The B. Braun Sheffield Hatters have everything they need to be successful this season after returning several stars from a positive 2023/24 campaign for Vanessa Ellis’ side.
One such star is Australian guard Carla Drennan, whose first campaign at the Canon Medical Arena was littered with highlights and standout performances. We caught up with the 24-year-old ahead of her second season in Sheffield to discuss life with the Hatters.
“Last season I was allowed to play with a lot of freedom and Vanessa instilled confidence in me to go out there and make a difference. I grew a lot thanks to her and developed from being seen as a shooter to somebody who attacks the basket, facilitates, rebounds and does a bit of everything.
“The family feel of the club has been huge for me and helped me settle here much easier. The junior programme at the club in particular has been huge for me because we do a lot of coaching with them and helping them grow and enjoy the game. Their faces light up when they see us and they support us so much so it helps us when things get tough.
“We have what it takes to be successful this year. The gap is closing across the league and we know what we’re capable of. There’s a lot of continuity from last year and we’ve added great players so when it all comes together we’re going to be a strong team and have the chance to compete for titles.”
Always aiming high
Growing up in Perth, Drennan came through the ranks of Australian basketball alongside former Leicester Rider and current Oaklands Wolf, Sam Ashby, with both becoming close friends over the years.
Discussing her beginnings in the game, the 24-year-old detailed how the sport has grown in her home country over recent years and some of the achievements she hopes to accomplish in the game in years to come.
“I started playing when I was 10 years old in school and played netball too. My parents could see how much I was enjoying basketball, so they bought me a hoop and tried to teach me skills to steer me towards that, and soon afterwards I committed to basketball as my only sport.
“The game is so big in Australia, especially at junior level, and it’s only getting bigger. When I was younger most clubs had one team per age group but now most have three or four all the way through the different levels so it’s grown quickly and is one of our biggest sports now.
“As soon as I dropped netball and concentrated on basketball, I had all the big ambitions. I made my first state team camp at 16 and wanted to be professional, I wanted to play at the Olympics – and I still want to do that – and I had all the dreams that kids have at that age. Thankfully I’ve been able to achieve a few of them and still have time to do the rest.”
Embracing the journey
A dual national who has both an Australian and a British passport, Drennan could well be suiting up for Ana Montanana’s Great Britain team in future, following in the footsteps of fellow Hatters Georgia Gayle, Melita Emanuel-Carr and Shauna Harrison who have represented the team in recent years.
The guard spoke candidly about the resilience she has built up since her earliest days in the sport and how her parents helped to keep Drennan’s dreams of professional basketball alive after a difficult collegiate experience, which has now led her to find a new home in Sheffield.
“There are a lot of challenges in sport at any age and a lot of adversity that everybody goes through. I’ve done a lot of work on maintaining my mental health and confidence over the years, and that started as young as 11 years old when I started seeing somebody for support and I’ve just kept going with that ever since, which has been helpful on and off the court.
“I don’t think I’d still be playing without that support. My college experience was difficult and caused a lot of anxiety to the point where I wanted to quit playing, but my parents helped me rediscover the passion for it and thank God that they did, because I’ve had some great experiences since. I wouldn’t change the journey I’ve had because it built me into who I am.
“The idea of playing overseas professionally definitely gave me some anxiety after the college experience, but I learnt a lot from college that helped me prepare for this and in speaking to Vanessa she’s very maternal and genuine that I immediately felt comfortable with coming here, so I took the chance and it’s turned out pretty well so far.”