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REYNOLDS ARRIVES WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE

Rosanna Reynolds wants to put Caledonia Pride on the road to Women’s British Basketball League glory.

First, she has to get her head round being able to walk the streets of Edinburgh without losing her mind.

The 23-year-old guard has spent the past fortnight getting to grips with her new team since arriving from Michigan for a first stint playing overseas.

With the Scots upsetting reigning champions Nottingham Wildcats in their WBBL opener, Reynolds’ 15 points and 17 rebounds debut suggested she’s settling into British life quite nicely.

But the rookie reckons making the switch from the University of Detroit-Mercy to the capital is even tougher off the court.

She said: “I didn’t really prepare culturally because everyone speaks English. But the main thing I got ready for was that everyone walks places.

“At home, you go everywhere by car. It’s been a whirlwind in adjusting to that. It’s a bit crazy. The basketball isn’t much different – a couple of different rules. But I’ve trained all summer for that.”

Winning a deal with the Pride is like hitting the jackpot, Reynolds admits, with the odds firmly against women’s hoopsters landing full-time gigs in Europe with so many hopefuls fighting for only a handful of jobs.

But she said: “That was always my goal and my dream, to be able to play overseas. Luckily the cards lined up. I was able to finish my schooling and then get this.

“I feel like I won the lottery. My agent worked hard but I was very fortunate to be able to continue to keep on playing.

“It’s years of hard work – being in the gym all summer long – just to be able to put yourself on the map and get the kind of numbers that get you noticed by European coaches.”

Coach Bart Sengers and his young Pride crew are hoping they can get the attention of the entire WBBL this term with a crack at silverware.

And after suffering the heartbreak of missing out on the playoffs on a tie-breaker at the end of their first-ever season, their American recruit is ready to lead the charge.

But she said: “I just want to keep those strides going forward, win more games, get to the playoffs and put Caledonia Pride on the map.”

A version of this previously appeared in the Daily Record

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