Tara Murray
New Keilor Thunder recruit Hailey Wynd is jumping at the chance to test herself in the National Basketball League 1 South competition.
Wynd, who lives in Hume, was recently announced as the club’s latest signing for the women’s side ahead of their inaugural campaign.
Wynd said she was excited by the opportunity. She said ever since the NBL1 competition was announced, she was keen to play in it.
“First of all I wanted to take my game to the next level,” she said.
“I had a couple of different clubs approach me. This one is close to my house, the coach is good and the environment of what I saw when I played against them last year was really good.
“It’s a good opportunity.”
Wynd comes to the Thunder having played with the Hume City Broncos. She started her career at the Broncos before heading to Whittlesea Pacers, where she was one of the dominant players in the Big V youth league competition.
Wynd said she wanted to further her game after stepping up into the open age competition in the last couple of years.
“I really want to challenge myself,” she said. “Last year I proved to myself that I could play with the bigger girls.
“I want to go that next level and to the exact same thing this year and see what comes from it.
“I want to keep going and building up my skills by hitting the gym. I want to look at using my body to have that real advantage.”
One thing Wynd is looking at focusing on this season is becoming a bigger threat on the perimeter.
Wynd said the group was starting to gel together, despite a few hiccups due to the pandemic.
“Things are going well,” she said.
“We’re getting the team gelling together and getting to know what we are about.
