Basketball player moves states with 24 hours notice and four-month-old baby
Mikaela Ruef packed up and flew to Tasmania with only her four-month-old son to play for the Jewels.
Mikaela Ruef got a call on Sunday. By Monday, she was on a plane to Tasmania with her four-month-old son, Jude.
Ruef left her partner and stepson in Queensland. The Jewels needed an injury replacement, and Ruef jumped at the chance.
She had played basketball in an NBL1 game less than a month after giving birth. So she knew she could handle the physical demands.
Ruef has played in Tasmania before, for both the Launceston Tornadoes and Hobart Chargers. At 36, she makes the most of every chance to stay match fit.
She did not get a full-season contract this year. The move was fast and chaotic.
But the club helped her manage her training loads carefully.
- 24
- Hours to move
- Four months old
- Son's age
- 36 years old
- Ruef's age
- Launceston Tornadoes and Hobart Chargers
- Previous teams
Why it mattersHer commitment shows how elite athletes balance motherhood with elite sport. It highlights the sacrifices needed to stay competitive in women's professional basketball.
AustraliaRuef's return to the Jewels gives the new Tasmanian WNBL franchise a proven player mid-season, and shows local fans the talent available in the women's game.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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