Taylah Levy on her basketball career crossing over with Adelaide Crows’ hunt for AFLW finals success

Taylah Levy already has a basketball championship under her belt this year. Now, she wants to add an AFLW premiership to it as the cross-code gun prepares for her first finals series.

Taylah Levy has already won one championship this year.

If she can win another with Adelaide, she is hoping there can be a bit more celebrating this time.

The 23-year-old played three games in her first AFLW season last year, returning from a stint playing college basketball with Cleveland State University.

This year, she’s played all but one game.

“I have been able to crack the team this year, which has been really exciting for me and my football journey,” Levy said.

“I think just coming in and having a strong pre-season has set me up for that. It sets you up to be in a good spot to be picked and selected.”

Levy’s off-season and pre-season were different to most other AFLW players.

She is no longer stateside, but Levy continues to play basketball as a dual-sport athlete in Australia.

Adelaide AFLW player Taylah Levy is preparing for her first finals campaign. Picture: Dean Martin

Playing as the point guard for the Central Districts Lions, she was instrumental in their NBL1 central championship win over the Forestville Eagles.

“It was pretty neat, I haven’t done that before (won the championship),” she said.

“I started footy and basketball at the same time when I was a kid and then I did my first knee so I needed to decide between going to college or playing footy.

“And at that time there was no AFLW pathway so I put all my eggs in the college basket and put my best foot forward there and once that was over I decided to crack into footy and give it another try and I’m stoked with where I am at the moment.

“I’ll never regret doing it.”

While many footy fans joke about the importance commentators place on some players having a “basketball background”, Levy said she has taken plenty from it into her footy career.

“I think for me obviously being a point guard you have to set up the court and know every position, just the knowledge around reading the game and being able to communicate effectively really puts me in good stead for footy,” she said.

“And that skill-set of getting through packs of people and footwork and all that type of thing really translates over and helps in both sports.”

Taylah Levy celebrates the win at full time during the round 10 against Geelong. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

In the grand final Levy had 25 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block in a MVP performance to help the Lions to the championship.

Not that she had much time to actually celebrate that win.

The following morning she was on a plane for Port Augusta to play in a trial match for the Crows.

While Adelaide is up against it in the qualifying final against the red-hot North Melbourne on Friday, Levy is hoping she could make up for lost celebrating with the Crows in the finals series.

“Absolutely, I think we are in a really good spot. We just have to come out and play four quarters in every game but it is really exciting and winning the NBL1 Championship I didn’t really have much time to celebrate because I had a pre-season game the next day,” she said.

“So hopefully when the footy season is over and if we can win I can kind of celebrate the whole year as one.

Taylah Levy has played all but one game this season. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“We finished the basketball game at 8pm or whatever it was and I was straight on a flight to Port Augusta the next day for the trial match.

“I was very much I am playing in this grand final but if you need me the next day I’ll go home and go straight to be, which I did.

“And it has kind of helped me, just being dedicated and putting my head down and going to work.”

The Roos are unbeaten this year, and have won their last two games against the Crows.

But Levy said it was a situation the Crows would thrive in.

“I think for us it is just playing our game, coming in and being really confident and using the ball the way we want to and not letting them dictate the game,” she said.

“Coming in and playing four quarters will be key for us, we tend to turn it on when our backs are against the wall but really coming in and making our mark on the game from the first bounce.”

Originally published as Taylah Levy on her basketball career crossing over with Adelaide Crows’ hunt for AFLW finals success