How family roots inspire Nyadiew Puoch

As she begins a new basketball chapter, Nyadiew Puoch will always be grounded by her family experiences growing up and the support they’ve had for each other. It’s what inspires her to inspire them.

Imagine.

You’re one of seven children, raised by a single mum, the oldest girl, and you just want to keep up with your older brothers. You follow them to the basketball courts after school and ask if you can play, only to be told, ‘No, you can’t play against us boys.’ When they did let you play, they would knock you down to the ground time and again and remind you why you wouldn’t be playing with them again.

But you never let that stop you. You keep getting up. You keep competing. As your basketball journey progresses, no matter what setbacks you face along the way, you keep your head up, always looking forward and learning from each experience. You chase your dreams. Now, at just 20 years of age, you’ve just started your third professional season in one of the toughest leagues in the world in preparation for your rookie season in the WNBA next year.

You are Nyadiew Puoch, and you are the future of Australian basketball.

But none of this happens without your family. It doesn’t happen without being constantly challenged and pushed, but also supported by those same siblings. It doesn’t happen, without being grounded and raised in a home of love and respect by your mother.

None of this happens.

Puoch, speaking to The Pick and Roll from Canberra last Friday on the eve of her first game with the UC Capitals, knows how much her family has helped to shape her character.