This Sporting Planet
Caitlin Bassett - The "Shame" of Retirement & Losing Identity
Published: 20 January 2026 at 07:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
Kate Allman is joined by Australian Netball legend Caitlin Bassett for a candid discussion about the mental toll of leaving elite sport.
Unlike the fairytale endings we often see, Caitlin describes her retirement as being "made redundant." She opens up about the shame of not being offered a contract, the difficulty of finding an identity outside of netball, and the "toxic" habits she had to unlearn to function in the real world.
Caitlin also sets the record straight on her time at the Giants, reveals how animal therapy aided her recovery, and discusses her new role in player welfare at the Western Force.
00:00 - Introduction
02:49 - Caitlin on her "Shocking" Retirement
05:26 - Breaking Toxic Athlete Habits
07:30 - The Giants Era: Being Silenced by the Club
10:17 - Playing in New Zealand & Injury Hell
11:15 - Life After Sport: Cricket & Journalism
16:25 - The Loss of Identity & Mental Struggles
20:07 - How Dogs Saved Her Mental Health
23:59 - Do Sports Have a Duty of Care?
27:57 - Advice for Alyssa Healy & The Future
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