It is one thing for WNBA players to go overseas to play basketball after the season has concluded. It is quite another thing for a player to participate in entirely another sport.
That was what the Dallas Wings’ Erin Phillips decided to do after a 2016 season that included representing her home country, Australia in the Olympics. Phillips has become a co-captain for the Adelaide Crows of the Australian Football League Women’s side, but it comes at a risk—an injury while playing the sport could lead to her Wings contract being voided.
She did initially receive approval from Wings brass when talking about what she wanted to do.
It’s more about taking my opportunity, giving it a go, and having no regrets. It’s something that, if I didn’t try, I’d always regret it, which is something I’ve based my whole sporting career on, having no regrets and giving it your best.
–Erin Phillips per ESPN
Football, or soccer in this case, has been something Phillips has been around since her teenage days. Recently, her becoming a mother to twins has also had an effect on her life as an athlete.
Greg Phillips, her father and former football player, appreciates her daughter’s dedication, but is concerned about the effect it could have on her future with the Wings.
Dallas has her on a good contract, and I just don’t want her to get injured.
–Greg Phillips
Phillips acknowledges that there is more time needed to recuperate between AFLW matches as opposed to WNBA games, but says she would like to continue playing both as long as she can.
With basketball, we play more than one game a week; in the WNBA we can play up to four games a week. But this is kind of a different soreness. I don’t really know how to describe, but I do know you definitely need the full week to recover!
–Erin Phillips
I love playing basketball in the states and I love playing footy, so I’m going to keep playing both for as long as I can.
–Erin Phillips
(Original Story: ESPN)
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
