THUNDER BAY — Ex-Lakehead Thunderwolves women’s basketball player Tiffany Reynolds has officially signed with the Port Macquarie Dolphins in Australia.
After leaving the team, she said over the years, she developed into being the player that a lot of people relied on, which helped her transition really well to playing overseas.
She added that many players are typically younger and look up to her coming in as an import.
“You are the main player for them. If it’s a close game and we need to score, they tend to look to you,” said Reynolds.
However, she said nothing will ever compare to playing at the Thunderdome.
“I’m in Portugal and some home games are a little rowdy, but nothing like Thunder Bay,” said Reynolds.
“I don’t think I will ever see a crowd like that ever again unless… I go somewhere insane, but no, the Thunderdome is home and I love the fans. They’re really good.”
After graduating and taking a year off from the sport, Reynolds returned to play in Nicaragua.
“I didn’t really think I was going to go overseas, (but I) went overseas, went to Nicaragua, met some pretty awesome people,” said Reynolds.
Returning from winning championships and Guard of the Year, among other awards in Nicaragua, she took some time off in Thunder Bay due to a knee injury.
However, Reynolds returned to Nicaragua again last fall to win silver with her team before getting invited by Karissa Kajorinne, another ex-Thunderwolves, to come to Portugal.
“Two Thunderwolves back together, hooping, living the dream,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds also represented her country, Team Jamaica, on the national platform at the FIBA 3x3 competitions, which she said was also a big thing for her and not a lot of people get to do.
She added that having all these countries in the same place, doing the same cool thing and the stories she heard from other athletes coming there to play were mind-blowing.
“I just love competition. I love playing against the best,” said Renolds.
“Yeah, we lost to Team Canada, but you know what, we battled and they’re ranked pretty high up, their top five in the world and we were battling with them, giving them a good run for their money. And so this year, you know what, we’ll be back again, and let’s see how it will go this year. I’m excited.”
Now, in a few weeks, she will leave to play in Australia with another Thunderwolves player on the men’s side, Josh Strongman, which she said is so exciting.
“I remember being in university at Lakehead thinking, ‘Oh, when I graduate, this is (an) end all be all, I probably won’t play. I didn’t play a Division One basketball, so the reality of it is I probably won’t play overseas,’” said Reynolds.
“But with everything that’s happening in the NCAA and in Canada, it’s skyrocketed women’s basketball and even in Canada, there’s the MWBA, which is happening on the East Coast, Women’s Pro League, and then there’s Hoop Queens, which is in Toronto and I’m just like, ‘Yes, this is, this is so good for girls to see coming up.’”
She said she is pushing her teammates to go overseas as well.
“I’ve been through it and we have other people that have been through it. You can get connected in so many ways and then this isn’t an end-all-be-all. So that is really amazing and very excited to see where basketball will go for women,” said Reynolds.
Lakehead wasn’t her first choice coming out of high school, she explained, she wanted to be the athlete to go Division One.
However, she said Thunder Bay was a really wholesome time in her life and she will never forget it as it allowed her to improve as a basketball player and as a human being.
“Thunder Bay definitely made me who I am today and I’m proud of who I am today. So I owe a lot of that to Thunder Bay and the fans, my teammates, my coaches, all my friends,” said Reynolds.
After playing for her country, she explained she doesn’t really hope for a big achievement but always says wherever she goes or whatever team she plays for, she just wants to positively impact those around her, whether it’s the coaches, the younger players or kids.
Reynolds added she is rooting for Lakehead University and follows all the sports games online, always cheering for her ‘Lakehead peeps.’
“I’m proud to be a Thunderwolve. So good luck for the next season coming up… work hard in the offseason and be ready for what the fall has to bring,” said Reynolds.
