Spending a season as a professional player for Ab Contern in Luxembourg has certainly helped the Dunedin Tall Fern take her game to the next level.
Her team wanted her in the game more, both on offence and defence, leaving the forward averaging 12 points and nine rebounds for the season, a jump from her Southern Hoiho statistics last season, when she averaged seven points and five rebounds.
The 25-year-old packed her bags quickly following the Tauihi League last season and jetted off to Europe, helping Ab Contern reach the cup semifinals and finish fifth in the regular season.
It took a while for her to adapt to her new "professional player" role — something she was not used to in New Zealand — but once she did, it benefited her game.
"It took me a while to adjust because I’m quite a team player," Richards said.
"I share the ball quite well, so I had to be a lot more selfish which I’m not used to being and us Kiwis are more [selfless].
"They really put a lot of faith in my three-point shooting. So even though I was like the tallest player, and I was their post player, they wanted me stepping out and shooting the ball lots."
The 25-year-old returned home only last week, but raved about her time in Europe, helping her gain confidence in shooting the ball more, but also off the court. She spent time travelling alone throughout Europe and was a better person for it.
"I feel like the whole experience didn’t just help me grow basketball, but me personally, I’ve developed a lot."
She is looking to bring all that experience back to her home team, having signed on for her second season with the Hoiho.
She was excited to be back in Dunedin, linking up with the squad for the upcoming Tauihi league.
"It’s nice to be back home, and then to be back home with my local team is nice.
"We have a good community here and to be home with friends and family."
But while she wanted to move forward with the Hoiho, she would still be looking back, drawing on her international experience from the past eight months.
"I’ve got a lot more perspective about, I guess, the level of playing as a professional basketballer and what it takes.
"So I really want to dedicate this season to really focusing on that and improving as a player.
"I guess, I’ve got a lot more confidence since playing overseas, and so I hope to bring that more to the court this season than what I did last season, and bring both offence and defence, be a strong rebounder, be more aggressive offensively, those types of things — something that I’m looking forward to."
Richards, who previously played in the United States, Australia and for the Otago Gold Rush, said the Tauihi league was really strong, helping local players develop against competitive imports and, in turn, giving them great exposure for overseas opportunities.
The Hoiho’s inaugural season was "rocky", recording one win and 11 losses.
While it was a good learning experience, this year is a "clean slate" for the side to do better, she said.
"This year, we know how fast the season goes, so I guess locking in early and I feel like we’ll come together a bit better this season — just exciting for everyone to get back on the court."
Todd Marshall has signed on as head coach, a move that excited Richards. Marshall coached her growing up, at club level, and for the Gold Rush, and knew all the Dunedin players well.
"I feel like he’s really going to get the best out of all the players because he knows everyone’s strengths and weaknesses.
"I think he’ll really do a good job of like bringing everyone together and getting on the same page."
