Bendigo Spirit veteran Kelly Wilson says an off-court focus has helped her breach the 400-game mark

A WNBL record holder, who returns to Geelong Arena for the second time in a month, reveals the fundamentals behind breaching the 400-game mark.

The WNBL’s record holder for games-played, Kelly Wilson, says there’s been no magic formula to her enviable durability, although a lengthy break due to pregnancy and the pandemic certainly helped her breach the 400-match barrier.

The Leongatha product, who turned 40 on January 1, will return to Geelong Arena on Sunday night with her sixth-placed Bendigo Spirit to take on ladder leaders Townsville Fire.

After beating the Adelaide Lightning at the arena on December 15, the Spirit closed out the year with a three-point victory over the Melbourne Boomers.

The Adelaide Lightning’s Isobel Borlase and Bendigo Spirit’s Kelly Wilson contest the ball during their match at Geelong Arena. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

However, Wilson told this publication retirement was seriously considered during her break out of the game – sitting out the 2020 hub season to give birth to Ted – before then UC Capitals coach and “huge advocate” Paul Goriss convinced her she could return to the elite level in her late 30s, for the 2021-22 season.

She said the break would ultimately rejuvenate her body and career.

“I did come back feeling a lot better than I did before it,” Wilson said.

“I was completely fine with (retirement).

“I’d had a pretty long career and was kind of content ... with the enjoyment I’d got out of the sport.

“I had no idea that I was going to come back and play.

“You don’t know, after having a baby, how you’re going to recover, everything changes.

“(Goriss) was a huge advocate for me and I’m grateful for that.”

Wilson shoots during the Spirit’s match against Melbourne Boomers on December 30. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

Coming into the match against the Fire on Sunday night, Wilson cannot say how many games she’s racked up since breaching the 400-game barrier in January, 2022 — two decades after her career started at the Australian Institute of Sport.

“It’s obviously 400 and something, there’s a point you get to where you lose count and stop caring about it,” she said.

“I don’t have the best memory either.

“I still feel pretty good running around out there, that’s all that matters.”

The former Opal and four-time title winner also recently hit 3500 career points and 1500 assists, pushing her to second in league history.

However, a dedication to the grind and the “boring, monotonous stuff”, and finding a focus away from sport, has helped her set the record.

Wilson has taught at the same Bendigo primary school the past 15 years, providing stability outside of professional sport.

“I don’t think there’s any secret to it,” she said of her longevity.

“I’ve never looked as basketball as my job, I’ve always had a job separate to this, I’ve never really done it full time,

“It’s kind of a privilege for me to be able to play.

Wilson playing for Townsville Fire in 2007.

“While I wouldn’t call it a hobby, I spend far too much time doing it, I’ve always had a separate focus as well with work.

“I think that sole focus on one thing is not always healthy.”

In terms of her career beyond the 2023-24 season, Wilson is not looking that far down the road.

“I literally don’t think more than a week ahead, where we’re playing and all that kind of stuff,” she said.

“Especially at this age, I just see what’s in the short term plan.”

However, her Spirit will be scheming to topple Townsville after that great win over the Boomers.

“Townsville are on top of the ladder for a reason, they have some really potent scorers, they’re great offensively and defensively,” she said.

Bendigo Spirit play the Townsville Fire on January 7 at Geelong Arena.

Originally published as Bendigo Spirit veteran Kelly Wilson says an off-court focus has helped her breach the 400-game mark