Jenna O'Hea, one of Australia's most popular and accomplished basketballers, has played her last home game in the WNBL.
Her 297th appearance in the world-class league was a celebration of her career as a player in Australia, United States, France, and two Olympic Games.
The national captain announced her retirement on Wednesday with three rounds remaining in the season; Southside is last on the ladder with two more away games scheduled.
Team owner Gerry Ryan held a special ceremony after the Thursday night 66-68 loss to Sydney Flames.
"It's been difficult," he said of the 2021/22 season.
"COVID. Injuries. Missing our coach and three players [for World Cup games].
"But you've got to remember 12 months ago we won the championship."
He paid tribute to Southside's inaugural captain, O'Hea.
"One hundred and seventeen games for Australia, 154 WNBA games, three WNBL championships, five WNBL All-Stars, two Olympic Games and three World Championships, and last, but not least, one Commonwealth Games.
"Not only has she achieved that, she has been a fantastic role model for basketball, for every young girl and boy growing up. What a great ambassador to the sport and to your parents.
An emotional O'Hea took the microphone and thanked the crowd for attending the game.
"You've all been a massive part of my basketball career," she said.
"My coaches along the way, all my teammates along the way.
"I see you guys in the corner there, thank you for coming."
A group of her Opals teammates, including Cayla George, Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor, were sitting together in the grandstand.
"To my wonderful family, who are all here as well," O'Hea said.
"Basketball has been my love since pretty much I was born."
The 34-year-old grew up in Victoria, wanting to be like her older brothers.
"Mum, dad, you have followed me around the world, supporting me and you're just the best parents."
O'Hea last year captained Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, a disappointing campaign cruelled by the controversial last minute withdrawal of teammate Liz Cambage.
The Opals skipper has since taken time away from the game to care for her mental health.
Two years ago, she spoke publicly about the death of her uncle, who died by suicide.
"It was a shock," O'Hea said in 2020.
"I don't think I felt ashamed, but I struggled explaining to people what had happened and how I felt.
"I started doing a lot of research and found out how common this was in Australia, and if I don't know, I realised others didn't either."
She became an advocate for mental health awareness.
The WNBL backed O'Hea's plans for a "Lifeline Round" with each club donating $100 for every three-point basket. The idea raised $15,000.
On Thursday night, the champion said this season had been "tough for me personally".
"I've given my whole heart, my whole life, my whole body to this game and I'm so happy to be finishing my career with the Southside Flyers," she said.
"I love you all, thank you all for being here."
O'Hea's worldwide career has been typical of the best players Australia has produced.
She represented the Australian Institute of Sport as a teenager before playing for Dandenong Ranges and Bendigo Spirit.
French club Arras recruited her for a season.
Her two stints in the world-best WNBA were with Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm.
She always came back to Australia after international postings.
In 2017, she returned to the Boomers. Two years later, she accepted an offer from Southside Flyers (formerly Dandenong Ranges).
O'Hea overcame a knee injury to lead her team to a grand final victory.
Cayla George said she didn't want to miss O'Hea's final professional game in Victoria.
"It's a pretty big event here in Melbourne. She's been a legend of the game. My Boomers teammate, my Opals teammate, she's an incredible human. Got nothing but love for her," George said.
George said O'Hea should be rated among the best players to represent her country.
"She's right up there with some of the best. She's been in the Opals for over a decade, she's played WNBA for multiple years, she's played in Europe in the Euro League and she's been a champion here in Australia.
"Her on court stuff is obviously an amazing legacy but it's the stuff from the off court that probably impresses me the most and how she captains her teams. She was a big reason why I signed with the Boomers four years ago, a huge reason.
"She's really special and I'm proud to be able to call her a friend. And I'm really blessed that our paths have crossed."
