All new adventures come at a cost – and so do life-changing experiences. For Jenna O'Hea, the price for locking down her career in the WNBA and chasing a spot with an elite European club is to step back from Australian Opals duties this year and walk away from the WNBL next summer.
She has already withdrawn from Opals preparations for the world championships in Turkey in September and will also leave Dandenong Rangers after helping the team to a championship and two finals appearances in three seasons.
When it comes to emotional costs those two decisions hurt but, at 26 and approaching what should be the prime of her career, O'Hea wants to make her name in elite women's club basketball.
She plans to return to the Opals next year. "I've had a few offers from Europe and I want to explore that for next season – I'm pretty excited about it," O'Hea said.
As a versatile guard-forward who can create, shoot, score and defend, O'Hea has always intrigued top clubs, but she has yet to make her mark either in the WNBA, where she has come off the bench for the LA Sparks for the past three seasons, or in Europe where she spent one unhappy season in Arras, France, as a 21-year-old before returning to play at home.
"It's a good time to get back over. The first time I was 20 or 21 and it was an eye-opening experience, being so far away from home and the language barrier," O'Hea said.
"This time I'm a bit older and feel like I'm more mature and will handle it a bit better."
She is also aiming to sign with a club which plays in the elite Euro League competition or second-tier Euro Cup, along with their domestic league. "That way I would be playing twice a week so that would lessen the chance of home sickness since I'm playing the game I love," O'Hea added.
She hasn't signed with a side yet but will sort out her future once the current European season is over.
After knee tendonitis slowed her in the second half of the WNBL season, O'Hea has spent the last few weeks working intensively with respected physio Bruce Gray to rehabilitate her knees and prepare her body for the upcoming WNBA season.
Her expectations for the new WNBA season changed drastically earlier this month when the LA Sparks traded her to Seattle Storm for a second-round draft pick. "The American way is very different," O'Hea said. "In Australia, you sign a contract then when it ends you sign another or go to another team.
"Over there, teams have your rights and do whatever they want. LA wanted to go in a different direction but Seattle loves Australians. Their coach Brian Agler is great and I get to experience a new city, new teammates and I'm really looking forward to it."
O'Hea's time at the Sparks seemed unfulfilled on-court, although off-court the lifestyle in LA and friendships with superstar teammates like Candace Parker were a joy, as was getting close to the WNBA title on two occasions.
