Jacki Gemelos’ journey to the WNBA is the unlikeliest of tales. The 26-year-old was drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Lynx in 2012 but was unable to make it onto the court.

She was kept out that season while rehabbing an injury and the Lynx brought her back in 2013, but she didn’t make the team. If the story ended there it would sound typical of plenty who chase a career in the WNBA.

But that’s not where Gemelos’ story ends. The University of Southern California graduate was signed recently by the Chicago Sky, and she’ll get a chance to make her WNBA debut Friday against the Atlanta Dream.

What makes her story so spectacular, though, is how she got to this point. The guard has endured five ACL tears since her senior year of high school. The first tear came during her final high school game, which was followed by four more tears while in college.

Despite the injuries, Gemelos never gave up on her dream to one day make it to the WNBA.

”The hardest part for me was when my dad asked me to please stop,” Gemelos told the Associated Press. ”He’s the one that drove me to every AAU tournament, killed himself to make sure I was at every practice. He rebounded for me every day since I was a little girl.”

Gemelos toiled overseas in the Italian League, playing with the likes of Chiney Ogwumike and Carolyn Swords. Her play did not go unnoticed. She averaged 14 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists for Umbertide. Now, at long last, she’ll get a chance to continue her playing career in the WNBA.

”I had tears of joy, tears of every emotion that I felt,” told the AP. ”Even when I was putting on the uniform in my first scrimmage, I was tearing up inside. Wearing that jersey and being so close. It was tough when they cut me, but now I’ll be able to play in my first real WNBA game. It’s going to be hard to keep it together.”

To read the full story from the Associated Press, click here.