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After wrapping up her season with Galatasaray, Turkish guard Derin Erdogan had planned to take a break from basketball. However, a surprise call from the Liberty earlier this month quickly altered her off-season plans.
“It’s quite amusing,” Erdogan reflected on Tuesday. “I’ve always dreamed of playing in the WNBA, but I never anticipated it would happen this year. I thought maybe someday in the future, but for this year, I was mentally prepared to be done after the season.”
At 23, Erdogan was in the midst of packing for the EuroLeague Women Final Six in Zaragoza, Spain, when she received an unexpected phone call.
Seeing her agent’s name light up her phone at such a late hour left her puzzled, yet she assumed it must be something significant.
When her agent conveyed the news that the Liberty wanted to offer her a training camp contract, Erdogan found herself at a loss for words.
“I was just shocked,” she said. “I couldn’t react that much, but I was so happy. But I was just in shock basically and [my agent] was so confused because I couldn’t react. She was like, ‘You know this is an offer that you cannot decline?’ I’m like, ‘Obviously. I know, it’s just I’m in shock.’”
The reality started to sink in about 30 minutes later, she said.
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” she said. “So really happy to be here.”
The Liberty like Erdogan’s physicality and strength.
The 5-foot-6 point guard is an aggressive driver and scorer who gives the Liberty an additional facilitator at camp.
She could make a push for New York’s final developmental contract. But overall, she said she’s just enjoying the experience.
“I’m taking it step by step,” she said. “Just being grateful for this opportunity, trying to do my best, being a good teammate, having a great attitude, trying to go hard, play hard every single practice… Just want to enjoy the moment.”
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert previously discussed the potential for the league to explore playing a game outside of North America in the near future.
And Marine Johannès has just the place where the WNBA could make its international debut.
“I think Paris is a good spot actually,” Johannès said. “We already had an NBA game with [Victor Wembanyama] last time, so it was a pretty good, great event. A lot of people are coming, I feel like there is not enough space for everyone because everyone wants to go to the game.”
The WNBA has never been more popular, and Johannès agreed with Engelbert that the league should take steps to globalize the game.
“I really think we are ready,” she said. “[International fans] just want the opportunity to live this moment.”