Getting to know you... Donna Loffhagen
Name:
Donna Loffhagen
Position:
“I’m sorta like a 3, 4. I’m a bit small now. Everyone’s bigger than me, a lot taller.”
Country:
New Zealand
Have you met Margo Dydek yet?
“I’ve played against her. It was very daunting, walking out to do the jump ball.”
What is your favorite book?
“I enjoyed The Pillars of Earth, but I don’t really have a favorite book. I do a lot of reading though, because I spend a lot of time on planes.”
Were you a Girl Guide (Girl Scout)?
“Yeah, I did go for a while but it didn’t last very long. I ran out of days in the week. The only reason I think I went was because it was across the road (from my house). It wasn’t very far away. I didn’t have enough days in the week to do what I was doing so it didn’t last very long at all.”
Who is your favorite basketball player?
“I don’t really have one, to be honest. I’m pretty boring, aren’t I?”
Do you have a favorite netball player?
“No, there’s not many people who play netball. I could give you the name of a great netballer, but no one would have any idea who she was. She was awesome. Her name is Bernice Mene. She’s the most amazing player. Her brother used to play basketball so she understands the game.”
Is this the first professional team that you’ve played with?
“Pretty much. I did play half a season with the Canberra Capitals (of Australia’s WNBL).”
Is this your first time in Connecticut? What was your first impression?
“Yes. It’s very spread out. There are lots of trees. It’s cool because at home I live on a farm, so the nearest supermarket is like 30 minutes away. To be honest, I haven’t had a really good look around. I’ve been in the hotel, and I’ve been out about twice. I don’t understand why, in all the houses, no one has fences. At home, every property has a fence around it. It’s just random. All of a sudden there’s just a house there on a street.”
Who is the player you most look forward to playing against and why?
“To be honest, if I get on the team, whoever I play against is going to be tough. To me, it’s all unknown. I’m going to have to rely on scouting. I’ve played against some of the players in the WNBA, when we (New Zealand) played against U.S.A., but I don’t know enough about (any of the players). Everyone I come up against is going to be tough ‘cause I’ll know nothing about them. I guess I’ll have to watch a lot of game tape.”
Who is the player you most look forward to playing with?
DL: Ummm…Megan Mahoney: Megan Mahoney!
DL: (laughing) Oh, of course. I love playing on a team that is a team. I’ve only heard good things about this team. As I said, I don’t know enough about the players and their backgrounds. I feel bloody old though! Everyone’s so young. I wouldn’t have a favorite person that I’m really looking forward to playing with. Just having the opportunity to play with a team that is a team. That is the biggest thing.
What would you be doing if you were not here at Sun training camp?
“I would be at home sleeping right now. I would be finishing my degree in sport and recreation. I’ve got like three papers left to go, and I’m never at home to do them. I’m contemplating going the following year to do teaching. Right at this moment, other than sleeping – because that’s the time zone – I’d be working on the farm or doing something to help around the farm.”
What kind of farm do you have?
“We have deer and, of course, sheep and some beef cattle and crops. It’s pretty full on. We have like about 12 full-time staff, and I get lost around the farm. I’ve lived out there for two-and-a-half years, and it’s only now that I’ve started knowing exactly where I’m supposed to be. It takes me an hour and a quarter to drive to town to go do my study. That’s pretty much what I’d be doing. I’d be out on the farm or in the books. Boring, eh? Nah, it’s really cool. We’re very close to everything. We’re an hour from the lake. There’s water-skiing and we have a house up by the lake. Queenstown’s only an hour and a half away.”
What is one thing you have learned since coming to Connecticut?
“There’s another Kiwi here, and he’s going to invite me for dinner. I haven’t really learned a lot to be honest. I hear that there’s wild deer running around, which I find bizarre, and that there’s a season where you’re allowed to shoot them. My dad would go crazy and want to come over here because he goes deer-stalking at home. All of our deer are obviously in pens. Yeah, it’s unreal. I haven’t seen any yet. I love them. When I run (back in New Zealand), they run with me. It’s really cute. ”
Do you have any superstitions/pregame rituals?
“I guess, because this is a new environment, I am very superstitious. With my old team, for eight years, I had the same place in the training room and it’s the little things. I had to walk on the letters. I’m very superstitious. I like things to be done the same way before games.”
What is your favorite basketball moment?
“Probably when we were beating the U.S.A. (in the Olympics). I think we were up five-nil and, it might have even been seven-nil. It was quite funny. No one wanted to watch it on TV – it was on TV at home. This was when we were in Athens. They were like, ‘Oh my God, we’re winning.’ So then everyone was watching until U.S.A. did a 5-for-5 job. Then we got thrashed. But that’s our claim to fame. Here’s little ole’ New Zealand. Beating China at Athens was a highlight. It was only the second time ever we’d beaten them, and it put us in the quarterfinals. To beat China when we’re little ‘ole New Zealand. We only won by two points. It was right at the end. Megan Compain hit a shot. That was one of the most unreal experiences in New Zealand sport. It was huge. It was definitely the highlight. Then we played Australia and got thrashed.”
