A Guide to Professional Overseas Sports

Going overseas can be terrifying. The thought of being gone for a majority of the year in a foreign country, away from loved ones, and creating an entirely new way of life, can be nerve wrecking to say the least. Ultimately, it is a lifestyle that isn’t designed for everyone and that is entirely okay. However, it can be very rewarding and you can find great beauty in this experience if you can overcome the hardships and mental battles. You have the ability to play the sport you love while being paid. You can travel, meet new people and learn their cultures and maybe even their language. You can adapt to a new life that not many get the opportunity to experience. Of course it comes with its own pros and cons just like anything else, but it’s important to remember that once you hang the shoes up, it’s very hard to get back into it if you change your mind later on.

My advice for anyone who is on the fence about enduring this opportunity, DO IT. It’s very unlikely that you’ll get another experience like this ever again. My guess is that if you're reading this, you’re young, you’ve just finished your last college season, you may be struggling with what seems to be the end of an era as an athlete and you’re not sure where to go or what to do next. Do you continue to play? Do you go back to school? Do you find a job somewhere and start your adventure out into the real world? These are real questions and are things that I asked myself for a while after my last college game. After 3 years as a professional overseas athlete, there are so many things that I’ve learned so far and I'm so proud of myself for taking the chance.

The good thing about being an American athlete overseas is that there are so many other American athletes that have come before you and you even may have the opportunity to cross paths with them, whether that’s playing with them, against them, or just networking and connecting. Over these last 3 years, I’ve pulled from my own experiences and drafted together "A Guide to Professional Overseas Sports” to assist other athletes who are on the fence about playing overseas or who have already taken the leap of faith and signed with a team but need a little more guidance on what to expect.

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Introduction

Now I feel like it's necessary to give myself a little credibility as some people may not even know who I am. My name is Mai-Loni Henson. I'm 25 years old. I was originally born just outside of Chicago but after moving around a few times, I call San Diego my home. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 5 years old, starting on mostly boys teams until I got to 6th grade.

I played for one of the most prestigious high schools in the country at La Jolla Country Day in San Diego under the legendary coach Terri Bamford. There, I won multiple league championships, a San Diego section championship, 2 Regional championships, and a State title. I earned a full ride scholarship to the University of Washington in Seattle where I played for 4 years and graduated in 2020 with a BA in Public Health.

I just finished my third professional year in France. Obviously, for most of my life I played basketball, so I felt very lost and at a standstill when my college career was over and I hadn't been drafted to the WNBA. I had originally planned on going to Nursing school but that just didn’t feel right. I was only 22 years old at the time and I felt like I still had so much left to give to this game. The opportunity presented itself to start my career as a professional in Europe and I couldn’t pass it up!

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The Guide

I do wanna preface this and say that I created this guide based off of MY experience and MY lessons that I learned over these 3 years. No single experience will be the same as the next, so use this to get a better idea of what to expect. Keep in mind that I could write a whole book about overseas, but this guide is a very general overview of a snapshot of overseas life, so if you have any specific questions about anything, please reach out via email or Instagram! I'm more than happy to dive deeper into certain topics.

Below is a list of 6 points of advice that I’ve pulled from both my experience and real life experiences from other professional athletes to help those decide whether or not starting a professional career overseas is the right path for them!

Making the right choice

Like I said before, going to play overseas may not be the lifestyle designed for everyone. It can be very difficult and very lonely at times. Some athletes had the luxury of going to a college that is close to home and others may have gone somewhere very far from home, so it can be more difficult for others depending on what you’re used to. Take the time to do your research. Make a pros and cons list. Talk to other athletes that are already playing overseas. A piece of advice that I received from an athlete is to talk to the RIGHT people. Everyone’s experience varies and not one story is the same. Find someone that you trust and know will give you the raw truth of their experiences and not sugar coat anything and tell you what you can actually expect when you decide to go. There is a sense of community

amongst athletes that live this lifestyle, so it can be easy to pick their brains and learn about their stories and experiences, and a lot of times, they’re more than happy to talk about it. The biggest thing that convinced me to play overseas was the experience. I have the opportunity to play the sport that I love with new people that come from different backgrounds. I get to travel and explore different sights in famous countries and cities all over the world, even in the midst of a pandemic. I have tried new foods and integrated into a completely new culture where I can learn their language, their history, etc. If you have the opportunity, take the chance! There is no better time than now!

Finding a good agent

Now that you've decided to believe in yourself and embrace this experience, it's very wise to find an agent, and for me, this is probably the most important aspect when starting your professional career and many other athletes can agree with me. The role of an agent is to assist you with essentially anything and everything that applies to your athletic overseas career, ranging anywhere from contract negotiations to the necessities in your living space to even smaller things like translating. It is important to have someone like an agent in your corner that you can trust and know will have your back at all times, that will advocate for you if something goes wrong and can give you their professional advice to help guide you when making decisions.

When I finished my college career, I wasn't really sure what I was going to do next and my college coach asked if I was interested in playing overseas. I doubted myself, mainly because I was scared to be living in an entirely new country right when the pandemic first started. I was connected with an agent named Lauren, who has a long list of accolades herself. She's an American who had a long career in Europe and eventually settled in France permanently with her family and got her license to be an agent. Now let's just say, I don't know where I'd be without Lauren. Over the years, we have developed a very trusting and genuine relationship that is actually more similar to a friendship. From the jump, she was able to lay out every possible raw piece of information that I needed when deciding if going overseas was the right move for me. I immediately picked up on her honesty and genuineness and I knew that this was someone I could trust with this new chapter of my life. After taking some time consulting with Lauren, my childhood dream of being a professional basketball player became real and I signed my first pro contract in France. Throughout my 3 years, Lauren has been there to help guide me through everything. We talk about my performances after each game, she is quick to handle any problem I may come across or give me advice on what she think would be best, and we even just have regular conversations about life. Building this relationship has been very crucial in my career because I feel like I've been able to make the best decisions for myself with Lauren's professional help.

Now, this is my experience. Not everyone is lucky enough to instantly build a trusting relationship with the first agent they come across. I’ve heard some horror stories of athletes having problems with their agent like communication and honesty that ultimately got them screwed over. I know some athletes that have hired and fired multiple agents, and that’s okay. You are entrusting someone else with your career, so it is important to find someone that you know has your best interest and sometimes that can take a little trial and error. Ask other athletes who they would recommend and their own personal experiences with that agency. Look for qualities like good communication skills, level of professionalism, integrity, etc. Trust your gut; a lot of agents will promise you certain things and most of the time are never able to follow through on them just because they want to sign you somewhere and get a check. Take the time to do your research. Having a good agent will make things run a lot smoother and give you the best chance to have an enjoyable experience.

Physical Preparation

Come in shape. I cannot stress this enough! Part of being a successful athlete is performance and now that you’re considered a professional, you are now being paid to perform. The truth is that this new chapter of your career is a part of a greater business. It is your job now to be an athlete, so like any other job, there is a possibility that you can get fired and replaced if you are not performing up to par. If you don't come prepared to your job, then it will make things 10 times more difficult. Some teams even require you to pass a conditioning test when you first arrive, so it is imperative that you make a good first impression to your coaches and kill the test. Furthermore, coming prepared and in shape gives your coaches, your club and even your teammates a sense of confidence that you are acting in a professional manner and ready to get to work. Like any other preseason, it is primarily a time to get in game shape and formulate a new team by building chemistry and a dynamic on the court to get ready to win games once season starts. If you arrive in shape, half the battle is already won; you won’t have to worry about being fatigued and can focus more on the X’s and O’s. Spend your summer wisely. Live in the gym! Improve your game, utilize the weight room, and maintain proper recovery. Packing. This can get overwhelming fairly quickly. It can be a lot to process when you’re deciding what to bring for essentially a 8-9 month stay (maybe longer), but remember the essentials: basketball attire (6 S’s → shorts, shirts, shoes, socks, spandex, and/or sports bras), casual clothes, sweatshirts, toiletries, electronics etc. Some other things to also think about are things like your favorite food seasonings, snacks, certain brands that you prefer, pictures, books and the list goes on. If you’re going somewhere with a colder climate, remember that you can probably buy the proper clothes like heavy duty jackets once you get over there. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to fit your whole life into your limited baggage space. Convince a loved one back home to send you a care package with supplemental things that aren’t necessarily essential to have at first but can be helpful in making your integration a lot smoother and provide a piece of home for you. Also, companies like Amazon operate worldwide so you can always order things that you need online. I've included below a general packing list that I use. Phone. Almost all of the American phone carriers offer international plans, but this can be very limited and can get very pricey. I recommend getting a new SIM card once you arrive in your country, that way you can still have access to your socials and be able to communicate with people back home through WhatsApp, etc. without the need of WiFi. I personally have 2 phones, one with my American SIM card so that I can keep my number and use it under WiFi and a second phone that has a French SIM card. I pay about 15 euro a month for 100GB of data, so cheap plans are very accessible and the service is generally pretty good! You can usually purchase online or they'll even have corner stores or places at the airport that you can find them at.

Mental Preparation

I wanted to make this a separate point because although it is a form of preparation, as discussed in the previous section, mental preparation can be discussed extensively and on a deeper level. Mental health is an important topic that we are fortunate enough to talk more about in today’s climate. It is important to understand that it is very possible for this experience to take a toll on you not only physically but mentally as well. To put it in basic terms, you will be living in a foreign country for 8-9 months, maybe even longer. You may not be able to speak the basics of the language which can be very intimidating at first. The food may be different from what you’re used to. You will be away from family and friends, missing birthdays and big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas (although some places give you a short break to go home). Now this is not to intimidate you and stray you away completely, but it is the reality of what overseas players experience. It can be difficult at times, but once you get yourself in a routine and find different ways to pass away the down time, it becomes easier. Try to call home as often as you can so that you still feel involved and present in things that are going on at home. Even invite people from back home to take a visit to come see you. Find an online therapist; sometimes it’s comforting to talk with a professional on a deeper level where they can give you tips and strategies to help you cope. Talk with other athletes that are also playing overseas; they can probably relate to you the most. Take this time to really dedicate yourself to learning about your new home and your new teammates. I’ve been fortunate enough to build great relationships with my teammates and consider them some of my best friends. You can make memories and spend time with them to help the time pass if you’re feeling lonely.

I’ve also recently taken on journaling and it has become a great outlet for me to sit with myself and recognize how I’m feeling and even draft my everyday experiences of my new life. Coping looks different for everyone so find something that works for you and prioritize your mental because it can directly impact your craft and your game, which is ultimately your job.

Passing the downtime

Although you’ll be busy with games and practices everyday or even multiple times in a day, there can still be a lot of downtime, especially when you’re traveling to away games. It’s easy to succumb to binge watching shows and movies on Netflix, but utilize your time wisely and channel your energy in other areas. Take this time to focus on your personal growth.

Take on new hobbies, whether that’s drawing, painting, cooking, etc.! Learn a new skill. Find different ways to supplement your income like starting a business, freelance jobs, trading, etc. Something I think is very important is trying to learn the language of the country that you’re playing in. I’m sure you’ll pick up on some things, but I recommend you dedicate your time to learning the language. Hire a tutor, download DuoLingo, or even exchange language lessons with your teammates. This can help with building a connection with them, which leads me to my next point: actually spend time with your teammates and learn about them, as I’m sure they want to learn about you!

You can exchange your language, foods, pieces of culture and traditions, places to travel to and explore. My team and I have had team bonding nights like paint nights or movie nights and we also got to have a Thanksgiving feast together. I think it makes the experience so much more worthwhile because you’re able to make memories and relationships that will last forever! Another idea is to travel. You may get lucky and have a day or 2 off from practice or games. Go out and explore, see new cities, go shopping. I was fortunate enough to travel through Italy and spend some time with one of my best friends who was playing in Italy at the time! Money will make its way back; invest in making memories and get the full experience.

Reminder to have fun

Ultimately, playing overseas is a very beautiful and unique experience. Not very many people can add that accomplishment to their resumé. Embrace the journey, both the good and bad times. Learn from mistakes, as you should in any aspect of life. Live in the moment! Take pictures and videos everywhere you go; memories last forever but it’s always great getting old flashbacks to remind you of that exact moment. Although my experience as a professional athlete has been short thus far, I’ve already made some of the most amazing memories and met some extraordinary people, all while playing this beautiful sport and being paid to do it.

Packing List

• Passport, ID, vaccination card and/or covid test, visa paperwork

• Basketball shoes (multiple pairs), running shoes, casual shoes

• 6 S’s → socks, spandex, shorts, shirts, shoes, and/or sports bras

• Sweatshirts, sweats

• Casual clothes (a few outfits to have in case you go somewhere when you arrive, but remember there’s usually places to go shopping)

• Bigger puffy jackets if you’re going somewhere cold (can also be purchased when you arrive so it doesn’t take up as much space)

• Recovery → foam roller, recovery tights/boots, massage gun etc.

• Favorite products → seasonings, snacks, sauces, candy, skincare, haircare

• Downtime activities → books, journals, camera, laptop, Xbox/Playstation, Firestick/Apple Tv

You’ll start to learn what you do and do not need but this is just to help you get started!

Obviously this isn't a complete list to being an overseas athlete. Everyone has different experiences and it's up to you to make your own story, but I strongly encourage you to at least give this experience a chance. While one of the hardest, it has also been one of the most amazing experiences I've ever endured in my basketball career. You'll learn so much about yourself that you never knew, and those lessons can be applied to anything else in life. Be confident, take the risk, and enjoy what you do. Again, please don't hesitate to reach out if questions arise or if you're curious about specific things. Good luck! :)

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