Alison Schwagmeyer

Alison Schwagmeyer (born July 31, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Sydney Uni Flames of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She played for Charleston Southern and Quincy University before making a name for herself in Australia with the Lakeside Lightning in the State Basketball League (SBL) and the Perth Lynx in the WNBL. With the Lightning, she won a championship and three consecutive WSBL Most Valuable Player awards.

Alison Schwagmeyer
Schwagmeyer with the Lynx in October 2017
No. 32 – Sydney Uni Flames
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (1990-07-31) July 31, 1990
NationalityAmerican
Listed height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Career information
High schoolCentral (Camp Point, Illinois)
College
WNBA draft2012 / Undrafted
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012–2014GiroLive Panthers
2014Kalamunda Eastern Suns
2014CSBT Alexandria
2014Cadí La Seu D'urgell
2016–2019Lakeside Lightning
2017–2020Perth Lynx
2020–presentSydney Uni Flames
Career highlights and awards

High school career

Schwagmeyer attended Central High School in Camp Point, Illinois. She earned four varsity letters in basketball and holds school career records for points (1,950) and steals (500).[1] She was a two-time all-state selection for basketball[2] and was the Herald-Whig Player of the Year in volleyball in 2007.[3]

College career

As a freshman at Charleston Southern in 2008–09, Schwagmeyer averaged 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and earned Big South All-Freshman Team honors. She went on to average 6.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore.[1]

In 2010, Schwagmeyer transferred to Quincy University, where as a junior in 2010–11, she was named GLVC Player of the Year. She also earned GLVC First Team All-Conference honors and was named Daktronics First Team All-Region. In 28 games, she made 27 starts and averaged 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.[1]

In 27 games for Quincy as a senior in 2011–12, Schwagmeyer made 26 starts and averaged 18.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game.[1] She subsequently earned first-team All-GLVC honors for the second year in a row.[3]

Professional career

Germany (2012–2014)

In July 2012, Schwagmeyer signed with the GiroLive Panthers in Osnabrück, Germany, a team playing in the Damen-Basketball-Bundesliga.[3] In 30 games in 2012–13, she averaged 14.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

Following the 2012–13 season, Schwagmeyer returned to the United States and played in a semi-pro league in St. Louis. In the last game, she tore some ligaments in her ankle. She had signed to play in Romania, but that didn't work out. As a result, the GiroLive Panthers heard she was injured and didn't go to Romania, so they called and offered her to come back for a second season.[2] In November 2013, the two parties agreed that Schwagmeyer would re-join the Panthers in January 2014.[4] In 11 games to round out the 2013–14 season, she averaged 15.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (2014)

In April 2014, Schwagmeyer moved to Australia to play for the Kalamunda Eastern Suns of the State Basketball League.[5][6] She made her debut for the Suns in Round 7 of the 2014 season on April 25, recording 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals in an 80–52 win over the Willetton Tigers.[7] In her second game a day later, she had 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 76–75 loss to the Mandurah Magic.[8] Following Round 15, she was named Player of the Week for her back-to-back 20-point games.[9] Schwagmeyer averaged 19.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game for the Suns in 2014,[10] earning All-Star Five honors.[11]

Career in limbo

Following the 2014 SBL season, Schwagmeyer moved to Romania to play for CSBT Alexandria, the same team she was supposed to play for in 2013. She played just one game for Alexandria, scoring 30 points in 20 minutes, before accepting an offer from a first division team in Spain.[2] She joined Cadí La Seu D'urgell, but she left the team in December after tragedy struck. During the team's Christmas break, she travelled to Germany to spend time with her boyfriend, fellow basketball player Courtney Belger. Upon arriving in Germany, she learned her sister, Angie, had been killed in a car crash in St. Louis.[2] She immediately returned home to be with her family and subsequently put her basketball career on hold.[2] At the time, she wasn't sure if she was going to play again, and over the ensuing year, she served as an assistant coach for the Hannibal–LaGrange University women's basketball team while also working at the Quincy YMCA.[2]

In November 2015, Schwagmeyer's coach at the Kalamunda Eastern Suns in 2014, Craig Mansfield, contacted her after he was appointed coach at the Lakeside Lightning. He asked her to join him at Lakeside, and after taking some time to think about it, she decided she wanted to try to start her career again.[2]

Lakeside Lightning (2016–2019)

On March 1, 2016, Schwagmeyer left the U.S. to return to Perth, Western Australia, to once again play in the State Basketball League (SBL), this time for the Lakeside Lightning.[2] She played through injury most of her first season with Lakeside.[12] Despite this, she still produced standout performances,[13] and with 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game in 23 contests,[14] she was named the WSBL's Most Valuable Player for the 2016 season.[12]

Schwagmeyer returned to the Lightning in 2017 as co-captain.[12][15] She helped the Lightning improve from 11–11 to 17–5; played for the South All-Stars in the WSBL All-Star Game; won five Player of the Week awards;[16] and won her second straight WSBL MVP award to go with All-Star Five and All-Defensive Five honors.[17] In 27 games, she averaged 21.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.[14]

Schwagmeyer returned to the Lightning in 2018 for a third season.[18] She won Player of the Week for rounds 5 and 10.[19][20] She played for the South All-Stars in the WSBL All-Star Game and helped them win 103–76 behind her MVP performance.[21] She helped the Lightning win the minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 21–1 record before leading them through to the WSBL Grand Final, where they defeated the Mandurah Magic 75–64 behind a 25-point performance from Schwagmeyer that garnered her Grand Final MVP honors.[22] To conclude the year, she was named league MVP for the third straight year to go with All-Star Five honors.[23] In 24 games, she averaged 22.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.[24]

Schwagmeyer returned to the Lightning in 2019, but only for the first seven rounds.[25][26]

Perth Lynx (2017–2020)
Schwagmeyer signing autographs in October 2017

Following the 2017 SBL season, Schwagmeyer joined the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) as a training player for the 2017–18 season, having spent time training with the team throughout the 2016–17 season also. Perth had now become her second home, and thus applied to become a permanent resident in Australia.[27] The Lynx promised her a position on the squad upon the approval of the application, but such applications take time.[27] Her chance at playing in the top-tier league in Australia came in late October when import guard Courtney Williams was sidelined for three games with a shoulder injury.[28] The Lynx applied for Schwagmeyer to replace Williams as short-term injury cover, but the relevant visa paperwork took a week to be processed, and it wasn't until the final shoot-around prior to their home game on October 27 that the team received the clearance.[27] She stepped straight into the starting five and had a big impact with her defensive energy against the Dandenong Rangers.[29] She finished with 10 points in the 88–78 win,[30] including seven consecutive points from late in the third quarter to early in the final period.[31] Delays in her permanent residency application saw Schwagmeyer watch from the sidelines for the remainder of the season.[32] The Lynx went on to finish as minor premiers with a 15–6 record, before losing to the Melbourne Boomers in the semi-finals. At the Lynx Awards Night, Schwagmeyer was named the recipient of the Coaches' Award.[33]

Having received her residency in February 2018, Schwagmeyer signed a full-time contract with the Lynx as an unrestricted player on June 14, 2018,[34][35] rejecting European contracts and the chance to be closer to her partner to play in the WNBL.[36] She averaged 14 points, 4.59 rebounds, 1.95 assists and 1.14 steals in the 2018–19 season, and was selected in the WNBL Team of the Week in round eight. Round eight featured her best game of the season, with 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in a four-point win over the UC Capitals.[37]

On April 6, 2019, Schwagmeyer re-signed with the Lynx for the 2019–20 season.[37] She took a different approach to training in the off-season, shedding 10kg to enter her second full season with the Lynx looking to play lighter.[38][39] She missed the last three games of the season with a right foot injury.[40][41] For the season, she earned WNBL Sixth Woman of the Year honors after averaging 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game with predominately a bench role.[42]

Sydney Uni Flames (2020–present)

On July 1, 2020, Schwagmeyer signed with the Sydney Uni Flames for the 2020–21 WNBL season.[43]

Personal

Schwagmeyer is the daughter of Mike and Sherry Schwagmeyer. She has one brother, Corey, and three sisters, Lori, Kim and Angie (deceased).[1]

In July 2019, Schwagmeyer married long-time boyfriend and fellow basketball player Courtney Belger.[38][39] He too has played in Germany and in the State Basketball League.[2][44]

References
  1. "Ali Schwagmeyer - 2011-12 Women's Basketball". quhawks.com. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  2. Adam, David (February 27, 2016). "Sunday Conversation with Ali Schwagmeyer". whig.com. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  3. Schuckman, Matt (July 5, 2012). "Schwagmeyer signs pro contract with German club". whig.com. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  4. "GiroLive-Panthers holen Alison Schwagmeyer zurück". noz.de (in German). November 25, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  5. "Kalamunda Eastern Suns add Schwagmeyer to their roster, ex Osnabruck". australiabasket.com. April 18, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  6. "Kalamunda add Schwag to lineup". SportsTG.com. April 29, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  7. Pike, Chris (April 26, 2014). "Tigers' men keep winning, women losing (Week 7 ANZAC Day SBL wrap)". SportsTG.com. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  8. Pike, Chris (April 27, 2014). "Women's thrillers, men's road teams all win (Week 7 Saturday night SBL wrap)". SportsTG.com. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  9. "Kickz101 Perth SBL Players of the Week". SportsTG.com. June 27, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  10. "SBL season preview – Kalamunda Eastern Suns". SportsTG.com. March 12, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  11. "2014 BASKETBALL WA AWARD WINNERS". BasketballWA.asn.au. September 9, 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  12. "Mansfield backs smaller Lightning to have big impact". SportsTG.com. March 1, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  13. "2017 Women's SBL season preview". SportsTG.com. March 17, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  14. "Player statistics for Ali Schwagmeyer". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018.
  15. "WSBL Squad 2017". Lakeside.asn.au. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  16. "PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017.
  17. "2017 SBL AWARD WINNERS". SBL.asn.au. September 9, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  18. "2018 WOMEN'S SBL SEASON PREVIEW". SBL.asn.au. March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  19. "WSBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – ALI SCHWAGMEYER (LAKESIDE LIGHTNING)". SBL.asn.au. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  20. "WSBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ALI SCHWAGMEYER". SBL.asn.au. May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  21. "SBL ALL-STAR GAMES HAILED A HUGE SUCCESS". SBL.asn.au. June 5, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  22. "LIGHTNING CLAIMS CHAMPIONSHIP OVER MAGIC WITH 21-0 RUN". SBL.asn.au. August 31, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  23. "2018 SBL AWARD WINNERS". SBL.asn.au. September 9, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  24. "Player statistics for Alison Schwagmeyer – SBL 2018". SportsTG.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  25. "EASTER SPOTLIGHT | LIGHTNING TOO STRONG FOR COUGARS". SBL.asn.au. April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019. Ali Schwagmeyer, in her second last week of the season with Lakeside, top-scored for the Lightning with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists on an efficient 9/14 shooting.
  26. "MANSFIELD HAS LIGHTNING FOCUSED FOR BIG FINISH". SBL.asn.au. April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  27. O'Donoghue, Craig (October 29, 2017). "Long wait over for Alison Schwagmeyer's Perth Lynx debut". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  28. O'Donoghue, Craig (October 27, 2017). "Lynx race to sign Schwagmeyer". The West Australian. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  29. "LYNX SET TONE EARLY, PULL AWAY FROM RANGERS". PerthLynx.com. October 27, 2017. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  30. "Lynx vs Rangers". FIBALiveStats.com. October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  31. O'Donoghue, Craig (October 30, 2017). "American debutant to earn Lynx contract". The West Australian. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  32. O'Donoghue, Craig (January 18, 2018). "Courtney Williams named Perth Lynx's most valuable in debut WNBL season". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  33. Perth Lynx (January 17, 2018). "Coach Andy Stewart has presented Alison..." Twitter. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  34. "HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR ALISON SCHWAGMEYER". PerthLynx.com. June 14, 2018. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  35. O'Donoghue, Craig (June 14, 2018). "Redemption drives returning Perth Lynx trio ahead of 2018-19 WNBL campaign". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  36. O'Donoghue, Craig (December 5, 2018). "Lynx ace Alison Schwagmeyer lands at Perth after series of tough decisions". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  37. "SCHWAGMEYER RETURNS TO THE LYNX". WNBL.com.au. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  38. O'Donoghue, Craig (October 6, 2019). "Weight of expectation Lynx star aims for massive year". The Sunday Times. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  39. O'Donoghue, Craig (October 12, 2019). "Long name but means the world to Alison". The West Australian. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  40. "ALISON SCHWAGMEYER-BELGER RULED OUT FOR FRIDAY". wnbl.basketball/perth. January 23, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  41. "Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger has been ruled out for the..." twitter.com/PerthLynx. January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  42. "LYNX STARS HONOURED WITH WNBL AWARDS". wnbl.basketball/perth. February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  43. "FLAMES BOLSTER 2020-21 ROSTER WITH SCHWAGMEYER SIGNING". wnbl.basketball/sydney-uni. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  44. Adam, David (February 25, 2017). "Sunday Conversation with Courtney Belger". whig.com. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
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