‘Kate is a hero’: Why veteran Opal Sami Whitcomb owes so much to her partner

While a life on the road with two young kids at home can be tough for veteran Opal star Sami Whitcomb, she says she wouldn’t swap being a mother for any job in the world as she reflects this Mother’s Day.

When Sami Whitcomb wakes up on Mother’s Day, she will be on the opposite side of the world to her two sons and wife.

Whitcomb acknowledges the distance from America to Australia is difficult to deal with, and she desperately misses her family, but it has been her reality for large stretches in the past four years.

The veteran Opals, WNBA and WNBL guard is juggling life as a mother and partner with a professional basketball career that dictates she travels the globe to play.

It’s far from an ideal situation to leave behind her baby boys Nash (3) and Reef (4 months) back home in Perth, but it’s a sacrifice Whitcomb is willing to make thanks to the devoted support of her partner who is working as a full-time teacher on top of single parenting.

“Kate is a hero,” Whitcomb told this masthead from Seattle in the US, where she is preparing for the upcoming WNBA season with the Storm.

“She is incredible. She has done this ever since Nash was born and she has travelled to wherever I am to keep us together.

“We have daycare and family and friends that help, but Kate does the majority of it and it’s truly amazing what she does for us.

Sami Whitcomb and her family. Picture: Supplied

“As much as you don’t want to get used to this lifestyle, because it’s not easy, we want to get used to it so we can make it a positive experience even though it’s a really hard lifestyle.”

The reality of a life separated from family hit Whitcomb hard during her recent WNBL season with the Townsville Fire.

It was her first domestic season where she didn’t play in her hometown Perth – and it came just months after Kate gave birth to their second child, Reef.

The constant travel from Queensland to Western Australia in between WNBL games took an enormous toll on Whitcomb and her wife.

“I found it very hard mentally,” she reflected.

“I went to Townsville because that felt like a really great opportunity for me, but that time away from my family was a lot more challenging than I thought it would be.

“We welcomed Reef into our lives and I had to leave quickly after that to go and play.

“The older I get, prioritising being together is a big part of my decision making.

“It wears on you being away from your family.”

Thankfully, Whitcomb won’t have to wait too long to see her beloved boys and wife.

Kate plans to join her in Seattle at the end of this school term and will stay until the end of the WNBA season in October.

The couple will then make a call on their next move based on each other’s career, although Whitcomb concedes the travelling abroad with the kids is nearing an end.

It will be a big Mother’s Day for Whitcomb and her family. Picture: Getty Images

“We don’t really want to be dragging the boys all over the world forever,” the 35-year-old said.

“There will come a point, especially for Nash who is older, to feel settled and have a routine.

“But while they are young, it’s kind of an evolving thing. Kate getting back into work is also incredibly important to her as well, so if she finds a job that she is really excited about then we discuss that and figure out what is going to be best.

“Every year and season we make our decisions together on what we think is going to be the best for all of us.”

Until then, Whitcomb is fully committed to making the long-distance plan work.

She starts every day with a zoom to her boys and wife – and while it’s tough not being there in person – she makes it work.

“I get the toys or dinosaurs out, so we can play games,” she said.

“Although, attention spans for toddlers aren’t the best.

“I’m just hoping to inspire the boys to one day chase their dreams and give everything to something they love. I’m also trying to help provide for my family.

“This is my job and my way of providing for us.

It will be a big Mother’s Day for Whitcomb and her family. Picture: Supplied

“At the end of the day my family is my reason for everything I do. They are my motivation and they inspire me as well and it’s a beautiful full circle thing for all of us.”

Whitcomb wouldn’t swap being a mother for any job in the world.

She says life as a parent as taught her valuable perspective to understand what really matters.

As a result, Whitcomb’s ability to balance basketball and life is better than ever before.

“So, when I’m away from basketball and I’m with my family I really switch off and I give everything to those moments,” she said.

“I think that has been a really beautiful change in my life. Off the court I’m no longer stressing about basketball and replaying things over and over in my head.

“I really connect and love that time with my family, so when I return to the court I’m re-energised and excited to be there because I’ve had that time away.”

Whitcomb’s plan is to return home to Perth once her international hoops career is finished.

“We’ll live in Australia once we are done with all of this,” she said.

“Every year for a while I’ve prepared for it to be the last, but this is the end of my WNBA contract and it could be our last time doing this.

“In the meantime we’ll cherish every moment we get.”

Originally published as ‘Kate is a hero’: Why veteran Opal Sami Whitcomb owes so much to her partner