   Aaron Palazzo