Photo provided by the Perth Lynx
Discipline and mental toughness –those are three words Natalie Burton uses to describe her experience as a women’s basketball student-athlete at West Virginia University from 2009-2012. Now, Burton has used that experience to help her succeed at the professional and international level.
Since graduating from WVU in 2012, Burton has played in the Women’s National Basketball League in her home country of Australia. Her first three years were with her hometown team the West Coast Waves in Perth. Last year, she left her home city and signed a one-year deal with the Melbourne Boomers. Burton’s absence from her hometown was short-lived when she signed a contract with the newly formed Perth Lynx earlier this year.
“It was hard for me to be away from home in Melbourne,” stated Burton. “Obviously, it’s great to be back home and with my family again. That played a big part of my decision.”
The Lynx are under the same ownership as the NBL’s Perth Wildcats, and Burton is expecting great things with her new team.
“With the new owners, we are doing everything similar to the men’s program,” said Burton. “The men’s program is the most successful in Australia. They have the resources, media and all of those things that you need. The aim is to make the Perth Lynx a lot more exciting to watch.”
Burton has also hit the international stage since her departure from WVU. In 2013, she made her debut for the Australian Opals against China in the World University Games. Since then, Burton has collected two FIBA Oceania Championships (2013 & 2015) and a pair of bronze medals at the 2013 World University Games and 2014 FIBA World Championship. In August, Burton once again helped the Australian National Team win the FIBA Oceania Championship and punch a ticket to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
2015 FIBA Oceania Championships
She credits the Mountaineer coaching staff for helping her build the mental toughness it takes to succeed at the next level.
“When I look back from my experiences at WVU, the biggest thing I learned from the coaches was the mental toughness and the persistence it requires to be successful at this level,” Burton exclaimed. “Training every day and having coaches yell at you for three hours is tough. When I look back, I have gained the discipline needed to deal with difficult situations.”
Coach Mike Carey always mentions to his players about the “Mountaineer Family” and that sentiment rings true for Burton.
“I miss my time there every day,” said Burton, who returned to Morgantown earlier this summer. “I always try to find time to come back and visit. We created a little basketball family. It even extended beyond basketball to the wider community. It’s something special and something I’ll never forget.”
Burton and the Perth Lynx are currently in preseason training before the 2015-16 season opens next month against the Sydney Uni Flames on October 10.
