We spoke to Caitlin Bassett who plays for The Diamonds - the Australian national netball team! The Diamonds are up for a nomination for Best Sports Team at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards!
TG: Caitlin, you recently won the Liz Ellis Diamond of netballer of the year! Congrats! How did you get started as a professional netballer?

C: I started playing netball at school when I was 11. The first club I played for was Illawarra Sparks – we played on Saturdays.

My first real taste of competitive netball was when I represented my school at the State Schoolgirls Netball Championship in Brisbane. State Schoolgirls was the first year I got to play against people from other states. I remember being really excited. I loved being part of the team and travelling with the team. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be a professional netballer and get paid to play the sport I loved.

TG: Tell us what your day’s are normally like as a pro?

C:
6.30am – Wake up to go to training

8am-10am - Training with West Coast Fever. I get there early to strap my ankles and put up practice shots.

11.30am-2.30pm – I’ll go to class at uni

3-4pm – Snack at home. I usually play with my puppy Chino or bunnies Lemoncurd, Espresso, Cupcake and Crumpet.

4.30-6pm – Back to training. This time it’s weights in the gym.

7.30pm-9pm – Home for dinner and to spend time with my boyfriend, then it’s an early night to do it all again the next day.

TG: How does your team (The Diamonds) prepare for a match?

C: On game day we try to sleep in. We get up about 8am and have breakfast as a team. In the morning we’ll go down to the venue and the shooters will put some practice shooting and mid-courters and defenders pass a ball around. It’s a chance for us to familiarise ourselves with the venue and get rid of any nerves.

We go back to the hotel and have an early lunch as a team, and then it’s time for feet up and a nap. After we’ve rested, we’ll go for a walk and a coffee.

A few hours before the game, we’ll start to get ready and put on our green and gold. We have a team meeting then go straight to the game.

TG: If you could slime any celebrity who would it be?

C: Either Kylie or Kendall Jenner!

TG: What would it mean to you to win a Kid’s Choice Award?

C: To be recognised by our fans would be something special. We are up against some incredible sports teams, so to win a Kids’ Choice Award would be really awesome.

Who would you be star struck by if you went to the awards show?

C: Justin Bieber!