WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite weekly on Thursday from 7pm (AEDT) via SBS Sport Facebook, or catch up via SBS On Demand, or at the top of this article.
Whitcomb, a two-time WNBA winner with the Seattle storm and member of Australia’s silver medal-winning side from the FIBA World Cup in 2017, became an Aussie citizen in 2018, five years after first touching down in Perth to take up a deal playing state league basketball in Western Australia.
The 2013 move proved to be life-changing for the California native whose incredible performances with the Rockingham flames led her to the WNBA, but also to her future wife Kate who gave birth to their first child Nash in November
However, it all could’ve been very different for the 32-year-old, who explained she never would have come to Australia in the first place if it wasn’t for one incredible set of circumstances.
“I was playing basketball in Germany and the club went bankrupt leaving me without a team in the middle of the season,” Whitcomb said.
“The state league and European seasons don’t line up so coming to play in Australia was never an option.
“However, it just happened that one of Rockingham’s imports had to drop out which opened up a roster spot for me and a chance to play in Australia.
“It’s such a crazy thing when you look back on it and how unlikely it was for everything to fall the way it did.”
It didn’t take long for Whitcomb to find herself at home in her new city of Perth as well as with her state league side Rockingham.
Although not an instant success, Whitcomb says her time playing state league basketball was the perfect platform to fine-tune her game before earning a move to the WNBL and then to the WNBA.
“It took me three years playing with Rockingham before I received any interest from the WNBL,” she said.
“I think that time was so valuable because it meant when I did finally get my shot, I was ready to make the most of it.
“I was really hungry and had a chip on my shoulder which I think ultimately paid off."
It also led her to her wife Kate and the decision to call Australia home.
“Meeting Kate made me realise that I want to stick around and while at the time I wasn’t getting selected in the WNBL, the fact she was here with me made it easier to stay,” Whitcomb said.
“Australia is home for me now and the things that I feel living here is something I didn’t necessarily feel anywhere in America.
Australian Basketball star Sami Whitcomb (R) with her partner Kate Source: Supplied
“It’s not a surprise I fell in love with someone from here because I did fall in love with Australia as well.
“It is pretty special the way it has all worked out and it has meant I have even been able to represent this country on the court as well.”
The interview was the latest as part of the new SBS series, TAB Courtside 1v1, hosted by Megan Hustwaite, giving 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) - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.
WATCH the next episode of TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite on Thursday, February 18 at 7pm (AEDT) via , or catch up via .
Whitcomb discussed numerous topics with Hustwaite, including the following:
0:42 - Being a new mum
1:23 - The whirlwind of the 'Wubble', COVID-19 and returning to Australian to be with wife Kate in time for the birth of son Nash
3:20 - Watching Seattle win the championship from hotel quarantine in Sydney
4:28 - Reflecting on being a 2x WNBA championship player with Seattle Storm
5:35 - Came to Australia to play State League and it changed her life
6:02 - Gaining an Aussie sister in Ezi Magbegor at Seattle
7:36 - Sliding doors moment led her to Australia
9:07 - Took 3 years to get a contract in the WNBL
9:38 - Form in the WNBL attracted WNBA interest
10:00 - Met her partner Kate while playing State League
10:39 - What it means to now be an Australian citizen and represent the Opals
14:27 - Heading to the US for the upcoming WNBA season
15:53 - Opting out of the WNBL season but watching every game
16:45 - Plans for next Australian summer - would love to play WNBL again.
19:00 - Preparing for Tokyo, FIBA rules around the eligibility of naturalised players
SBS is broadcasting multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the 2020-21 NBL season is LIVE, FREE and in HD via , with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
