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Temi Fagbenle reflects on the defining moments, philosophies, and passions that continue to shape her life both on and off the court.
Temi Fagbenle has spent nearly two decades proving herself on basketball’s biggest stages. While basketball has opened doors she once only imagined, it has also given her the freedom to explore the many dimensions of who she is. As an actress, mentor, advocate, and philanthropist, Fagbenle’s success has never solely been about remaining within the boundaries of a single profession. She has learned to embrace every opportunity and to evolve with intention, curiosity, and purpose.
In this edition of #WorkLife, Temi reflects on the defining experiences that reshaped her understanding of success. She shares how she learned that her worth extended beyond playing time in the WNBA while discovering a deeper sense of purpose in mentoring young athletes across Africa. She also discusses her transition into more acting roles with an upcoming spot in the highly anticipated “Children of Blood and Bone”. She discusses the discipline required to sustain an elite career and why she believes the richest lives are built not by choosing a single identity but by having the courage to pursue every authentic passion.
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You’ve built an impressive career in the WNBA. Looking back, what first made you believe that basketball could become more than a passion and that it could become your life’s work?
Temi Fagbenle via Temi Fagbenle I count myself very lucky to be still playing basketball at this age and for so long. I first started at 14. My coach at the time showed me a video of a WNBA game. And I thought to myself, “I think I could do this; I think I could get there one day.” So I made it my goal to reach the WNBA.
I didn’t expect a long career. For basketball to become something I’ve done since I was 14, and I’m now 33, it’s such a blessing. It’s such a blessing to have been on this journey and to have visited so many countries, experienced so many cultures, met so many people, and had so many opportunities open up to me.
I honestly can’t say that it’s my life’s work; I’ve never wanted to be pigeonholed as just a basketball player. I have so many other interests that I consider all part of my life’s work.
Truthfully, over the last five years, I have finally started to embrace being a basketball player because it has afforded me so much and opened so many doors. For example, I’m interested in acting, and being a basketball player at my level was part of why I was considered for an audition.
I see how impactful just being me is to other people. And that makes me want to be better in my respective field, as a person, and just overall. Whenever I see a young girl or young boy light up from watching me, seeing me, or talking to me, it gives me a sense of purpose and fulfilment that what I’m doing is the right thing for me.
A professional season demands constant travel, training, and adapting to new environments. What does a typical day look like for you during the season, and are there any routines or rituals that help you stay physically and mentally prepared?
A typical day during the season, if it’s a practice day, I wake up around 8 a.m. to prepare for practice. Thankfully, on this team, they provide breakfast for us, so all I have to do is get up, maybe do my morning routine. And then head to practice, which is about 20 minutes away from where I live.
Sometimes we watch a film as a team, depending on the day. And then after practice, I lift weights. After that, I will probably have treatment with the physiotherapist, depending on the day. Any recovery modalities that I need to use, I do. And then I usually go straight to pick up my daily bubble tea. It’s the one thing I give myself every day, like a little treat.
Suppose there is time left in the day. I use that to catch up on work, call family, relax, chill, nap, depending on what I need to do. My schedule doesn’t leave me much time to myself each day, especially if other activities and events are going on after practice.
You’ve reached some of the highest levels in professional basketball while representing multiple cultures and communities. Looking back on your journey, what has been one defining moment that changed the way you saw yourself as both an athlete and a leader?
There is definitely more than one defining moment that made me look at my position as an athlete and a leader and view my life through a different lens. These are the two that come to mind.
The first one is when I first got into the WNBA and was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2016. I ended up finishing my master’s degree at the University of South Carolina, so I didn’t play that year. However, I joined the team in 2017, the year after I had finished my master’s. I came into the team ready to contribute, ready to give my all and continue the strong play I was showing in college. Then, I was at my strongest; I was fit and ready to compete.
But that year, we had five superstar starters who led that team. There was no space, really, for any rookies to play. I found myself relegated to the bench for pretty much the whole season. The only time I would play was when we were up 30 points or down 30 points, and when it didn’t matter either way.
So, I really had to learn how to be useful without playing. I had to understand that my value wasn’t tied to being a basketball player, whether I was playing on the court or not. Then, I had to really be introspective and understand that I am worthy with or without playing. And I’m thankful that I was able to learn that lesson early. I was kind of just finding my footing in a new professional environment, where you just want to do your best and perform. But that opportunity wasn’t there, so I had to find another way to be a good teammate, to be a good person, and to show good character at the end of the day. This set the tone for how I would approach the rest of my career.
Another defining moment was when I joined the Giants of Africa team as a coach, and I travelled to different African countries to mentor and coach the young kids there, and I just remember feeling a sense of fulfilment, joy, happiness, and pride at seeing these young African players be so happy, competitive and great teammates to each other.
It was such a beautiful thing to see, because I had never seen it before. I had only seen basketball through the eyes of Europe and America. Seeing it through an African lens was such a joy and such a privilege, and to be able to mentor those kids and give them words of advice and boost them up and speak life into them, that was just a feeling that I will never forget.
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You’re now making your feature film debut in “Children of Blood and Bone.” What inspired you to step into acting, and what did that experience teach you about yourself beyond sport?
Temi Fagbenle via Temi Fagbenle From a young age, I jumped into acting. I was always doing it in school; I did plays and took classes, and I was good at it. I really enjoyed it, so when basketball started, unfortunately, I didn’t have time to act as much as I wanted to. It was always something that I tried to engage with whenever I could, taking a class here and there in high school and college and doing plays where I could. It was always just a nice outlet.
I also come from a very creative and athletic family. I watched my older brothers be in the theatre and on TV, and really succeed. It was always so inspiring to see them be successful at their craft and do it so well. The feeling I got watching them was something that I wanted to be able to make others feel as well.
I didn’t love playing basketball at the beginning; theatre was just me kind of rebelling against it and just trying to find other things to do, to make me happy. I’m really thankful for acting, and its position in my life.
Your career spans athletics, entertainment, philanthropy, and advocacy. Have there been moments when you’ve questioned taking such a multifaceted path, and what approach guides this exploration?
There have definitely been moments where I’ve thought maybe I should focus on one thing. But then I realised that that’s just not me. That’s just not what I want. It’s natural for me to want to do everything that I’m interested in.
Sometimes I’m not able to pour from a full cup into all of those interests, but at least I’m doing the things I want to do. I try to give myself the necessary downtime and rest to fill my cup up again so that I can continue with all the things I want to do. And at the end of the day, we only have this life to live, so we might as well go at everything with full force.
High-performance sport often requires discipline and resilience. What philosophies, habits, or personal values have been most important in helping you sustain excellence throughout your career?
Though I started basketball reluctantly, I always gave my 100%. Obviously, some days would be better than others, but as I matured, I learned how to be more consistent. I always remember thinking that if I’m going to do basketball, then why not just do it to the best of my ability? What’s the point if you don’t give it your all? I was scared that I’d be wasting time otherwise. That has been my philosophy throughout my life and my career, just give your 100%, fight, and be resilient. Try to be as consistent and disciplined as possible.
Personally, I love the battle of self; I love the challenge of trying to be better each day. Sometimes you just won’t feel great. And that’s fine. You just show up anyway. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And that’s the same philosophy I take going into the game. You’re never going to win the game in the first five minutes. Be patient. Stick with what you’ve learned, and what you know to work, which is teamwork, hustle, and effort. Ultimately, may the best woman win. At the end of the day, I just want to be the best me I can be. It’s not a competition between me and anyone else, but instead it’s a competition between me and myself.
I’m grateful to have had some wonderful role models among my veterans, and I’ve just watched those who were successful, what they did, and how they carried themselves. There’s always discipline and structure within success, and that’s something that I’ve tried to instil in my own habits in life. I’m someone who likes to go with the flow a lot of the time, but being disciplined has really changed the game. Basketball has provided me with that discipline and structure. I know exactly what I will be doing and when. By playing basketball, I mastered the art of persevering and doing things even when I don’t feel like it. How do you react when faced with adversity? Do you lean in or shy away? I learned to lean in, and I’m so grateful for that.
Who are the basketball players you watched growing up that inspired you to love and play basketball professionally?
Temi Fagbenle via Temi Fagbenle I grew up watching my brothers play basketball. That’s where I got the inspiration to become a better basketball player. I took something from each of their games, and it shaped who I wanted to be as a basketball player. I am very grateful for them. Aside from that, I didn’t really watch professional basketball, and I didn’t really have many role models. But when I got older, I started to see more basketball games, especially women’s basketball, and I loved Elena Deladon’s game. I loved watching her.
Then I also watched Kyrie Irving and Michael Beasley. Of course, I watched players like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and they inspired me. More recently, Joel Embiid and Jokic inspire me. I just love their footwork and their poise. Kevin Durant, I would say, comes to mind as a player whose shooting I would like to emulate a bit when it comes to shooting capabilities. In general, I just love the confidence that American basketball players play with, especially the men. They just don’t care and think they are the greatest on this planet ever to do it.
As someone navigating professional sport, entertainment, and public life, what advice would you give to young women who want to pursue multiple passions without feeling pressured to fit into just one box?
Just go for it! Anything that you want to do, do it. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
No matter what people are telling you or what vibes people are giving you, you know, how the haters can get. It doesn’t matter what people think. Especially if it’s detracting from your goals and your vision. Believe in yourself first and foremost, and listen to your intuition
I’m still working on discernment and knowing what my intuition is saying. Don’t expect anyone to help you on that journey. Maybe you will receive help, but that should not be an expectation. That help should always be in addition to the work you are already putting in to achieve your own goals. Reach for the stars. Find a mentor if you can. Nowadays, you can reach out online through LinkedIn, DMs, or email. If you really want it, you’re gonna find a way to get it. Don’t feel like they need to succumb to societal expectations of this or that. Find your joy!
When people look back at your career decades from now, not just the statistics, but the full body of your work, what do you hope they remember about the legacy you’ve built both on and off the court?
I just hope people think positively whenever they think of me and what I’ve done.
I hope that the majority of people can say that she’s a good person. It doesn’t really matter what people think. It really doesn’t. Because I know what I think. At the end of the day, that’s the most important thing. When you know who you are.
I want to show up as my full and authentic self. Whenever I can be myself. 100% act with love and with joy in my heart, only good things can result from that. So I’m not concerned with legacy, honestly, but more with living in the now and being of service to other people. I hope that people can experience my authenticity, enjoy it and benefit from it in some form or fashion. That’s what people will remember and share with others.
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React to this post!The post Beyond the court: Temi Fagbenle on the WNBA, acting, and living out all her dreams appeared first on Marie Claire Nigeria.
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