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For third-year Sport and Exercise Science student and Wesley College resident Alexandra Oliver, basketball has taken her far beyond the courts of her hometown. From playing Under 12s in rural NSW to competing in Sydney, and now setting her sights on a future in the WNBL and beyond, Alex’s journey is one shaped as much by the people she has met along the way as by the game itself.
Alex began playing under 12’s basketball in her hometown of Cootamundra and continued playing throughout high school. For her final two years of school, she boarded in Sydney, where she played for both her school and the Sydney Comets. While she relished the competition, it was the friendships and connections she made along the way that gave the game an even deeper meaning.
“Basketball is such a great way to meet new people,” Alexsays. “I’ve definitely enjoyed the social side of the game.”
That combination of sport, education and community has continued at Sydney University, where Alex is now studying Sport and Exercise Science and considering a future in physiotherapy.
Alex began university on an Elite Athlete scholarship, co-funded by the University of Sydney and Wesley College, and has represented the University over the past three years. Her university basketball journey is about to take her even further afield, with the team heading to China in October for a high-octane three-on-three tournament against university teams from around the world.
And there are even bigger opportunities on the horizon. Alex was recently scouted by the Sydney Flames and will join the team as a development player. She is looking forward to stepping onto the WNBL stage, honing her skills and continuing to work towards her ultimate ambition of representing Australia. Seeing basketball as a platform to travel and experience the world, Alex also has her eye on the European leagues and the possibility of pursuing her basketball career overseas.
For Alex, however, success isn't just about what happens on the court. She is grateful for the role Wesley has played in her university experience, throwing herself into College sport and embracing the friendships and camaraderie that come with it. She particularly values the genuine support from the Wesley community – which was especially evident during the recent Rosebowl basketball competition, where Wesley's women secured an impressive second place – with a large and vocal College contingent turning out to cheer them on.
With a busy schedule, having the University of Sydney gym right on her doorstep has made it easier for Alex to balance training with College and university life. She is never far from a basketball court, and regularly incorporates runs around the beautiful Sydney University campus and Blackwattle Bay into her training schedule.
Alex’s advice to incoming Wesley students is simple: take every opportunity.
“College gives you so many great opportunities, and your College mates are always there backing you,” she says.
For aspiring athletes, Alex believes it is equally important to understand that success takes time. The road requires dedication, sacrifice and plenty of patience. “But it’s worth sticking to the path, backing yourself and having faith that it will all work out in the end.”
With China ahead, the WNBL on the horizon and international opportunities in her sights, Alex is certainly putting her best foot forward - and Wesley will be cheering her on every step of the way. We wish Alex and her teammates every success as they prepare for China and all that lies beyond.
