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Kayla spent years chasing the dream of playing basketball overseas. She trained, sacrificed, and pushed through setbacks with the goal of turning pro. But after college, that dream didn’t happen.

What followed was a quiet but difficult shift. One where she had to face the question that many athletes avoid until it’s too late: What now?

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Kayla about the realities of life after sport—when you’ve put your whole identity into your game, and suddenly it’s not there anymore. Kayla’s story is honest, emotional, and deeply relatable for anyone who’s felt lost after walking away from the thing they’ve worked toward their whole life.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Kayla’s relationship with basketball shaped her life from a young age
• What it felt like to give everything to a sport, only to end up without a contract
• The impact of injury, lack of play time, and how that affected her confidence
• Why “floating” after graduation is more common than most people admit
• How Kayla found purpose by returning to serve athletes at her alma mater
• The role faith played in helping her rebuild her identity
• What helped her move from regret to gratitude
• How she’s using her story to support the next generation of athletes through transition
• The power of letting go of what you thought your life should look like, and owning what it is

💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
“Basketball gave me so much, but it also took a lot from me. Learning how to move forward meant accepting both.”

If you’re in the middle of a career shift or trying to figure out what’s next after sport, Kayla’s story will remind you that it’s ok to start again—and that you’re not alone.

Connect with Ryan and Second Wind Academy:

• Website: https://www.2ndwind.io/
• Instagram: @secondwindacademy
  
  

Credits:

• Editing: Nancy at Savvy Podcast Solutions
• Design: Claire at Betty Book Design
• Show Notes: Cerise from Copy & Content by Lola