Eagles’ Clas act back in business
SIDELINED for an agonising 16 months, one of North East basketball’s most talked-about imports is finally feeling her way back on to court. SIMON RUSHWORTH caught up with US star Courtney Clasen.
During the most mentally testing of times 12 months ago, a downbeat Courtney Clasen wondered whether she would ever again experience the unique buzz of a competitive basketball game.
The talented forward longed to be back talking trash with her teammates and talking tactics with her coach before tip-off.
“They were dark days,” admitted the 25-year-old as she looked back on the most challenging period of her short career.
“I’ve had a few of them but throughout the last year and a half I’ve been able to rely on the support of the Eagles’ organisation.
“This group of players is like family to me. Honestly. I think they have so much faith in me – sometimes more than I have in myself – and that helped me during those dark days.
“They always make me feel like I have not been gone that long when, in reality, it has been a long, long time without basketball.
“They really help me keep my head up and keep chugging along.”
It has been an exceptionally long time since Clasen has been able to declare herself fully fit and fully confident ahead of gameday.
Originally signed in the summer of 2021, Newcastle Eagles had identified the former Merrimack College favourite as a future leader and breakout star of the WBBL
Clasen, who grew up 70 miles from New York City in the village of Shoreham, Suffolk County, was fresh out of school and with the world at her feet.
She headed into a professional debut against Caledonia Pride determined to make her mark with the women in black.
Sixteen months down the line and Newcastle’s Vertu Motors Arena is still where Clasen belongs – but the positivity of those early days soon turned to despair with a seasonending injury.
Clasen lasted just 13 minutes of her Eagles debut after falling awkwardly during the club’s curtain raiser against the Pride.
What looked an innocuous twist at the time was later diagnosed as a serious knee injury – cue a painful and often isolated road to recovery.
“It is a weird feeling knowing I have been gone a while but also that another day has passed back on court,” added Clasen as she looked back on last weekend’s win against Manchester Mystics.
In only her third appearance in a Newcastle jersey, and wearing a knee brace for added protection, the US star came off the bench to claim two points, three boards, two assists and a steal.
Clasen had returned to Tyneside in the close-season set to play a key role in head coach Noelia Cacheiro’s first full campaign at the helm.
However, a series of physical setbacks and crises of confidence delayed a long-awaited comeback before the forward finally started against Sheffield Hatters last month.
Spanish playcaller Cacheiro said: “I’m very happy Courtney is back.
“Courtney has been out for a very long time but she is getting there and is gaining her confidence on defence. I just want her to let it go and play with the flow.”