INDIANAPOLIS — Alaina Coates has skilled peaks most individuals solely dream of, however to search out herself once more, the Indiana Fever heart needed to take a tough look within the mirror and analyze the valleys.
She could not outrun what she was feeling, not after the whole lot she’d been via. So, as a way to save her profession, Coates briefly let it go.
“Not enjoying final 12 months, I simply took that private, however not in a foul manner. I simply wanted to work on myself,” Coates mentioned. ” … I really feel very completed. I labored very laborious to get again right here.”
As Coates stood on the baseline of the Fever’s observe court docket Thursday — about two years faraway from her final WNBA sport with the Washington Mystics in 2020 — she peeled again the curtain on her hiatus from the league in 2021. Throughout that point off, she obtained a therapist and made her psychological well being a precedence. It was the primary time Coates had really examined the highs and lows of her life.
In a two-year span, she went from successful a nationwide championship at South Carolina and being drafted second total by the Chicago Sky in 2017, to lacking her total rookie season attributable to a proper ankle harm and having her 55-year-old father, Gary, die from cardiac arrest on March 13, 2018 — simply over two months earlier than she made her WNBA debut.
Admittedly, Coates mentioned she wasn’t in the precise head area when her professional profession started, and whereas she tried to push via it, she finally realized that preserving her foot on the gasoline pedal wasn’t the reply.
“I took (my psychological well being) severe, however I did not take it as severe as I ought to have,” Coates mentioned. “And at one level I used to be like, ‘ what? I feel that is what I really really feel like I have to do to assist get me again to the place I was.’ I used to be simply very glad that I used to be capable of acknowledge that as a result of it was rather a lot. My dad passing and not likely with the ability to see any of my WNBA profession, after which the way it’s went since then. That is my fifth workforce in 4 years, so I used to be identical to, ‘One thing’s gotta change.’ And I do know {that a} huge a part of what may change begins with me.”
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Coates mentioned it wasn’t simple to face the emotions she beforehand tried to suppress, however in consequence she’s sure she’s turn out to be a greater particular person and participant.
The 6-4 heart returned to the court docket in October 2021, competing abroad for Nesibe Aydın GSK within the EuroCup and Turkish Tremendous League. Coates averaged 14.9 factors and 12.8 rebounds in 10 EuroCup video games, and 17.9 factors and 12.9 rebounds in 29 Turkish Tremendous League contests.
The Fever took discover of Coates’ stellar play and signed her in February. She missed the primary three video games of the season whereas ending up in Turkey and have become part of the lively roster Wednesday. Coates was held out of Friday’s highway win in opposition to the New York Liberty as she will get reacclimated to the workforce.
Indiana hosts the Atlanta Dream on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which can possible be Coates’ debut. The 27-year-old believes it will mark a pivotal level in her profession.
“I simply need to present folks that there is a new narrative behind my identify,” Coates mentioned. “I do know a lot has been mentioned about me through the years, with the completely different groups and not likely producing and all of that stuff, however that does not actually matter. I take advantage of that as motivation. You may say what you need about me, however what you may’t say from this second on is that, ‘She’s not going to work laborious,’ as a result of I made positive that it was a whole change after I went via what I went via.”
Coates nonetheless goes to remedy and could have digital classes all through the season. She hopes that by being clear about her struggles, it will break down psychological well being stigma and empower others to hunt the assistance they want.
“Psychological well being is simply as vital as being bodily match,” Coates mentioned. ” … And I really feel like in case you acknowledge that plenty of issues are occurring and chances are you’ll need assistance, you must simply go. There’s nothing improper with it. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It would not make you any much less of an individual. We’re all human. All of us have feelings. We all have emotions, and life can get overwhelming typically. I do know for me, going to remedy there have been plenty of underlying issues that I did not even understand I used to be coping with, and it has helped me get to the area I am in in the present day.“
Comply with IndyStar Pacers beat author James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Attain him by way of e-mail: jboyd1@gannett.com.
