Basketball On The Internet.

WHAT is life REALLY like when you're stranded interstate, potentially for months on end due to COVID protocols? Brad Rosen and I wanted to bring that insight to our listeners and in Perth Lynx star Alex Ciabattoni, we found the perfect insider. This is another "must listen" for fans of our Brad&Boti podcast.

Ciabattoni - or "Chibba" to her friends - is a Betty Watson Rookie of the Year award-winner in the WNBL who broke into the league with Adelaide Lightning and now is a Perth Lynx fixture.

A star at Newman University in US college basketball and also in the SEABL with Hobart, Alex is as candid a guest as we have had the pleasure to interview.

The realities of college basketball are exposed and also how former NBL star Mark Nash influenced her move to the Lynx and back into the WNBL.

A stint in Italy before her return to the Lynx brings us uptodate with the realities of lockdown and relocation to Ballarat.

It is quite the story, two preseasons, COVID ripping through the team, told the girls will be allowed back into Perth from February 5 ... to call Season 2022 "challenging" is an understatement.

After finally opening the season against her former Lightning club in Adelaide, the Lynx hit Ballarat where they sat for 10 days. And while the city has embraced its newfound WNBL team from the west, it is not the most convenient of locations to stay locked down.

The mental challenges, the challenges for those players in the team additionally holding down jobs in Perth which they cannot attend, the extended time away from family and the 24-7 nature of being together all the time - it is taking a severe emotional toll.

Yet whenever they hit the court, and that could be for a game at very short notice, everyone expects the players to be at their best.

The behind-the-scenes tears - Alex tells us the full story and it is rivetting.

We also hear her opinions about WNBL decision-making and also insights into notable WNBL identities Sami Whitcomb, Leilani Mitchell, Chris Lucas, Steph Talbot, Laura Hodges and Lauren Scherf.

Hit this link to access it right now, or go to your preferred podcast destinations at Spotify or Apple. But make sure you do it because this is one not to be missed.