After riding the wave of success, Cayla George has revealed how Taiwan basketball healed her

After two years of huge moments, champion basketballer Cayla George was left ‘miserable’ and with nothing left to give. Now she’s revealed how playing in Taiwan ‘filled my cup.’

Three championships and two bronze medals in two years, basketballer Cayla George looks like she’s been having the time of her life.

But despite all the international success, the full of life Opals leader, Sydney Flames star and new mum has revealed how her year round playing schedule took its toll on her mental health and rocked her last WNBL season.

2022 saw George take out her fourth WNBL title at the then Melbourne Boomers, breaking the championship drought for the now collapsed but historic team.

National team duties soon followed for a World Cup campaign where the Opals returned to the podium on their home turf.

But a move to the WNBA to be part of the championship title with Las Vegas, sandwiched between two more seasons at home left George with an empty tank and “miserable.”

Cayla George’s two year window of success includes a bronze medal in Paris. Picture: Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

“After the WNBA, I came back and three days later I was playing (WNBL) in Perth,” George told Code Sports

“I hadn’t dealt with some stuff and I needed a mental break.”

“I was a bit flat after the WNBA season where I didn’t play a whole lot and then went straight to Sydney, a season where I wasn’t very ‘Cayla George happy.’”

At the time (Spring of 2023), Sydney Flames coach Guy Molloy pushed George to give herself a break as she relocated her life once again back to Australia, but the four time WNBL champion was running high on adrenaline and didn’t want it to stop.

“Upon reflection, I probably needed more time than that but I was just really excited,” George said.

“Guy (Guy Molloy) was like ‘take more time if needed’ but I wanted to play.”

“I thought jumping straight into a season would be helpful but it took me two or three months until I felt any sort of normal last season (2023-24).”

Cayla George led the Melbourne Boomers to a WNBL title in 2022. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

In hindsight, George says she needed a break after the WNBA championship season in 2023. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

It was an unexpected change of basketball scenery and culture in Taiwan that for George, “livened my basketball mind again,” reviving the 35-year-old’s love for the game and her mental wellbeing.

“Taiwan really brought me back to happiness, it was an incredible experience,” George said.

“Although a lot of my teammates couldn’t speak a lot of English, they really nurtured, cared and gave me so much love.”

“My Aussie people know how I roll, I’m a livewire, really energetic. So I took my passionate vibes to Taiwan and I expected just to enjoy some basketball but it succeeded all my expectations.”

And what her Taiwan teammates did for her, George seemed to have reciprocated the other way, as the championship winning team of 20 years was starting to become stale in their success.

“My club had won it for the last 20 years, and it was becoming like a panic that they couldn’t lose because they’re the champion club.”

“I kinda brought some passion back to the club and reminded them why they love basketball, which was the feedback that I got and was incredible to hear.

“They filled my cup and I was able to fill theirs.”

It was then straight back into green and gold business.

After the Opals’ rollercoaster of an Olympic bronze medal campaign, George is finally taking her first stint of time off in years. Spending time with family and friends at home in Queensland, marking her first opportunity to look back on her accomplishments of the past two years and beyond.

George and the Opals have achieved World Cup (2022) and Olympic (2024) bronze medals. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

“This is the most amount of time I’ve had in years to be able to reflect,” George said.

“We’re all driving up to Cairns and we’ll take some lovely time travelling and I’m really excited to have our own time for a little while and not have a schedule.

“It’s been a nuts whirlwind. How cool that I’ve been able to do all this. I work really hard but I feel really blessed to have all these achievements on my resume.”

With WNBL pre-season to officially tip off on September 18, George returns to the Sydney Flames for her 17th season in the league with a fresh mentality and new approach to success.

George returns to the Flames and will embark on her 17th WNBL season. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“It’ll be a lot more fun than last season for me personally. I’m in a different space now and I’m using this month to get excited for what’s next, the WNBL season.”

“I’m hopeful I’ll have a clearer mind this year, I can come in and tackle the season head on. I’d love to win another championship in the WNBL but I’m looking forward to a really solid season.”

“I sound like Giannis (Antetokounmpo) here, just because we don’t win the championship it doesn’t mean it’s a failed season, otherwise you’d have so many failures.”

“The ideal thing is a championship but if I can learn and teach some things, fill up peoples cups and have a ripper time, then that’s a success.”

Originally published as After riding the wave of success, Cayla George has revealed how Taiwan basketball healed her