How the NBL1 Helped Potter’s Recovery

By Rani Hodges for NBL1.com.au

Dandenong Rangers and UC Capitals star Gemma Potter opened up on the mental struggles and road to recovery after having two ACL surgeries in just 18 months on the WNBL Show this week.

Potter first sustained an injury to her left knee in May 2021 while representing Victoria at the under 20 national championships. It was followed by another knee injury to her other knee in the first quarter of round one of the WNBL season in November.

In-between injuries, Potter played with the Dandenong Ranges in NBL1 South, averaging 21.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Potter explained how the first injury has in fact helped her with recovery the second time round.

“It was a freak accident, it wasn’t my body giving out on me, it was my other leg,” Potter told the WNBL Show.

“This time is a bit easier because I know what I have to do to get back.

“You can never mentally prepare for this to happen but definitely just knowing what I have to do and each little step I remember what it was like, so I have something to compare it against, whether I’m getting it right or wrong.”




The first injury was a quicker recovery than usual for Potter due to COVID.

“I never expected to do it but got back on the road to recover pretty quickly,” she said.

“Luckily for me I actually had COVID, everyone else was shut down, but because we were able to get those exemptions, I was able to do gym and go on court. So, I progressed better than I thought I would.”

Potter emphasised how important playing for the Ranges was, as it aided her recovery, both mentally and physically.

The youngster also hit two impressive game-winners in her Dandenong stint against Nunawading and Sandringham.

“I started playing at the nine and a half month, 10 month mark,” Potter said.

“Playing was awesome. I got the NBL1 season behind me and went into preseason, all the balls were rolling, it was all going really well, and unfortunately did do it again in round one (of the WNBL season).

“I don’t think it was actually probably until maybe three quarters of the NBL1 season where I wasn’t stepping off the court, being thankful that I didn’t do my knee again. Finally got past that point and did do it again.”

With a long road ahead to get back on the court, Potter’s aim is to get back into the WNBL as soon as possible, with a potential return to the NBL1 first.

“Hopefully WNBL, I think I’ll join an NBL1 team…to progress back obviously it’s going to be a very slow progress and finding those core people who you trust so you know how they play, and they know how you play, so it is just progressing back,” Potter said.

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