Another Season in the Books

Just a small town girl from Port Wing, Wisconsin, doing her thing out on the court, getting paid for something she doesn't even view as a job, and she's been doing it for 16 years! Humble, genuine, funny, Jolene Anderson is a great basketball player, person and student.  I had a great time getting to know one of my former Big Ten rivals and learning about her hobbies and interests, for example, Champ, her Toy Poodle. 

A German great, Leonie is young and accomplished.  She's a star on the German National team and there's no doubt in my mind we'll be seeing much more of Leo in the near future, possibly in Paris at the Summer Olympics and maybe even in New York with the Liberty.  Leo has a great attitude, a competitors mentality and a soft spot for coffee and German chocolate.  

Rachel is a 7 year pro out of the University of San Fransisco.  What's the secret sauce to her success?  Easy, professionalism, hard work and R.E.S.P.E.C.T.  In a relaxed and genuine conversation, Rachel shares a little bit about her journey on and off the court, her family, her love for music, croquetas and her home State of California. Enjoy!

De Pamplona y siempre lo será pero durante los últimos 20 años María ha vivido en unos cuantos lugares gracias al baloncesto profesional.  Sigue jugando pero este año se encuentra en su ciudad natal, jugando y siendo protagonista en su nuevo proyecto, Play Your Best.  Ha aprovechado maravillosamente su tiempo como deportista, jugando y estudiando, formándose en el ámbito deportivo. Una de las bases más veteranas de las ligas Españolas, ¡vaya carrera!

Una gozada de conversación con Armantina Santiago Aizpuro.  Inteligente, sabia y sobre todo, con un sentido de humor espléndido. Nacida en los 60, abogada y jugadora profesional de basket en los 80, viajera del mundo, amante de las películas de Almodóvar, amiga de muchos y muchas, una trailblazer if I ever saw one.  A disfrutar de las historias de Manti, que tiene unas cuantas. 

In Madrid, Spain Jaycee Carroll is well known and loved by many.  10 years playing for Real Madrid, ten years being one of the best 3pt shooters in the league and in Europe. He led the ACB (Spain's top Men's league) in scoring for two straight seasons, 2009-2011, he was named the best foreign player by Gigantes magazine, he won the 3pt contest twice and a long etcetera.  His journey to the top is like no other. 40 ppg as a senior in high school and no scholarship offers?  17 years later and he's a 2 time Euroleague Champ with one of the best teams in Europe, Real Madrid, but there's so much more to Jaycee besides basketball.  Enjoy. 

How many Euro League caliber basketball coaches have degrees in agricultural engineering, have created their own scouting software, play the guitar and the drums, write and sing songs in their second language and have homes full of books on psychology, science and physics?  Jota Cuspinera is a unique individual with many passions and talents, however, it's basketball that puts food on his table.  Over three decades of coaching experience and he continues striving for growth and new opportunities. Jota Cuspinera, get to know him. 

Nadia Fingall says she wasn't the most coordinated kid growing up.  She says she was a chunky chunk.  She says she started playing basketball for the friends.  Well, she's come a long way since those early days, so far actually that she's now a Stanford Student Athlete Alum and a current professional athlete.  She's a one of a kind type of person and I have no doubts you'll enjoy listening to her speak.  Enjoy!

She's a post player through and through even though her dad did try to get her to extend her game like her big sister, DeWanna Bonner.  Erica is a beast on the boards and in life.  She's a graduate of Stanford University, has played for 4 different WNBA teams and this year is playing EuroLeague with Perfumerias Avenida in Salamanca, Spain.  Oh, and did I mention she also has her own podcast? Check it out at, Bird's Eye View.  

Perhaps she was a late bloomer, but bloom she did.  From suffering through AAU practices and sticking with it because her mom and coaches pleaded her to do so, to receiving a college scholarship, breaking records, being invited to a WNBA training camp and going pro overseas.  Tinara Moore has faced challenges she never imagined for herself, but in doing so she has been able to lead a life she loves.  Mental and physical care, eating clean, reading and nourishing the soul, Tinara makes use of her down time.  Check out her blog, "The Layer Below" via Substack, find the link in her Instagram bio.