Feature image via: Eric Paul Goldie
After splitting time between the NBL1’s Braves and the WNBL’s Spirit for multiple seasons, NBL1 MVP, Megan McKay, has rediscovered her off-court balance this offseason.
Previously working part-time, she now works full-time in agricultural sales and services after not being signed by a WNBL team this season. She said she didn’t realise she needed a break, physically and mentally – despite being one of the most physical players across the two competitions.
“I’m really enjoying it, just spending weekends now just being a normal, regular person. A non-athletic, regular person,” McKay joked.
“At first it was kind of hard because it's a bit of like a full identity change. I’ve always been a basketballer, so for the first six months of my life, I've not been a basketballer for a little bit. But I’m really enjoying having a break and having weekends again.”
With her NBL1 South season starting in April, McKay has been able to exercise and train in ways she was never able to. Having over four practices a week in the WNBL, she now can diversify her extracurricular activities and enjoy playing with her friends in other sports.
She’s taken up playing tennis, social netball and other activities she wouldn’t be able to, given the risk of injury, explaining that it has been beneficial for her mental health to do something other than basketball.
“I think it's been really nice, being able to choose what exercises I would like to do, that's been really fun,” she said.
“Non-professional athletes can take that for granted sometimes.”
It will be hard to top what McKay achieved last season, claiming the NBL1 South MVP, being named to the Conference All-Star Five, the Conference Championship, the NBL1 National Championship, being named to the National Finals All-Star Five and the Championship Game MVP.
Megan McKay had a HISTORIC performance in the #NBL1 Championship Game ?
4??6?? points, 1??5?? rebounds and shot 79% from the field to finish Bendigo’s undefeated season ? pic.twitter.com/lAQ8HUBlm4
After conquering the nation in Joondalup, Western Australia, McKay decided to stay in Perth to visit her family – who live in the small regional town of Katanning.
Related: Making Bendigo Home
Instead of being showered with champagne and possibly having a well-deserved sleep-in, she was back out on the farm mouthing sheep (counting how many teeth a sheep has to determine its age).
“I went home with Mum and Dad the next day, went for a swim at the beach and that afternoon Dad had me mouthing sheep,” she said.
“So I was just back to life as normal, really.”
All of her awards are currently sitting at Red Energy Arena, where McKay said it was special to be able to reward the club and place she now calls home.
“The Braves are really special, they’ve done a lot for us,” she said.
“It’s not only a unique playing group and coaching staff we've got, but it's such a great community and such a great club to be a part of. [To bring the two titles home] that was awesome, that was really, really special.”
Despite all her success this season, McKay explained her favourite moment was cheering from the sidelines for Bendigo’s Big V Youth League team, who beat Keilor in the Grand Final.
“After we won the NBL1 South championship, we all cut our celebrations short so we could get on the team bus and make it to Keilor and help cheer them over the line,” she said.
“It was absolutely the most ‘Club’ moment, that was exactly what being a Brave is all about.”
Personally, McKay also had a special recognition, with a student from Spring Gully Primary School dressing up as the Bendigo superstar for Bookweek.
McKay explained she never would have imagined anyone deciding to dress up as her, stating it was one of the most special moments of her career.
“I saw it via social media and I thought, oh my gosh, when does this ever happen?” she said.
“It was just the coolest thing. And then I was lucky enough that her little primary school let me come in and surprise her and her class the week later.
“So it was great. It was really, really special. Talking about special moments in that season, that is definitely one of them for sure…something you never forget. It was incredible.”
The NBL1 season starts on March 23, see the full fixture here. Stay up-to-date with all the latest NBL1 signings via the 2024 Roster Tracker here.
