WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS - episode 11 - with Megan Hustwaite and Alanna Smith - from 7pm (AEDT) on Thursday, March 18 via , or catch up via .
The WNBA first-round draft pick and Opals team member is one of Australian basketball’s brightest upcoming stars.
A standout at United States powerhouse college Stanford, Smith has come on in leaps and bounds since draft day and is now an important role player in a talented Phoenix Mercury side.
Smith helped Phoenix to a fifth-placed finish in the regular season before progressing to the second round of the playoffs where they suffered a one-point loss to Minnesota.
The 24-year-old said playing in the condensed 2020 WNBA season was a unique experience with the entire season held over ten weeks at the IMG Academy in Florida, with all players living, training and playing inside the facility dubbed the WNBA ‘Wubble’.
In the interview set to air on Thursday night’s episode of TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS at 7pm (AEDT) via SBS Sport's Facebook page, Smith spoke of her experiences playing in the WNBA 'Wubble' and the challenges faced by players throughout the unique season.
“It was incredible how the season was organised as it allowed us to play safely and get through the season despite the situation which was going on around the world,” Smith said.
“However, from a player's point of view, it was really tough. When you are condensing a season like that and you’re playing game after game and you don’t have much of a break or a life outside of basketball, it really begins to take a toll on your mental health.
“All we did was train and go back to our rooms so we were kind of stuck on a high school campus with nothing to do for weeks on end.
“For me, I’m the sort of player who needs a balance in my life so I really struggled with that.”
Smith, who also battled with injury throughout the 2020 WNBA season, said it wasn’t just boredom that had players struggling.
However, she revealed there was a silver lining to all the challenges faced by players.
“The workload and playing so many games, as well as the training requirements, was a major issue for a number of players across the league,” she said.
“It was tough but we all got through it and I think it brought everyone together, not just teams but the whole league. Everyone sort of came together and really united as one.
“You could see that with all the social justice movements which were put on display by the players and how it was backed by everyone. That was something really special to be a part of.”
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In the full interview with host Megan Hustwaite, Smith talks about the Tokyo Olympics, her WNBA draft experience and growing up in a family of professional basketball players.
The interview is part of an SBS series - TAB Courtside 1v1, which 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.
