WNBA title comes second for Opals star and new mother Whitcomb

Australian Opals sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb has revealed to Megan Hustwaite how winning the WNBA title last season with the Seattle Storm was only the second-best thing to happen to her in 2020 – as part of the latest episode of the new SBS series, TAB Courtside 1v1.

WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS - episode 6 - with Megan Hustwaite and Sami Whitcomb from 7pm (AEDT) on Thursday, February 11 via , or catch up via .

Whitcomb, a two-time WNBA champion, has recently taken on her greatest title as a mother to son Nash.

The dynamic guard made the incredible decision to leave the WNBA 'Wubble' on the eve of the finals series so she could be with her partner Kate for their son’s birth in November.

With the COVID-19 situation around the world becoming more unpredictable, Whitcomb had to put family first and head back to Australia so she could be on hand to support her partner as they became parents for the first time.
It meant she watched the Storm take out the WNBA title on her own from inside hotel quarantine in Sydney, only days after helping the team reach the championship game.

In the interview set to air on Thursday night’s episode of TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS, Whitcomb admits that it was surreal watching her side take out the title from the other side of the world.

“It was an absolute whirlwind experience. I went from being around my teammates 24 hours a day, living and breathing basketball, and then be on my own stuck in a hotel in Sydney watching them on TV,” she said.
Sami Whitcomb
Australian Basketball star Sami Whitcomb (R) with her partner Kate Source: Supplied
“It was very emotional because while I wanted to be there to support my teammate, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. What made it tougher was I still had another two weeks of quarantine to go in Perth before I could be with Kate and my family.

“Looking back, it has been the fastest nine weeks of my life and it is hard to remember life before Nash was born.

“It has been such a special time for Kate and I getting to know him and adapting to being parents.”

It is another incredible chapter for Whitcomb, who was born in the United States but is now an Australian citizen and has had an incredible career which has spanned all corners of the globe.

While deciding to sit out the WNBL season in Australia, Whitcomb says she is unsure what the next stage of her career will be with family now her top priority.

“At the moment we are just playing it day by day. There are opportunities for me to play in Europe as well as returning to the US for next WNBA season, which would be great but we are not making any big decisions just yet,” she said.

“We very well could just stay in Australia if it is the safest place for Nash to be.

“Having Kate and Nash courtside to see me win another title would be a dream come true so hopefully that is something which can one day happen.”

TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS gives fans a chance to get to know more about the unique personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which help shape basketball in Australia.

Hustwaite, who has been covering all levels of Australian basketball for the past 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly show - every Thursday at 7pm (AEDT) via  - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.

SBS will again broadcast multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season will be LIVE, FREE and in HD via SBS On Demand, with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
 


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Watch the best from the NBA and WNBA all in one place at SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service of basketball on SBS. Read more about Courtside
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4 min read
Published 10 February 2021 2:39pm
By Nick Houghton


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