When you think of the most significant achievements an athlete can accomplish, Temi Fagbenle has ticked off pretty much all of them.
Featured in an Olympic Games? Check. Won a WNBA Championship? Check. Captained your country? Check. Positively impacted winning wherever you’ve been? Check.
She came, she saw, she conquered, and is indisputably one of the greatest players ever produced by this country.
This weekend, 31-year-old London Lion Temi Fagbenle captains the South team in the first-ever Women’s British Basketball League All-Star Game, and we sat down with her ahead of this epic showcase at the Copper Box to reflect on the incredible journey of one of the best to ever do it:
“I started playing when I was 14 years old,” Fagbenle said.
“I was playing tennis before that, which was my first love. My dream was for my sister and I to be the next Venus and Serena Williams, but unfortunately that wasn’t to be.
“Being one of 12 siblings, it was proving to be quite expensive for me to do private coaching with the prospects of me becoming professional not that high, so my dad suggested I give basketball a try as my older brother was in the States playing in college at the time and suggested that I could follow in his footsteps.
“I agreed, reluctantly, and the rest is history! My first day of practice was a total mess. I wasn’t as coordinated as I wanted to be and was falling all over the court, but I progressed quickly and realised within the first year that I could pursue the game more seriously.”
If you can see it, you can be it
Fagbenle’s Junior journey is one that will be relatable to many pro hoopers in this weekend’s event, but also many of the young Londoners in the crowd at the Copper Box.
First playing for Haringey Angels as a youngster, the Great Britain captain also played for Barnet Bulldogs.
Playing through the pain barrier as a Junior after suffering from patellar tendinopathy, Fagbenle credited her coaches Phil Hayfield and Dan Bowmaker as positive influences in the beginning of her basketball journey. She also pays homage to David Dewar, who not only helped her combat the pain she had been suffering, but in finding ‘true love’ for the game ahead of her WNBA debut in 2017.
Notably, however, Fagbenle felt she didn’t have many female role models in the basketball space that she could reach out to, and discussed how much pride she has taken in trying to be more reachable for the next generation in her current role with the London Lions:
“I didn’t have many older female role models that were ‘accessible’ to me in basketball as a kid, unfortunately. I remember hearing about Azania Stewart when I was just starting out, and she was in the States doing great things, but she wasn’t exactly accessible because she was in the States and I wasn’t at the time.
“Having that accessibility to opportunities to give back in London is a great part of being back home. Being here and being visible and available for the younger generations is a big focus of mine. I’ve been coaching at camps with the Lions since I’ve been at the club and they are opportunities I’m very grateful for.
“Just to see the looks on the faces of these young girls and boys when they’re talking to me and they’re holding the trophy or the medal – just to see the looks of awe and hope really makes what I’m doing more meaningful. Whatever way I can help the next generation, I would love to do so. If I’m a role model to them, then that’s the icing on the cake.
“Through the age groups of England and GB I’ve always searched for a mentor or older sister in a sense within a teammate – somebody who could take me under her wing – so that’s something I would love to be to anyone if they needed it, and any way I can impart knowledge or help is something I really look forward to doing.”
Another first for Fagbenle
The veteran forward’s list of accomplishments is almost as long as her 6’4” frame, but this weekend Fagbenle adds a new milestone to the record book as she will be the South captain in the first-ever Women’s All-Star Game.
When reflecting on her accomplishments – from featuring in the 2021 Olympic Games, to winning the WNBA title with Minnesota, to several EuroBaskets with GB and much more – the 31-year-old discussed why she always had the belief that she could achieve big things in the game. Detailing why captaining the All-Star team is another significant step for her, Fagbenle said:
“If I could go back and speak to that 14-year-old girl I was now and tell her everything she’s going to go and achieve, she would 100% believe it. When I was young, I always had the belief that I could achieve great things within the sport and and it was always a goal for me to be as be as good as I can be.
“Things have changed throughout the journey but I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to achieve so many different things throughout my career. To have played at the highest level is not a surprise for me, because it was always something I thought I could do and I still think there is more in the tank, but I’m already so thankful to have achieved what I have.
“I love that I get to be a part of the first Women’s British Basketball League All-Star Game. It is a fantastic honour to be able to show young girls and boys the highest level of the game in this country right now.
“I’m very excited to play with and against some of the best and I will definitely be playing hard out there. I’m looking forward to having fun, most importantly, but also playing some high-level ball and enjoying some great competition.”
Get your tickets to support Temi and all of the players in the first-ever Women’s British Basketball League All-Star Game this weekend at the Copper Box by clicking here.