Yes. It was in the Pride League in NYC in Fall of 2021. I remember feeling intimidated at first because I didn’t know anyone, was new to being in community with other LGBTQ people, and hadn’t played competitive basketball for a couple of years. It was actually a tough first game. I was quite rusty on the court, and felt a bit like an outsider socially because everyone seemed to know each other well. But I’m glad I stuck with it because as time went on I felt more and more comfortable, met so many awesome people, and dusted much of the rust off!

Los Angeles in March 2024. I had such a blast and we had so many great moments of laughter and bonding. One that stands out is when we checked into our air BnB, it became evident that there weren’t enough rooms for everyone. I was the last to arrive, so I got last pick… and we ended up having to move a random mattress into the middle of the living room for me… and that was my room. At first I was a little bummed, but it actually ended up being a blessing in disguise and even more fun than having my own room, because I was in the central gathering location. I didn’t know a lot of my teammates going into the tournament, but that setup allowed me to get to know everyone very quickly! It was also a source of comedic relief throughout the weekend. Anytime someone would walk into the living room, I’d welcome them to my “bedroom” and we’d have a good little chuckle.

I must eat Sour Patch Kids before every game.

Dawn Staley. Diana Taurasi. Sue Bird. Candace Parker. Sydney Colson.

I can’t say enough about out how positively it’s impacted my life. It’s become my main mode for making friends, socializing, feeling connected to my queerness, and dating (lol).