One may not have heard much of the name Asya Bussie since her WNBA playing days, but she has aimed to do a lot of work for her community even if she may no longer play professionally.
Bussie was a second-round draft pick of the Minnesota Lynx in 2014. In a story that will appear in Baltimore basketball magazine “The City that Hoops,” she talked about how growing up, her interest in the game came from the ascent her brothers made and she also learned what it meant to be physically and mentally tough on the court.
My brothers are a lot bigger and stronger than me. Going against them prepared me to go against girls who are actually my size or bigger.
–Asya Bussie
I just think guys play with a different mentality.
She played her high school basketball for Seton Keough High then went on to play her college ball at West Virginia. With the Mountaineers, she became the 11th-all time scorer in school history and also collected nearly 900 rebounds.
Bussie led the Mountaineers to a 30-5 season in 2014 and a berth in that season’s NCAA tournament. She was, soon after, drafted by the Lynx despite suffering ACL and MCL injuries the season before.
The injury bug bit her again in training camp which led to her release. Eventually, she would play overseas, but the transition was anything but smooth.
I had two other American teammates. We all shared one car. I had an apartment by myself. I couldn’t watch TV since they weren’t speaking English.
–Asya Bussie
Her attention turned from her playing career to her original home court of Baltimore, where she started Be More, Inc. which aims to improve the city through community service centered around education and sports. Bussie also hopes that her willingness to give back is something that carries on to the next generation.
The opportunities that basketball and education have given me like free schooling, going to college for free…being able to travel the world keeping me focused on something and involved in an extracurricular activity outside of school are things I think would help a lot of kids.
–Asya Bussie
(Original Story: Baltimore Beat)
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
