A Guide to Professional Overseas Sports

Going overseas can be terrifying. The thought of being gone for a majority of the year in a foreign country, away from loved ones, and creating an entirely new way of life, can be nerve wrecking to say the least. Ultimately, it is a lifestyle that isn’t designed for everyone and that is entirely okay. However, it can be very rewarding and you can find great beauty in this experience if you can overcome the hardships and mental battles. You have the ability to play the sport you love while being paid. You can travel, meet new people and learn their cultures and maybe even their language. You can adapt to a new life that not many get the opportunity to experience. Of course it comes with its own pros and cons just like anything else, but it’s important to remember that once you hang the shoes up, it’s very hard to get back into it if you change your mind later on.

My advice for anyone who is on the fence about enduring this opportunity, DO IT. It’s very unlikely that you’ll get another experience like this ever again. My guess is that if you're reading this, you’re young, you’ve just finished your last college season, you may be struggling with what seems to be the end of an era as an athlete and you’re not sure where to go or what to do next. Do you continue to play? Do you go back to school? Do you find a job somewhere and start your adventure out into the real world? These are real questions and are things that I asked myself for a while after my last college game. After 3 years as a professional overseas athlete, there are so many things that I’ve learned so far and I'm so proud of myself for taking the chance.

The good thing about being an American athlete overseas is that there are so many other American athletes that have come before you and you even may have the opportunity to cross paths with them, whether that’s playing with them, against them, or just networking and connecting. Over these last 3 years, I’ve pulled from my own experiences and drafted together "A Guide to Professional Overseas Sports” to assist other athletes who are on the fence about playing overseas or who have already taken the leap of faith and signed with a team but need a little more guidance on what to expect.

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Introduction

Now I feel like it's necessary to give myself a little credibility as some people may not even know who I am. My name is Mai-Loni Henson. I'm 25 years old. I was originally born just outside of Chicago but after moving around a few times, I call San Diego my home. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 5 years old, starting on mostly boys teams until I got to 6th grade.

I played for one of the most prestigious high schools in the country at La Jolla Country Day in San Diego under the legendary coach Terri Bamford. There, I won multiple league championships, a San Diego section championship, 2 Regional championships, and a State title. I earned a full ride scholarship to the University of Washington in Seattle where I played for 4 years and graduated in 2020 with a BA in Public Health.

I just finished my third professional year in France. Obviously, for most of my life I played basketball, so I felt very lost and at a standstill when my college career was over and I hadn't been drafted to the WNBA. I had originally planned on going to Nursing school but that just didn’t feel right. I was only 22 years old at the time and I felt like I still had so much left to give to this game. The opportunity presented itself to start my career as a professional in Europe and I couldn’t pass it up!

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The Guide

I do wanna preface this and say that I created this guide based off of MY experience and MY lessons that I learned over these 3 years. No single experience will be the same as the next, so use this to get a better idea of what to expect. Keep in mind that I could write a whole book about overseas, but this guide is a very general overview of a snapshot of overseas life, so if you have any specific questions about anything, please reach out via email or Instagram! I'm more than happy to dive deeper into certain topics.

Below is a list of 6 points of advice that I’ve pulled from both my experience and real life experiences from other professional athletes to help those decide whether or not starting a professional career overseas is the right path for them!

Making the right choice

Like I said before, going to play overseas may not be the lifestyle designed for everyone. It can be very difficult and very lonely at times. Some athletes had the luxury of going to a college that is close to home and others may have gone somewhere very far from home, so it can be more difficult for others depending on what you’re used to. Take the time to do your research. Make a pros and cons list. Talk to other athletes that are already playing overseas. A piece of advice that I received from an athlete is to talk to the RIGHT people. Everyone’s experience varies and not one story is the same. Find someone that you trust and know will give you the raw truth of their experiences and not sugar coat anything and tell you what you can actually expect when you decide to go. There is a sense of community

amongst athletes that live this lifestyle, so it can be easy to pick their brains and learn about their stories and experiences, and a lot of times, they’re more than happy to talk about it. The biggest thing that convinced me to play overseas was the experience. I have the opportunity to play the sport that I love with new people that come from different backgrounds. I get to travel and explore different sights in famous countries and cities all over the world, even in the midst of a pandemic. I have tried new foods and integrated into a completely new culture where I can learn their language, their history, etc. If you have the opportunity, take the chance! There is no better time than now!

Finding a good agent

Physical Preparation

Mental Preparation

Passing the downtime

Reminder to have fun

Packing List

Obviously this isn't a complete list to being an overseas athlete. Everyone has different experiences and it's up to you to make your own story, but I strongly encourage you to at least give this experience a chance. While one of the hardest, it has also been one of the most amazing experiences I've ever endured in my basketball career. You'll learn so much about yourself that you never knew, and those lessons can be applied to anything else in life. Be confident, take the risk, and enjoy what you do. Again, please don't hesitate to reach out if questions arise or if you're curious about specific things. Good luck! :)

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