SEATTLE — Seattle Storm guard Sami Whitcomb has been playing basketball competitively for over 30 years. Born in southern California, Whitcomb made her first stop in the Seattle area when she enrolled at the University of Washington in 2006.
"My college experience is all about perseverance and just getting better. That was kind of pre the (transfer) portal and everybody transferring and stuff. So you know, I went through coaching changes and a lot of just transfers from that. And you know, you kind of just had to get it out and stick through it. And I think that just really taught me to just get in the gym every day, focus on myself, try and get better, be the best version of myself," Whitcomb told KING 5's Chris Egan in an exclusive interview.
After UW, Whitcomb played professionally in Switzerland, Germany and finally, Australia.
"I wanted to go. I wanted to experience Australia. I thought if I could play basketball there like why not? I went and instantly, you know, loved the culture, loved the people," Whitcomb said.
After several years of playing down under, Whitcomb was naturalized as a citizen of Australia.
"Amongst all of that, I fell in love. I met my wife. So there was a lot of just sort of beautiful pieces that fell together that really made it feel like it was fate for me to go to show you in the first place and now I'm a citizen and I've represented Australia, had a couple of World Championships. So yeah, it's been incredible," Whitcomb said.
While Whitcomb feels pride in playing for the Storm, it is a uniquely special experience for her to don the Australian uniform on the court.
"I mean, it's just different. It's where I discovered myself. I made a real life there. My children, my two boys now I have a wife," Whitcomb explained. "Like I said it's home. Now for me. So where we spend our off seasons, and the sisterhood of flying on that team like it makes me emotional just talking about (it). I love those women. I love playing with them. I have a lot of joy thinking about it."
Playing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) with Seattle has brought her two championships and plenty of joy. However, she is now living out her ultimate wish to represent Australia in the Olympic Games.
"I think the Olympics is just it's a dream I've had since I was a kid and it's one that honestly I just was probably the last one that I thought, like, oh, that's probably the one I won't get," Whitcomb said. "So I think to be almost 36 to get to achieve something that you worked your whole life for at that age when most people are would be saying your career's over and all those things I think is really special really, really special."
Whitcomb and the Australian team lost in its Olympics opener and will be back on the court against Canada on Thursday.