Alaina Coates discusses mental health, therapy, Turkey

INDIANAPOLIS — Alaina Coates has skilled peaks most individuals solely dream of, however to seek out herself once more, the Indiana Fever heart needed to take a tough look within the mirror and analyze the valleys.

She could not outrun what she was feeling, not after the whole lot she’d been via. So, to be able to save her profession, Coates briefly let it go.

“Not enjoying final 12 months, I simply took that private, however not in a foul approach. I simply wanted to work on myself,” Coates mentioned. ” … I really feel very achieved. I labored very arduous to get again right here.”

As Coates stood on the baseline of the Fever’s observe courtroom Thursday — about two years faraway from her final WNBA recreation with the Washington Mystics in 2020 — she peeled again the curtain on her hiatus from the league in 2021. Throughout that point off, she received a therapist and made her psychological well being a precedence. It was the primary time Coates had really examined the highs and lows of her life.

In a two-year span, she went from successful a nationwide championship at South Carolina and being drafted second total by the Chicago Sky in 2017, to lacking her total rookie season as a consequence of a proper ankle damage and having her 55-year-old father, Gary, die from cardiac arrest on March 13, 2018 — simply over two months earlier than she made her WNBA debut.

Admittedly, Coates mentioned she wasn’t in the suitable head house when her professional profession started, and whereas she tried to push via it, she ultimately realized that conserving her foot on the fuel pedal wasn’t the reply.

“I took (my psychological well being) severe, however I did not take it as severe as I ought to have,” Coates mentioned. “And at one level I used to be like, ‘ what? I feel that is what I actually really feel like I have to do to assist get me again to the place I was.’ I used to be simply very glad that I used to be in a position to acknowledge that as a result of it was so much. My dad passing and probably not having the ability to see any of my WNBA profession, after which the way it’s went since then. That is my fifth workforce in 4 years, so I used to be identical to, ‘One thing’s gotta change.’ And I do know {that a} large a part of what may change begins with me.” 

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Coates mentioned it wasn’t straightforward to face the sentiments she beforehand tried to suppress, however consequently she’s sure she’s develop into a greater particular person and participant.

The 6-4 heart returned to the courtroom in October 2021, competing abroad for Nesibe Aydın GSK within the EuroCup and Turkish Tremendous League. Coates averaged 14.9 factors and 12.8 rebounds in 10 EuroCup video games, and 17.9 factors and 12.9 rebounds in 29 Turkish Tremendous League contests.

The Fever took discover of Coates’ stellar play and signed her in February. She missed the primary three video games of the season whereas ending up in Turkey and have become part of the lively roster Wednesday. Coates was held out of Friday’s highway win towards the New York Liberty as she will get reacclimated to the workforce.

Indiana hosts the Atlanta Dream on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which is able to seemingly be Coates’ debut. The 27-year-old believes it will mark a pivotal level in her profession.

“I simply need to present folks that there is a new narrative behind my identify,” Coates mentioned. “I do know a lot has been mentioned about me through the years, with the completely different groups and probably not producing and all of that stuff, however that does not actually matter. I take advantage of that as motivation. You may say what you need about me, however what you possibly can’t say from this second on is that, ‘She’s not going to work arduous,’ as a result of I made certain that it was an entire change after I went via what I went via.”

Coates nonetheless goes to remedy and may have digital classes all through the season. She hopes that by being clear about her struggles, it will break down psychological well being stigma and empower others to hunt the assistance they want.

“Psychological well being is simply as necessary as being bodily match,” Coates mentioned. ” … And I really feel like in the event you acknowledge that quite a lot of issues are happening and chances are you’ll need assistance, it is best to simply go. There’s nothing improper with it. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It would not make you any much less of an individual. We’re all human. All of us have feelings. We all have emotions, and life can get overwhelming typically. I do know for me, going to remedy there have been quite a lot of underlying issues that I did not even understand I used to be coping with, and it has helped me get to the house I am in at this time.“

Observe IndyStar Pacers beat author James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Attain him through e mail: jboyd1@gannett.com.