From Sweden to Adelaide: Ida's journey to NBL1

Swedish basketball player Ida Maria Andersson will make her NBL1 debut this season. After multiple years in the Victorian Big V competition, she’ll be joining the NBL1 Central’s Woodville Warriors in 2024. 

She started her journey to Australia in 2019, and has been flying between Melbourne and Sweden ever since. She explained that she loves the country and their passion for basketball. 

“Everywhere I've went, most people that I meet are very friendly, very helpful,” she told NBL Media.

“So just when it comes to the culture part of it, that's something that I've really enjoyed and I think that's a big reason why I'm still signing back year after year.” 

Averaging 14 points per game for the Sunbury Jets last season, the globetrotting guard said having already experienced the level of physicality Australians play with will be an advantage in her first NBL1 season. 

“I think my Big V experience has just helped me to put together all of my learnings that I've had throughout college and throughout my early years playing professionally,” she explained. 

“It has been really helpful in me experimenting with the tools that I have, and now to be tested to a different level – which I'm really looking forward to seeing.

“Being able to put that into having a really big role on this team. Just being able to put all of that together and be able to use that, having a coach that trusts me to do my thing. To be a leader on the court.” 

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Andersson explained that training with the WNBL’s Southside Flyers and the Bendigo Spirit gave her invaluable experience on and off the court. Learning from legends of the game like Jenna O’Hea, Leilani Mitchell and Kelly Wilson. 

Apart of her reason for choosing Woodville was the opportunity to make an impact as a leader, not only a player. 

"I had a few options, but I think what made Woodville stand out was it’s not only about who's paying the most and who's doing this and that. It's about where am I going, where can I make a bigger impact and where am I trusted in the role that I'm having,” she explained. 

“Just with the environment that they're trying to create and trying to build with the community and with building a stronger relationship with the senior program down to the youth programs. That's something that I'm really passionate about and something that I can contribute to from a community standpoint.

“But also going over to play NBL1 has been something that I've been wanting to do for quite some time, to see what kind of damage I can make in a league like that.” 

NBL1 has been something that I've been wanting to do for quite some time, to see what kind of damage I can make in a league like that.” 

The Warriors start their season against the West Adelaide Bearcats on March 23, streaming live and free via NBL1.com.au and the NBL1 App.