ShaRae Mansfield: The Unexpected Path to Basketball Greatness

About the Guest(s):

ShaRae Mansfield is a former professional basketball player who began her athletic journey in a different sport. Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, she originally pursued track and field during her middle school years. However, a mishap in a relay race led her to switch to basketball—a path that unveiled her natural talent. ShaRae excelled as a basketball player at Louisville Dupont Manual High School and Western Kentucky University, where she remains among the top 10 in women's basketball scoring and rebounding. Her skills earned her a spot in the WNBA with the Houston Comets. After injuries cut her promising career short, ShaRae pivoted academically, achieving a doctorate in psychology and founding a nonprofit clinic to help others cope with significant life changes.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of "Kentucky Sports Memories," host Gary Fogle introduces ShaRae Mansfield, a former WNBA player whose athletic career began in an unexpected sport. Discover how a track and field setback inadvertently propelled ShaRae to basketball stardom, eventually leading her to the Houston Comets. However, fate had more twists in store, as injuries prematurely ended her professional career. This episode provides a compelling exploration of ShaRae's journey, from overcoming early hurdles to finding new purpose and fulfillment in psychology.

ShaRae Mansfield's story is one of resilience and transformation. Initially finding herself talented but not enamored with track, a dropped baton in a relay race became the catalytic event that turned her focus to basketball—a decision that forever changed her path. Despite not scoring her first basketball field goal until the end of eighth grade, ShaRae flourished in high school and college basketball, leading to a professional career until injuries intervened. Now a psychologist, ShaRae provides support through her nonprofit clinic to others who face life-altering transitions, including military personnel and recently divorced individuals. Her journey underscores the importance of adaptability and the unexpected ways success can emerge from failure.

Key Takeaways:

• ShaRae Mansfield's journey from track to basketball began with a relay race mishap, demonstrating how setbacks can redirect us toward our true calling.

• Despite a late start in basketball, ShaRae excelled at Louisville Dupont Manual High School and Western Kentucky University, earning a top-ten spot in both scoring and rebounding.

• Injuries cut short her WNBA career with the Houston Comets, leading ShaRae to shift focus and earn a doctorate in psychology.

• She now runs a nonprofit to help individuals, including athletes and military personnel, navigate life changes and identity transitions after significant personal losses.

• ShaRae’s story exemplifies how resilience and adaptability can redefine setbacks as stepping stones to new opportunities.

Notable Quotes:

• "It was almost like God just came down and was like, okay, this is what you're gonna do, ShaRae. I'm gonna just give you some talent. Here you go."

• "If the baton hadn't been dropped in that exchange... she may have never quit track, may have never taken up basketball..."

• "I didn't make my first shot until to the end of my eighth grade year... I was, it was, it was horrible."

• "What happens is, when we retire prematurely, we suffer a loss. I thought I was going to be playing for at least 10 to 15 years..."

• "I'm at a point where I can give back to athletes who went through or they're gonna go through the same thing that I went through."

Join Gary Fogle as he continues to explore the stories behind the events and figures that have left a lasting mark on the world of sports in Kentucky. Listen to the full episode to learn how ShaRae Mansfield turned a sports mishap into a lifelong lesson of resilience and adaptability, leading her to empower others through her work in psychology. Don't miss more thought-provoking content on ”Kentucky Sports Memories” and stay tuned for more captivating episodes of Kentucky Sports Memories.