Jade Melbourne Settled in Seattle
A new country, a new team, a new side of the road to learn to drive on; Jade Melbourne is adjusting well to life in Seattle.
“I’ve been here for about a week now and I’m loving it,” Jade said.
“The city is super nice and all the girls are really cool and all the coaches have been super welcoming. It’s been easy for me having Ezi [Magbegor] and Sami [Whitcomb] here. We’ve been going to training camp for three days and it’s been super tough.”
A few days to visit the sites, including Climate Pledge Arena and Pike Place Public Market with the “slimy fish” and it was straight into an intensive training camp as the squad gets set to be narrowed from 16 down to 12.
The team starts the day with a 40-minute weights session, followed by 20 minutes on court to go through concepts of learning. From there it’s into practice which can go from anywhere between two, two and a half or three hours every day.
“It’s a bit of a different style over here, so you have to learn a lot on the fly and you have to kind of mature quickly but it’s been really great.
“In three days of training camp, I can already see my game taking steps towards getting to another level.”
The UC Capital reflected on her decision to delay going over, saying she was grateful to able to get another NBL1 and WNBL season under her belt, before joining the Storm.
“The growth in my game from the start of the season to the end is really what led me to making the decision and then since being over here, it’s confirmed that I made the right decision to delay it,” the 20-year-old said.
“I think I wouldn’t have been ready at this time last year for the pace and the physicality of this game, the IQ that they play with them. I’m definitely certain I made the right decision this year and I’m super happy with how I’m going and competing.”
The guard will get her first real shot at how she stacks up against other teams, with two pre-season games coming up against Phoenix Mercury, and the LA Sparks with Rae Burrell.
“I think soon after the final roster will officially be set. So hopefully I’m still here and then on the 20th of May will be our first game. Once the season starts it’s like 40 games or something in a short amount of time.”