May 12, 2025

Year 4: Greece

A season full of so much. There were a lot of ups and only a few downs - but so much growth and love through it all. From living in a beautiful country with great people to building relationship with friends turned family - I am beyond grateful 🥹. Here is a summary of my 4th year overseas….let’s get into it!

Hoops…⛹🏾‍♀️

This season I played in 2 leagues: Euroleague and the Greek A1 League.

Euroleague consists of the best teams from across Europe. We played teams from Turkey, Hungary, France, and Czech Republic. The competition was top notch, and, despite not getting the results we wanted, it was a solid experience. If you weren’t able to catch a game, here are some highlights🎥:

As you can guess, the Greek A1 league is the domestic league, consisting of 11 teams from across the country. The thing I loved about the Greek league was that 6 of the 11 teams are located in Athens, so most of the “away” games I still got to sleep in my own bed. Less travel is great on the body and mind for such a long season🙌🏾.

This was the 100th Year Anniversary for the Olympiacos club, so at the start of the season we had 2 goals: 1) Win the Greek Cup and 2) Win the Greek League

Throughout the season the Greek Cup (the equivalent of the Commissioner’s Cup in the WNBA and the NBA In-Season Tournament) consisted of knock-out games until there were 4 teams left. 3 out of the 4 teams were from Athens, but the Final 4 had to be played at a neutral site, so the last two games were played on the island of Crete😍. The Cup experience was so much fun, winning the semi-final on a buzzer beater against our rivals - then, winning the Championship🏆.

First goal of the season: accomplished✔️

After the high of winning the Cup, all sights were focused on winning the Greek Championship. Every season, once March and April hit there are many factors that come into play. Most players are tired mentally and physically from the arduous 8-9 month season. There are ailments and injuries, and honestly, people are just ready to go home at that point😂.

However, we all understood that the one thing that makes the rollercoaster season worth it is finishing with some hardware. We finished at the top of the league for the regular season, so we had home court advantage for the playoffs. Our goal: Finish #1.

We swept the #4 team in the semi-finals 2-0. The Finals were a first to 3 wins series. We ended up losing the first game at home, which was a reality check. But, we ended up winning the next 3 in dramatic fashion😂 #IYKYK

Second goal of the season: accomplished✔️

I am so proud of my teammates for the heart and fight we showed. We started the season as 12 great players, but we finished it as 1 team holding up the trophy.

After the season was over, representatives of the teams - in combination with the results at the end of the year - voted on the season awards for the league.

🔒DPOTY🔒 I take so much pride in my defense, so this one hits different🥹🙏🏾

Community…🫶🏾

At the beginning of the season, I couldn’t help but notice how many young girls came out to support our games. Their energy and wide eyes reminded me of why we play. Early on, a teammate and I had the chance to attend one of their games, and the way they lit up when we walked into the gym was unforgettable.

In December, I felt the Lord telling me to give back to the community in a more intentional way. When I saw that International Women’s Day fell on March 8th, and we had a home game scheduled for the 9th, the idea clicked. With support from our organization and some amazing friends, I was able to bring a vision to life—a celebration to honor the girls and women who inspire, lead, and shape our world every day.

The event began with young girls watching our team practice, giving them a front-row seat to the effort, intensity, and passion it takes to play at the highest level in Greece. The first 20 girls to arrive received free tickets to our game the following day. After practice, my teammates and I hosted a 2-hour skills clinic featuring different stations where the girls could learn, compete, and just have fun. We had prizes, food, and plenty of opportunities for autographs and photos.

The joy in the gym was contagious. Parents were cheering, kids were laughing, and it felt like the entire community came together in celebration.

International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that every single day, women deserve to be seen, celebrated, and supported. That day, in that gym, we were surrounded by future leaders, game-changers, and trailblazers—girls who will one day make a lasting impact in their own unique ways.

Here’s a look back at the unforgettable event 😊:

It was an honor to organize such a meaningful event. I’m incredibly grateful to my teammates, our club, our partners, and the community who made it all possible. This celebration was a testament to what we can achieve when we unite around purpose, progress, and the belief that when women rise, we all rise.

The Food…🥲

Y’all know i’m a foodie, so Greece is a place i’ve always loved because the Mediterranean cuisine is just *chef’s kiss🤌🏾

First thing I did when I landed in September was find some feta cheese and a glass of wine. I had been dreaming about it ever since I had a real Greek Salad in Greece years ago.

Greek Salad🥗 You can really taste the freshness of the vegetables and olive oil. My go to meal any day.

Greece’s food scene did NOT disappoint. Honestly, I could make a whole post about the food since my camera roll is mostly photos of my plates, but I will spare yall😂. Spending 9 months in Athens, I found local spots and hidden gems that I went to constantly. The hospitality was great and the people were very warm and welcoming pretty much every place I went. Now, at the more touristy places the prices are higher (to be expected), but for the most part the cost of living and food is very reasonable.

If you’re ever in Athens, hit up Vosporos in Mikrolimano and ask for Giorgos…you’re welcome😉.

Learning Greek…🤓

Learning another language as an adult is a fun challenge, especially if you live in the culture because you’re hearing it every day and trying to use it. I also find that when people see you put forth an effort to speak their language, they meet you halfway and it opens a door of connection.

Y’all remember how difficult the language barrier was last season in Latvia? Greek isn’t THAT rough, but it isn’t simple. Since a good portion of the Bible was written in Greek I figured it would be cool to try to learn some of the language. I signed up for lessons and did pretty well at picking up on words, phrases, and patterns. I’m no where near fluent, but I could have a small conversation with someone and understand the basics. Plus, my teammates were great teachers and helped me a lot through the process🤗.

If you want to take language lessons for a reasonable price try Preply. I really like the platform and it’s a flexible, easy way to learn a language with a personal tutor.

The Greek Alphabet: It took me a month to learn, but the first time I could read a road sign I was too hype😝

My People…🥰

Can’t forget the highlights of my time in Greece!

A big plus about playing in a vacation destination is it’s the perfect place for people to come and visit❤️. There’s something for everyone in Athens - the weather and the food are hard to beat.

During the first half of the season my sister came out to visit. Out of the 7 countries i’ve played in she has come to 4 (some she came to twice🥹). It’s not easy being so far from home for 8-9 months at a time, but I am so grateful my sister is always there for me no matter how far away I am🤞🏾.

My sister🥰 Her visits have got me through some rough seasons. We always have the best time🤩.

The second half of the season was a whirlwind! My tribe all came out to visit and take a vacay😎🏖️. The month of March was so much fun!

My Tribe🫶🏾: My parents, my second parents, Kacey, and (not so little) Ky. We took a day trip to Meteora😍

Anthony and I have been locked in for 20 years🤯 and still counting. Neighbor 👉🏾 Family 4L

Mariota has been a part of my journey since 2016. I’m glad she got to come out and visit🤗

In Conclusion…📖

I absolutely loved my time in Greece! A huge thank you to the Olympiacos organization for the opportunity to represent a historic club for its 100th Year anniversary. Winning both the Cup and the Championship, I know this season will go down in the history books. To my teammates, I love you all so much and I am grateful to have been able to play alongside you all❤️. Hopefully, I will be able to return to Greece sometime in the future, but until then, I leave with a full heart and the satisfaction of a successful season🙏🏾.

A big summer is loading, and all I see are growth and opportunity coming soon!

If you made it this far, thanks for reading and joining me on my journey🫶🏽.

Γειά σας! 🇬🇷