Recently retired Opals Captain Jenna O’Hea was there throughout the FIBA Women’s Wolrd Cup, enjoying being part of a team again in her beloved basketball community but this time as part of the ESPN broadcast crew providing analysis and commentary at the tournament.

Jenna gives us an insight into the exhausting scedule of the broadcast team, as well as the joy in commentating alongside a largely women’s crew including Neroli Meadows, Kelsey Griffin, regular pod guest Michele Timms and recent pod guest Jenni Screen. Beamed onto TV screens live from the Superdome she watched her Opal’s sisters win Bronze on home soil alongside a rapturous home crowd, “…I got to speak about the game I love and speak about the Opals who are all some of my nearest and dearest friends so it was just the perfect opportunity for me and I loved every single second of it.”

Relishing in their hard fought battle to overcome adversity and witness this storytelling chapter she could not be prouder of her former team. Jenna shares that sweet perspective from her role as part of the commentary team and some key moments from the tournament.

Fittingly as a true team player Jenna continues in her leadership role in advocating the importance of player mental well being. Recently acknowledged as the inspiration for the new WNBL’s ‘Cygnett Community Award’ as a result of her successful campaigning in last year’s Covid impacted season for a mental health round under the auspices of Lifeline as well as having completed a community role for the highly impactful organisation.

She also advocates for players to prepare for retirement and to utilise the resources available, as female atheltes often earn much less than their male counterparts, “…as a female athlete you know we put everything into it but don't earn as much so we do need to be better prepared.”

There is much to look forward to for Jenna in this next chapter of her career, as she says “watch this space”, and make sure to stick around to hear her response to our unscripted question that had our hosts muting their laughter… in a classic case for Shooting The Breeze listeners of ‘if you know you know’ moment.

Enjoy!


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