Perhaps Love

Sky Is The Limit

If you are a young athlete, you must have dreamt of moving abroad, especially as an aspiring basketball player. You may believe that studying in America, attending the schools people saw in the films, and learning there will pave one's way to success. Although these are true and it actually creates opportunities, most cannot afford it.  In addition to this, Asian parents in general emphasize sports less than education alongside the lack of basketball's popularity in South Korea.

Effortlessly achieving fame is reserved for a select few who are associated with someone else who is famous—family, friend, or significant other. So, as they say, one should not think of what one wants. People shall be more inclined and committed to building a future than eyeing success for what one only likes to do. For her, however, the only impossible thing is what one does not try.

All eyes landed on her figure as soon as she walked into the court. Not only because her aura was one of a kind, but her name was an issue among everyone.

As a young girl with a huge love for basketball who played with boys in school, Lee Sora found herself building up a career. With her grit and determination, she has raised Korean basketball to greater heights. The surprise winning streak of the country's women's basketball team in the recently concluded Asian Cup has put her in the spotlight, and made her team the pride of new basketball fans. 

Lee Sora—or Sky—as she is fondly called by everyone, is considered as one in a million of her generation. A prodigy, even. It was flattering, yet she hated it at the same time. This is because the fans believed that she's not even anything good at all.

She began playing basketball in her seventh grade, an age a little too late to start for professionals. She was also that one Asian kid who was fresh-off the boat who barely knew how to communicate in an American environment. But her passion for the game was out of this world. Her insane potential has brought her to the WNBA at just nineteen, becoming the first Korean player to enter the American league in fifteen years. Now 28-years-old, Sora is making a big name in the Korean league as an athlete to have concurrent careers in both Korea and the United States.

Still, not everyone is impressed of her nor do recognize her success. In a country where Son Heungmin and Shohei Ohtani are more popular than Michael Jordan and LeBron James, people aren't really interested with her efforts. Also, everyone believed that the only thing that makes her up is her family ties with the Heo brothers, who are star players in the league. And that, her uncle—a retired basketball legend and the father of Heo brothers—is making sure that she gets a job. Well at least, that was what it was according to gossip.

But heck, she doesn't even give a damn at them. All of these people can die out of envy. She just wanted to play the game, make a name and prove herself, and take the Korean league higher. She will use these basketball genes and big dreams to make her way to the summer games.

Every day was never easy for anyone. No matter how good you are, or how much you are used to what you are doing, there will always be doubts. But none of these negativities matter. Because her confidence always seemed to intimidate others whenever she walked on the floor.