VIDEO: Caitlin Bassett's Support Team

Caitlin Bassett: I started playing netball when I was 11, and for me, it was definitely the social side.  Being surrounded by so many other people is what I loved about it.

Amy Parmenter: The first time I met Caitlin,I remember she had, like, a bunny and she had baked goods and she just came in, um, classic Caitlin Bassett and I was just blown away by her.

You know, in this netball world, it can be so hard to find your groove and fit in, and she just showed me that it's okay to just be your authentic self and be who you are.

Caitlin Bassett: I guess being tall and being so different from everyone else that I played netball with, I felt really uncomfortable in my own skin. But playing netball, I think my height was my advantage.  

Amy Parmenter: Growing up, there's always going to be insecurities, but netball makes you love what your body can do.

Caitlin Bassett: This is my first game against Liz Ellis.  I would have just been struggling to breathe out there because the ball would have been whizzing around so fast.

The advice I would give to someone who's maybe thinking about giving up sport is pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and really trying something different and challenging yourself is where your growth can come from.  Yeah, I'm really glad looking back now that I stuck with it.

I think the pressure when I got my first contract came from just wanting to show everyone that I was capable. And I was very young at the time and very, very inexperienced, and I was really lucky that I had older girls around me at the club that showed me how to be an elite athlete.

The next dress is special because it was when we won the World Cup here in Sydney.  My roommate was Sharni Layton.

Amy Parmenter: God, that's trouble.

Caitlin Bassett: Exactly, but having her there with me, I think took some pressure off because when we got back to the room, there was so much laughter and fun and mucking around going on that I couldn't get stressed about netball.

Amy Parmenter: I think Caitlin's career is one that all the younger girls can only have a dream of the way she's changed the game and growing the game it just is incredible.

Caitlin Bassett: My support team when I was on tour it was not just my teammates, but it was staff members as well. Um, and the coaching staff and they were living it every day.  They were my role models.

Amy Parmenter: To have half or quarter of her career would be absolutely amazing.

Caitlin Bassett: What I loved about Amy is that, you know, when I came into the Giants, I was nearing the end of my career and as she was just beginning hers, and she just had this excitement about her. It was her first contract, her first year playing, and that gave me a lot of energy.

Amy Parmenter: You know, I really respected in her. She is so loyal. And I know she'll always have my back no matter what, and these are all characteristics that I really want to carry through in my career.

Caitlin Bassett I was gonna say that photo that says it all like

Amy Parmenter: I don't know, I felt like I had you as like a big sister on the sideline all that time.

I think the single biggest thing for me playing netball would have to be that female empowerment being surrounded by strong, um, courageous women every day is so inspiring.

Caitlin Bassett: You know, you always remember the big tournaments and the gold medals, but in between them is these amazing periods of time where. you know, you get to spend time with incredible people and you get to be a part of their journey.  Um, and there are always things that I will always look back fondly.