LEADING WITH HEART

KAYLA OVERBECK

Why should I transfer from such a great school like Vanderbilt? Do I not care about my academics or future? Questions like these filled my head when I entered the transfer portal following my sophomore basketball season at Vanderbilt. On the surface, this decision seemed unexpected and selfish; what people failed to realize and appreciate was the importance this decision had on my life, both mentally and physically. 

Growing up, I differed from most girls my age. I was obsessed with sports and physically putting my body through distress. I learned to love to push myself to the limit. After quickly growing a passion for basketball, I made it my aspiration in high school to make it to the WNBA. I was always a very disciplined, hard worker, so setting goals like these were never out of the ordinary for me. 

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When my high school years began, my teammates, coaches and myself realized quickly the potential that I had. I started as a freshman and immediately had an impact on the team as a two-way player, a scorer and rebounder. By just my sophomore year, it was clear that I was the star of my team. However, stardom at such a young age can lead to other struggles – like learning how to be a leader while also carrying your team and setting high expectations for your peers. I frequently got hot on the court, demanding more from my teammates, asking (and occasionally, maybe, sometimes yelling) for them to push harder, fight more aggressively and keep up with me. This was my element.

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This was my element.

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The student section filled my high school gym, chanting “Kayla, Kayla, Kayla” as I led my women’s basketball team to the CIF championship. My emotions were all over the court, it was truly a sight to behold. Looking back, I know I could have led better. 

In high school, I received lots of clout and credit, and it created a tenacious player with fierce passions and lofty goals. I had a successful high school career, where I tallied the most points and rebounds in school history. My senior year, I was also named Ventura County Star’s Girl Basketball Player of the Year and I was ranked 19th by Prospect Nations at my position on signing day, when I officially committed to Vanderbilt. 

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I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to start as a true freshman and when that opportunity came, I ran with it. I earned SEC All-Freshman honors, leading all SEC freshmen in rebounds per game, but it was clear my style of play was shifting from high school. Rather than being the dominant offensive bully, sinking buckets and putting up 40 points per game, I became more defensively focused. I was the teammate that wasn’t afraid to do the dirty work– I was never scared to put my body on the line.

I was the teammate that wasn’t afraid to do the dirty work– I was never scared to put my body on the line.

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I dove across the court grabbing loose balls and fought for rebounds harder than anyone else. Slowly, I watched myself transition and mature from being the star player vocally demanding more from her teammates to the valued starter leading her team through emotional support and by example. 

Following my freshmen season, my coaches at Vanderbilt encouraged me to try out for the U19 USA basketball team. After going to tryouts, I was shocked to hear I made the team. This was a very humbling but informative experience, as I confirmed the thoughts that had previously only been internal dialogue. My role on the team had inevitably shifted – no longer was I the star point scorer. Am I still valuable and necessary for success? Absolutely, but I knew that my role on this team had changed drastically from any other team I had been on before. It was an adjustment seeing myself in a different light, but it was necessary to find my new strengths as an emotional leader.

It was an adjustment seeing myself in a different light, but it was necessary to find my new strengths as an emotional leader.

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The U19 USA Team saw lots of success, as we won the silver medal, only losing in the championship game. Seeing all this success during my freshman season, I tried to carry this momentum over onto my second season at Vanderbilt, but unfortunately my mental health held me back. 

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At the end of my sophomore season, my mental health was in a horrid place. I missed my family, my hometown and most importantly, I felt as though I wasn’t taking the life path that I was supposed to. As awesome as the city of Nashville is, it simply wasn’t my vibe and style. Internally, I was mulling about my future and I realized that pursuing the WNBA wasn’t in my future aspirations. I knew I had transitioned into a player less desired by the WNBA. These days, the priority lies with players that are putting up points on the board – and while I knew my role on my team was important, it wasn’t showing the skills necessary to lead to professional success. Beyond this, even if I had been the player the WNBA dreamed of, the little pay that female athletes receive made the cost of putting my body through so much distress feel less than worthwhile. 

While talks of the transfer portal typically focus on transferring to the best “name” school there is, or transferring to a smaller school where someone can be the superstar, that couldn’t have been further from my experience. My biggest priority when selecting a school to transfer to was my personal happiness. USC checked every box on my list: close to home and family, outstanding academics, year-round sunshine and a great alumni network. Even though my perspective on my future basketball career was ever-changing, I still had a love for the game,

enjoyed playing on a team and knew that I could cherish the rest of my time playing ball before hanging up my uniform for good. 

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Even though my perspective on my future basketball career was ever-changing, I still had a love for the game, enjoyed playing on a team and knew that I could cherish the rest of my time playing ball before hanging up my uniform for good. 

I remember being asked, “Do you have clips of you scoring 40 points?” when I was going through the transfer process, and these questions certainly nagged at me even more as I was still processing my new role on the team. That being said, I never wanted to be the superstar on the team. I wanted to be the best team player possible. That made transferring to USC easy, as it was a place where I knew I could thrive being the team player that I am for my teammates, not necessarily the center of attention. They didn’t ask me about the points I was putting up; they understood the unique role I played for my teammates and wanted to utilize me as the emotional leader that I was. 

When I stepped on the court for the first time as a Trojan, I watched myself fully transition into the player who would pour my heart out on the floor, without any expectation of praise or glory.

When I stepped on the court for the first time as a Trojan, I watched myself fully transition into the player who would pour my heart out on the floor, without any expectation of praise or glory.

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My teammates immediately saw my grit and passion, fighting for every single possession, not stopping until the clock hit 0:00. Instead of channeling my high school self who outwardly demanded respect in a dominant way, I let my actions speak for themselves, and the respect followed. I grew into a confidant for every member of my team and made sure every single one of them knew that as hard as I fought for them on the court, I would do the same off of it. My teams at USC were filled with vibrant personalities, so it took someone with perspective and less ego to bond our team. I filled that role. I’d like to think that my experiences transferring and with mental health helped me recognize my role and better bring our team together. Understanding that not everyone can be the star helped me grasp other ways to support my team. 

During my final season at USC, I noticed my mental health at a high level it had not been at in years. I was in a place where I could be a leader and not have so much pressure to score the most points or grab the most rebounds. I finally found where my heart was supposed to be, as a leader. In just my second year at USC, I was named captain. This was such an honor to me, as it showed that my teammates trusted me just as much as I trusted them. It drew me closer to my teammates both on and off the court, developing relationships that I still maintain and cherish today. 

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The introduction of Alissa Pili to the team my senior year helped provide me with the full-circle perspective I needed to get closure from the sport that had built me. Watching Alissa enter the team and take on the role of “dominant 40-point scorer” was electric, and showed me that I helped create a team that could make space for anyone, both the star scorer and emotional leader. 

Today, I’m a proud USC alumna still benefiting from the experiences I had throughout my collegiate career. The lessons I learned as a D1 athlete at both Vanderbilt and USC will stay with me for a lifetime – having an understanding of the role you play amongst a group of people can help you better position yourself in any situation you’re in. Sometimes you have to swallow hard pills, but that adversity can build you into a person you had no idea you had the potential to become.

Sometimes you have to swallow hard pills, but that adversity can build you into a person you had no idea you had the potential to become.

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Now I’m off using my USC degree as an Area Manager in Phoenix, Arizona, and the leadership skills I developed at USC are used daily. 

I’m so thankful for women’s basketball and the opportunities it has provided me throughout my life. While I hope one day the WNBA will be able to understand the value of more defensive minded players rather than only seeking one type of high-scoring player, for now I’m going to enjoy my life with my 3 dogs and newly engaged fiancée!