Geelong’s Holmes shining in debut WNBL season

GEELONG Venom star Mackenzie Holmes is flourishing in her first year in Australia and believes her side can turn things around in the second half of the WNBL season.

Holmes was recruited from the United States, where she played for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA and previously starred at Indiana University at college level.

Now based in Geelong, the season marks the first time Holmes has played outside her home country, and she said the transition had been a positive one.

“It’s been great; I’ve enjoyed getting to know Geelong, getting to know the team.

“It’s my first time spending an extended period out of the US, so it’s been fun.

“There’s definitely things I’ve gotten used to, but as far as a place that I could go, I feel like it was a great fit for me.”

The 25-year-old forward has become a key figure for the Venom and is firmly in league MVP contention, ranking in the top five for both points and rebounds per game.

Despite playing only 10 games with Seattle in her rookie season, Holmes said the experience of being in a WNBA environment had helped drive her blistering start in Australia.

“In Seattle, I just learned so much about being a professional athlete and what that looks like from the veterans we had,” she said.

“Though I didn’t play, I feel like I learned a lot and spent a lot of time developing my game as well, so all those things have allowed me to bring what I learned about being a professional athlete to Geelong.”

While her performances have placed her firmly in the MVP conversation, Holmes said her motivation was centred on getting the Venom back into winning form.

“I think it’s just continuing to stay true to who I am day in and day out, continuing to work hard and stay disciplined, and try to be a consistent presence.

“Our main focus right now is getting in the win column, so I think that’s been kind of a driving factor for me.”

Geelong’s season has been heavily disrupted by injuries, with US import Alissa Pili sidelined by an ankle injury in the opening round, Gemma Potter suffering an ACL tear last month, and Shyla Heal only recently returning from a knee complaint.

Holmes said the Venom were focused on building consistency as players gradually returned to the line-up.

“We won’t have the complete roster once this season, with Gemma being out.

“So there’ll always be a question mark around what we could be with our entire roster – that’s Shy [Heal], Alissa, Gemma, all healthy.

“We won’t be able to see that this season, so I think it’s just adjusting on the fly.

“We’ve faced adversity and we’ve had to battle it head on, but I think it’s just continuing to get those pieces back in the mix and then continuing to just build off of that.”