How the COVID-19 pandemic “reignited” McKendrick’s basketball passion

Written by Julia Montesano

Before COVID-19 hit and changed the world as we know it, Eastern Mavericks star Mollie McKendrick had given up a WNBL opportunity due to work commitments and fractured her ankle while playing basketball at local level.

Since then, her career as a lawyer for the federal government has taken off and her basketball has risen to equal heights.

The superstar playing assistant is coming off a triple-double and a win over Woodville in NBL1 Central and is enjoying leading the next generation of stars at a junior level.

Usually, COVID-19 puts a damper on these things but according to McKendrick, the global pandemic was just what she needed to fall back in love with the sport.

“COVID-19 has made me appreciate how important basketball is to my life not only for my physical health but my mental health,” she says.

“Having that time away from basketball and having the time to think about what was important in my life reignited my passion.

“It really made me appreciate having time with my teammates, not just being able to play but that social aspect as well.

“My work got really busy, and I was lucky that that was a distraction, but I certainly missed my basketball.

“I don’t take for granted at all being able to go out and train during the week and play on a Saturday night.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities we have.”

Having previously spent time with South Adelaide and the Southern Tigers in the old South Australian Premier League, McKendrick has a fair idea about the talent she and her Mavericks come up against each week.

Now with the league rebranded as NBL1 Central and streamlined with the rest of the country, McKendrick believes the future is bright for the future of basketball in South Australia.

“The NBL1 has been amazing,” the 28-year-old says.

“It’s unreal to see the development of what we used to call premier league and seeing how professional and streamlined the NBL1 has become.

“It’s made it into a really professional league and a league I think that flourishes as the years go on.

“It’ll be a great experience to see how that all comes about and just seeing the level of competitiveness.

“The professional nature of the league has been really exciting.”

McKendrick is experiencing both sides of NBL1 Central as both a player and assistant coach for the Eastern Mavericks.

Coaching has always been McKendrick’s passion ever since she taught herself how to play the game when she was 16 years old.

It may have meant she developed an unorthodox playing style, such as shooting with her right hand even though she is a left-hander, but she still loves teaching the next generation to this day.

“I’m absolutely loving it at the Mavericks,” McKendrick says.

“It’s a completely new challenge that I’m loving and embracing.

“I love the coaching side as well and learning about the technical side of things.

“I’m really focused on improving not just our seniors but our juniors as well.”

But before coaching became a major part of her life, McKendrick made it all the way up on the court, playing WNBL with the Adelaide Lightning for two seasons from 2015-2017.

The reason why her time at the Lightning was cut short was because she had to prioritise her career, which is a reality for many female athletes in the country and the world.

McKendrick feels this is slowly changing and hopes that one day, women can be completely confident in pursuing sport and sport alone.

“I think unfortunately for women in sport in general, it’s a common thing that we have to decide, whether it’s studies or work or just putting food on the table,” she says.

“It’s a really tough issue for not just women in basketball but all women in sport.

“Unfortunately for me, I had to make that decision between basketball and work, and I know a lot of other women would have to make that decision.

“It’s a sad position but it’s hopefully something that’s getting better.

“I don’t regret my decision at all because it meant I could put a lot more work into my studies and my career progression.

“Unfortunately, it did mean that basketball had to come second but that’s just the reality of females in sport.”