When your mum is a well-known professional basketballer, your dad played basketball professionally and you and your siblings all start playing the game as soon as you can run about a court, it’s probably not a huge surprise that you end up passionate about the game.  

Following a successful stint playing basketball for the University of Northern Illinois in the United States, Courtney Woods came back to Australia with a Bachelor of Health Science and a Masters in Sports Management and a desire to play professionally for her home country. 

Signing with the Townsville Fire back in 2020, Courtney is entering her fifth year playing in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). After signing a two-year contract extension, she has been named as one of the club captains ahead of the 2024/25 Season. In the “off season” she has kicked off her first season with the Darwin Salties, moving up to the Northern Territory in April.

“I love basketball,” Courtney states emphatically. “I’d play for free. I’m so lucky I get to do something I am so passionate about for a living.”

Luckily for Courtney and the other women playing in the league, she doesn’t have to play for free. Although a long time coming, Courtney notes that this is the first generation of female players who can make a living out of playing. 

“When my mum was playing in the 80’s players earned about $150 a month, so definitely not enough to live on.” 

And yet, not content with playing in two professional basketball leagues, Courtney also works part time for Ventia as a Project Coordinator.

So why the need for a ‘day job’?

“I love that I can play the game I’m so passionate about as well as gaining experience in project management,” Courtney says. “But it’s not as simple as going out and getting a job, as I need a role that’s flexible and enables me to move around. At the moment that means splitting my year between Darwin, Townsville and a few weeks in Brisbane with my parents. 

I love that I can play the game I’m so passionate about as well as gaining experience in project management,

As dedicated to the sport as she is, Courtney realised early on that at some point, her sporting career will end. 

“I think my body will give out before my will to play does, but I need to consider what’s best for me at that time,” she says. “Women also have to factor in when they want to have kids, as that can impact your career.” 

Courtney was therefore keen to gain work experience that will enable her to build a non-sporting career on the side, ready for the day she leaves the court (professionally speaking) for the last time. 

A role that had flexibility both in the hours worked and the location was key to Courtney being able to balance her sporting life with the corporate world. The role in Ventia’s Project and Workplace Solutions team ticked both those boxes. 

“Ventia’s sponsorship of the Darwin basketball stadium was something else that attracted me to the organisation,” Courtney notes. 

Courtney is about a month into her role as Project Coordinator in the Project & Workplace Solutions team, through which she does document control, forecasting, and generally just making sure the projects run smoothly. 

There are two projects currently underway in the region, an office fit out for the Bureau of Meteorology and a fencing project on the Cox Peninsula. Courtney and her boss, Project Lead Tom Lacey, also manage two projects in Western Australia. 

Ventia was willing to take a chance on me and give me the support and training I need to build a career in project management.

“I love the Project and Workplace Solutions team,” Courtney says. “They get really excited about everything and I love the enthusiasm. They’ve been so welcoming and they’re a very supportive team.”