Fieldo reaches 350 but giving back to Slammers the focus

Image credit: @jlgphotographics

Kate Fielding's return to South West Slammers was all about giving back to a club that is so close to her heart but it's already provided her a career highlight and she's deservedly proud to reach 350 NBL1 West games.

While it's a nice bonus for Fielding to return to playing with the Slammers this season for the first time since 2019 and briefly in the West Coast Classic of 2020 to reach the 350-game milestone, it's about much more than that for her.

Having grown up in the area, playing for the Slammers means the world to her and she made her SBL debut in 2001 as a 16-year-old along with twin sister Emily, it was with an eye to coaching and helping the club recreate a winning culture that drew her back in.

Since she did stop playing at the NBL1 level five years ago, Fielding has remained active playing football firstly at South Bunbury and more recently Busselton, but basketball has always been the sport that's had her heart.

Then seeing the Slammers struggles of recent years including coming into the 2025 season on a 52-game losing streak, she wanted to help.

Initially that was to be an assistant coach to new head coach Mark Edman, but then they both soon realised she could comfortably be a playing-coach and now here she is.

She is about to become the 15th player in league history on the women's side to reach 350 games and she already at 274 appearances has played the most games for the Slammers women.

However, the return in 2025 has already been worth it for that season-opening win against the Eastern Suns at Eaton Recreation Centre to break a three-year drought for the Slammers.

"It was seriously one of my most favourite sporting moments," Fielding said.

"I know it may seem silly to some, but knowing what this club, this young group of players, our sponsors and fans, have gone through, it just meant everything to so many people.

"I was on the bench at the end of the game, and I just remember looking down the bench at the young girls who have been part of the program for several years, and the excitement and happiness was so real.

"I actually got a bit emotional, and to be part of that, I just feel so grateful and blessed. I am so confident this group will achieve more than that this season and beyond.

"Edo has put together an unreal team that I think people are still underestimating while we continue to find our feet and mould on the court," she added.

"We’re taking it one game at a time, and are realistic about where we’re at, and the work we have to do. I would have to say it’s one of the more exciting playing groups I’ve been a part of in all my years at the Slammers, so watch this space!"

Coming back in 2025

Fielding had thought that her playing days at an SBL level was done but she knew that her contributions to the Slammers weren’t over whether playing, coaching or whatever capacity possible.

She has a coach written all over too so it was only a natural that she did initially agree to return in a coaching capacity in 2025, but the pull was still there to play and physically there was no reason not to.

And at just 38 years of age, she is well short of the games record holder Casey Mihovilovich who she will resume hostilities with on Thursday night when the Slammers play the Mandurah Magic in Fielding's 349th game.

"What brought me back to basketball was the intent of coaching and giving back to a club where it all began for me," Fielding said.

"I had my fun with AFL, but knew I’d always go back to basketball eventually – it was my first love after all! What brought me back to the court lol, well the main pull back was a belief that I had something to offer this young group on the court.

"I would happily take my seat next to Edo if I thought I wasn’t doing what was best for this group of amazing young women. I am also excited about what the team can achieve this year and I’m loving playing with all the girls – they’re all truly amazing human beings.

"I started just filling in at a couple trainings when needed, and Edo and a few of the girls were like ‘you can still play’. I shut it down pretty quick, especially knowing some of the players now playing the league, but the group and itch to play again slowly chipped away at me haha."

Reaching 350-game milestone

Fielding is out in front now at 274 games having played more games with the Slammers than any other female player and now joins a select group of getting to 350 all up in the league when South West hosts the Perry Lakes Hawks on Saturday evening.

Fielding will join Mihovilovich (577), Sue Williams (512), Nicole Jorre de St Jorre (479), Shelly Boston (421), Tracey Richter (409), Elizabeth Cooke (405), Tanya Kelly (402), Brooke Hiddlestone (388), Rachel Halleen (385), Jodee Sontay (378), Emma Berryman (371), Tegan Walker (370), Tarsha Fletcher (360) and Kaye Tucker (350) in reaching the milestone.

She has done battle with every single one of those women and getting to 350 games is rightfully something she's proud of.

"It’s pretty special, and not something I really thought I would achieve. I feel really lucky and proud that I’m in a position to be able to do it, especially with the club I started out with and spent the majority of my basketball with," Fielding said.

"You don’t really play team sport, I think, to get individual milestones, but when you reach them, it makes you sit back and reflect and have an appreciation of what you’ve achieved and the amazing experiences you’ve had.

"I feel honoured to join the incredible women who have reached 350 games before me. The fact that I’ve played against all of them is wild, but how cool!"

Being Slammers games record holder

As proud as Fielding rightfully is getting to 350 games overall in her career having also played two seasons at the East Perth Eagles and one at the Cockburn Cougars while living in Perth, having the Slammers record to herself might even trump it.

"That’s a stat I’m really proud of. Being able to play so many games at the club where it all started, where I was given my first opportunity, where I was first made to feel like I could play basketball at a decent level, is unreal," Fielding said.

"While I’ve played with some amazing clubs in Perth and wouldn’t change a thing when it comes to by NBL1/SBL ‘career’, my heart and my roots have always been with Slammers.

"Obviously, we haven’t had the success we would have liked, but we’ve battled hard, had our own successes along the way and built so much resilience. I am confident good things are coming for this club – they deserve it!"

Slammers is where the heart is

While Fielding is proud of what she has achieved all over in her basketball career including playing in the WNBL, representing the New Zealand Tall Ferns and everything in between, to finish and start her career at her hometown Slammers is something that is special.

"It’s unreal, and not something I thought was possible. I thought I was done. I’m loving every second, and I think a lot of that is down to perspective," Fielding said.

"It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to play at my age, and I’m just taking every game and opportunity as it comes.

"The fact that I get to do it at Slammers is just so special – I can’t explain what it was like that first game back in the Slammers uniform, I kind of looked at myself in the mirror and just chuckled, but had an immense sense of pride."

Looking back on overall career

Most players will always say that they won't be ready to reflect on what they have achieved in their careers until they have stopped playing and Fielding is still in that mindset.

However, what she is most proud of that she has always made sure she has made the most of the good times, has fought through the challenging ones, and now come out the other side having achieved a tremendous amount but more importantly made endless lifelong friends.

"It’s too big to reflect on it all. Especially while I’m still in it, but maybe I’ll be able to truly reflect one day – maybe through a book or something haha," Fielding said.

"Sport has been such an important part of my life. It’s given me so much and taught me valuable life lessons which have me made the kind of person I am away from sport. Probably most importantly, it’s given me the most amazing relationships with everyone I’ve met along the way.

"From my best mates who stood beside me on my wedding day to friends all across the world. While I’ve definitely had some tough challenges, I’ve also worked really hard and the highs far outweigh the lows.

"I’m pretty proud of what I’ve been able to achieve, even getting to have a crack at footy, which wasn’t an option for me when I was a kid. Like coming back to basketball, footy is probably something I thought I’d never get a chance to do, but I’m pretty happy I got to on some level."

A natural coach in the making

It wouldn’t take anyone long to be around Fielding to know that she is a natural coach of the future with the possibility to do that at as high of a level as she is willing to pursue.

She's already done some coaching though the Slammers juniors program, is now an assistant coach on the current team and she is more than open to the prospect to fully embracing coaching when she does end up stopping playing.

"I love coaching, so absolutely, I think it’s definitely a goal of mine. I still think I have a lot to learn, and I want to make sure I can be the best coach I can be before taking that role – I think that’s important for the young women or kids you’re coaching," Fielding said.

"I would want to make sure they are getting what they deserve. For the moment, I’m loving the leadership role I have and being able to offer whatever I can in whatever capacity that looks like.

"Some of the young women in our team now, were running around the courts as toddlers when I was playing back in the day, and I played with their parents – that’s pretty wild.

"They’re all such great humans and I feel blown away when they ask me for advice or you can tell they’re actually listening and respecting what you have to say. It’s pretty cool."

The family connection

Having a twin sister means that Kate will also have that special bond with Emily, who has had her own standout basketball career including 295 games herself in the SBL/NBL1 West with the Slammers, Eastern Suns, Warwick (then Stirling) Senators and Lakeside Lightning.

She is now living in Melbourne so her return to get to the 300-game milestone does look unlikely, but Kate will also be grateful to share so much with her twin sister and also their brother Nat who played 50 games himself at the Slammers between 2002 and 2009.

"Never say never haha she’s pretty fit at the moment. I’m one of the luckiest people alive to have been able to share this journey with Em," Fielding said.

"We started at Slammers together and having each other in those early days definitely made it a bit easier. We obviously played a lot of State basketball together too, and then when we got to play WNBL together and we were living in Perth together, those are some of our most favourite memories.

"It’s funny that when we both went to Perth we didn’t play in the same teams up there, but it was even funnier playing against each other. We confused quite a few people, especially imports that came in and didn’t know we were twins.

"She’s always been my biggest supporter and pushing and backing me – I couldn’t have achieved what I have without her. I love that I’ve been able to do basketball with her, and again, I won’t ever take that for granted.

"Can I also add, I'm super grateful for my entire family and their support throughout my basketball. Mum and Dad have been our rocks, and given up so much so we could achieve what we have. They've been to every game they could, even through AFL now, they've just supported everything I've done.

"And my brother too, who is calling my 350th game 'our 400th game' because he played 50 games for Slammers - he's been my biggest fan and I'm so grateful for his support and love. I'm very lucky!"

Married life

Fielding's life away from the sporting court or field is also on the move too and at the start of this year she married Kaiden Hayter, who she describes as the other love of her life behind the Slammers and basketball.

While not quite ready to give up the Fielding name in a sporting sense, she couldn’t imagine having found a better husband.

"Our life is basically the same as unmarried life, we just got to have an amazing party!" she said.

"Clearly a break away from basketball cleared the way for the other love of my life (that’s so cheesy!) – but Kaiden is amazing, he’s supported everything I’ve done, from AFL to now wanting to come back and play basketball.

"He knew, from the moment I said I was assistant coach, that this would probably mean I would be playing – even if I didn’t know it yet. We’re both pretty busy with work and life, so to have his support means everything."

Work life

Ever since Fielding threw herself back into the Bunbury community a decade ago following her time living in Perth and playing in the WNBL, she has loved working in the town she grew up.

She might not quite be the chief executive of the City of Bunbury like Casey Milo is in Mandurah, but being part of the local community means the world to her.

"So, I work for the local government down here, which means I’m working for the community and I love it," Fielding said.

"I love Bunbury, I love the community and I love sharing stories, so the fact that my job combines all these, is pretty amazing. It’s pretty nice being able to drive five minutes and you’re home from work, then you can just walk across the road and you’re at the beach.

"It’s definitely a nice lifestyle down here. But yeh, it is the people – whether it’s sporting or other community groups, it’s just a good vibe. It’s been awesome to immerse myself back into the Slammers community, they’re such a loyal and welcoming bunch. Hopefully we can reward them with some success soon!"