SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - It's never easy trying to carry a legacy as rich as what Australia has within the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup context, but that isn't - and most likely won't be - the case for Sophie Richardson.
While it appears to be so daunting especially for players her age, the 1.82 M (5'11") forward is in fact embracing such a challenge as she wants to do her part in keeping the Sapphires' winning ways in this meet.
"Yes, it definitely motivates us," she said on the heels of their dominant 126-46 conquest of the erstwhile unbeaten Chinese Taipei to complete a three-game sweep of Group A on Wednesday at the Karisma Arena.
"We want to honor that legacy and keep that winning culture alive by giving our best every game," she added.
In case you haven't noticed, the Aussies have yet to lose a game since joining the biennial youth competition in 2017, and that has allowed the program to become the first to win the championship thrice in a row.
It's been a dream come true.
So far, the present-day squad have been doing quite well in upholding their tradition of sorts.
After that comfortable victory against the squad from East Asia to close out their Group Phase campaign, the Sapphires of Coach Tom Garlepp have now extended their unbeaten winning streak to 21 games now.
They clinched the top spot in Group A as well, which not only brought them to the Semi-Finals outright but also enabled the crew to secure a ticket to the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 in Czechia.
"It feels incredible!" she exclaimed. "We’ve worked hard for this, and to get that win and top the group is a big confidence boost heading into the Semis."
Two more wins and they won't just complete another tournament sweep, but would also make Australia achieve a 'four-peat' - a feat that's never been accomplished in the continental contest's 16 years of existence.
No doubt that Richardson and her peers are living up to the expectations, especially her.
She's actually been one of the tilt's most consistent performers thus far, which has reflected in her per-game averages of 17.3 points on 74.1-percent shooting, 2.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks.
"I think it comes down to preparation and trust," she said of her production. "Preparation in the sense of all the training and hard work that’s gone on behind the scenes, and trust in my teammates and coaches."
"I know I’ve got a great support system around me, so I just try to stay focused, play my role, and help the team in whatever way I can," added the Victoria-native, who's also been shooting 77-percent from deep (3.3/4.7).
And don't expect her to hit the breaks anytime soon, for she's now living the dream she always had.
"Now, I'm here," reflected Richardson, who worked her way up from playing in local clubs in her hometown at age 8 to state teams to eventually being called up for the U15 team. "And it's been a dream come true."
FIBA