Rustlers’ Guard Signs Pro Contract Down Under

"Nothing is given to you and do not take anything for granted. If you work hard, you're going to be rewarded."  

Lakeland College Rustlers point guard Tori Dugan is living proof of that statement, after signing a pro contract with the South West Slammers club in WNBL 1 West in Western Australia, the same team she played for while being recruited by the Rustlers.

Dugan, who stands at 5'5" and originally hails from Perth, Australia, started her post-secondary basketball career at Lakeland in 2014, and seven years later, she's returning to the very club she got her start at, only this time, as a professional athlete.

"I was so immature when I came in," said Dugan, who is now 25-years-old. "I guess every 18-year-old is, but I honestly wanted to do one or two years and go to the States, but, you'd never get the life experience, the school experience, the basketball experience that you would get here, anywhere else, and I don't care what anybody says."

Rustlers women's basketball head coach, Chris King, echoed Dugan's remarks regarding her start with the team, but was quick to point out how much she has grown on and off the court over the years.

"As a fifth-year player, when you say her name, for me as a coach, she's just a winner," said King, adding the fact Dugan put up 28 points in the opening game of this season. "She'll do anything it takes to win, and she does not let her team lose that often.  Over the last two years when we won the championship, she really started to score the ball in the playoffs. She always had that ability, but she's such a selfless player in terms of passing and defending."

For Dugan, the process of turning pro was something she'd never experienced before, and felt a sigh of relief when everything was said and done. 

"When you're in the process of going pro, money's involved, and for me, I didn't want to sell myself thinking 'I'm worth this much,' but you have to, because it's business, and it's cut-throat," she said.  "Eventually I went with my gut. I think I always knew where I wanted to play, and I ended up signing with a team I played for as a junior." 

King was also excited to see Dugan returning to the Slammers to assume the role of point guard, and by Dugan's standards, a role model for other players.

"Tori had five or six clubs pursuing her, probably in the same range for money, but she's such a loyal character that it was important for her to build the franchise she grew up with," he said.  "Her confidence has really stepped up, and I'm excited to see that parlay when she goes back home. I don't think she realizes how good she's got over the last few years, especially ball screening and decision making."

It's almost full circle for King as well, as the Slammers were the team he originally scouted her from. 

"She was one of the youngest in the state and she played at 15, which is crazy because you're playing against 38-year-olds some nights," he said.

The Slammers aren't what they once were, but Dugan explained their coaching staff is building the team around her.

"When I was signing with the Slammers they told me 'We want you, and we want to build a team around you,' and that for me was a no-brainer," she said.  "They're rebuilding and didn't win a game last season, but the year I made my debut with them in 2015, we won the championship."

Dugan may have signed on the dotted line, but her heart is still at Lakeland and she and the rest of the team have some unfinished business to take care of.  In March of 2020 the Rustlers women's basketball team won its first gold medal, but due to COVID, never made it to Nationals as the season was put on hold.

"Now that I'm signed, I know that's where I'm going at the end of April, but this is my priority, here. I'm completely focused on this season here," she said.  "ACAC gold is not what we go for. We want to go to Nationals and medal and prove we're the best team in Canada, especially for us older players.  We really want that national title, and I don't think people realize how much we've been through over the past two years. It's been full of heartbreak with so many ups and downs, and a lot of anxiety, depression and mental health problems without us even realizing it."

Over the past three years, Dugan has also been very active in coaching youth basketball through the Hoop Factory and Golden Ticket Sports.

"Over the last three years, she's really found her voice on the coaching stage," said King.  "She does a lot of coaching and teaching, especially in that Kindergarten to Grade 8 level. In my mind, this is one of the hardest levels to coach because you're trying to keep them focused and teach skills, so I've been really proud to see her develop those skills.

"Down the road, I could see her assistant coaching in a post-secondary institution somewhere, or even chasing the Australia path and start working with a semi-pro team after she's done and going that route."

Article provided by:  Taylor Weaver, Meridian Source