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Find out more about Alyse Withers (19), who is studying Psychology and will be heading to UniGames 2015 as team captain of the UWA women’s Basketball team.

Name: Alyse Withers

Age: 19

Sport: Basketball

Degree/area of study: Bachelor of Science, Psychology

Q. What position do you play?
A. Shooting guard/Point guard

Q. At what age did you start playing basketball, and how did you get involved?
A. Around 7/8 years old. My older brother played basketball, so I would go to his games and wanted to play myself.

Q. What do you like most about basketball?
A. There’s a bit I like about basketball. I’ve played/watched it from a very young age. I really enjoy the mentality of the game and working in a team. As I’ve developed as a player, I am passionate about the competitive and social aspects of the game.

Q. How tall are you? Is that good for a basketball player?
A. I’m 5’10. It’s an average height, so I’m not too short, but I still don’t measure up to the 6ft plus players on court.

Q. Who is your favourite sporting hero/idol and why?
A. It kind of goes without saying, but Michael Jordan. He changed the way the game was played and added so much more to it. Space Jam is also one of my favourite movies which wouldn’t be the same without MJ.

Q. Why did you want to be captain of the UWA women’s basketball team at UniGames this year?
A. I was asked to step up to captain from vice-captain. I was more than happy to do so as being captain of this team will be a great experience and enable me to represent UWA in a sport I love.

Q. What do you think is the most important thing about being a captain?
A. Group dynamics - making sure everyone respects one another and encourage team mates to be the best they can be. This starts with the example set by the captain as well as the commitment to the team. It’s also important to have an on court eye/communicator that can pick up these dynamics that the coach can’t.

Q. What is something your team likes or dislikes about you as captain (eg too bossy, too many emails, brings food after training)?
A. Like – I’m a very open, accepting and approachable person, I like to think I make people feel comfortable around me.

Dislike – I talk a fair bit and sometimes about absolutely nothing. On court I will shout a bit and it could potentially get annoying.

Q. Who’s the person in your team that no one wants to room with and why?
A. There’s no one that no one does not want to room with, unless we get a snorer or sleep talker then there might be some swapping of rooms.

Q. Who has the best nickname in the team, what is it and how did it come about?
A. No one has a made up nickname, just the generic shortening of names such as Meg (Meghan) and Dale (Kirstan Teasdale) etc.

Q. Who’s the most competitive/serious in the team?
A. The most competitive would’ve been Sarah who sadly cannot make it to the games this year. Being the original captain, her passion for the game and the team’s success pushed for those extra sessions - so we can smash it at the Gold Coast.

Q. Who is the team most injury prone (most likely to get injured), on and/or off the court?
A. This would have to go to Sophie on court who has already done her knee before we even left for the games. Off the court I would probably have to say myself, I trip over everything and nothing.

Q. Have you and your team done any team building or bonding things leading up to UniGames?
A. The basketball teams had a cocktail fundraiser party. This allowed not only the girls to get to know each other but both teams (men and women) to bond a little prior to the games.

Q. Does your team have a mascot? If yes, what is it and why?
A. We do not have a mascot yet. However, hopefully we will have one come game time.

Q. Is this your first UniGames? If not, how many have you been to?
A. Yes, this will be my first UniGames – hopefully not the last!

Q. What are you most looking forward to at UniGames?
A. I’m looking forward to being able to represent my university in a sport/game that I love. I am also looking forward to the overall atmosphere of the games.

Q. Do you/your team have any rituals/superstitions?
A. No one showed to have any rituals yet. However, I’m sure at the games we will discover a few here and there.

Q. What do you usually do before games?
A. Music is a must for me. In the team we will probably have a pep talk after warm up prior to jump ball to pump up the team.

Q. What do you think your team’s chances are at UniGames this year?
A. The team has a really strong chance to be a threat. We have a good level of skill built in with the height of the team that make us a team to look out for. Under current circumstances we have lost a couple of key players, but we still should be able to pull through!

Q. What’s your team’s secret weapon for UniGames?
A. Our team members are rather tall which will set us with a really good inside game. I think this will make teams underestimate the guards, which are more than capable to step up and ‘surprise’ the competition a little bit.

Media references

Nicole West (Marketing and Communications Officer, UWA Sport Pty Ltd) +61 6488 4309