Former Oregon guard Lexi Petersen overcame two ACL injuries during her high school and collegiate years. Throughout her final recovery, she worried about whether she would ever have the chance to play again, let alone professionally — something she had always dreamed about.
That moment came for Petersen last week when she signed a seven-month contract with Panionios GSS Athens, a professional women’s basketball team based in Athens, Greece.
Her agent, Jeanne McNulty-King, texted her a week ago asking if Petersen would be interested. She said yes, received the contract, looked it over with her family and signed it on Tuesday. She will leave the United States for Greece sometime between Sept. 15-24.
“I think I’m as ready as I can be. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at Oregon,” Petersen said. “I learned it’s OK to take risks and chances and go for it. I think that’s helped my mindset in going across the world to a foreign country.”
As a member of Panionios, Petersen will compete in the A1 Ethniki women’s basketball league, which is comprised of 10 teams. All of the teams are based in Greece. Panionios last won the league championship in 2007.
The Tukwila, Washington native departs Eugene with 1,226 career points, which translates to a career average of 9.6 points a game. She also started 63 of 64 games during her junior and senior years. She accredits both coaching staffs during her five years at Oregon in helping her get to this point.
“They helped out so much,” Petersen said. “They gave me confidence, pushed me and told me that I can do it, that if I continue to work hard, I can play at the next level. That was a huge part of it. With the second staff, I developed so much as a player. Just with my skill set and basketball IQ.”
Petersen finished the 2015-2016 on a tear for the Ducks, averaging 16.3 points a game over six games, and playing all 40 minutes in four of those games. Petersen’s efforts helped the Ducks advance to the WNIT semifinals without their top scorer in Jillian Alleyne.
“I think [the confidence] will be huge for me going into the next level,” Petersen said of her final six games at Oregon. “I really didn’t want to lose or to stop playing with my teammates so I really gave it my all. It took it to a level I didn’t know existed in me. I think that’ll help me so much.”
Petersen has only visited Europe once — when the Ducks traveled to Spain for their foreign tour in 2012. But she feels ready. She will share an apartment with another American, a player from St. Bonaventure.
“I love the Pacific Northwest, but I’m excited to immerse myself in another culture and learn a lot of new things,” Petersen said. “I’m excited to go on adventures, be a tourist and explore.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne