Image credit: Tyson Lumbaca | @ty.visuales

Raya Thompson debuted 12 years ago and reaches 150 games this Friday having gone through, and overcome, more than most players ever should and that's why the Perth Redbacks NBL1 West captain is so proud to get to the mark.

Thompson was an exciting junior who started her career at the South West Slammers back in 2013 as a just turned 15-year-old, but nothing could have prepared her for the tough journey that was to come.

Things were tracking nicely through her teen years but then midway through the 2018 SBL season with the Slammers she suffered a devastating on-court knee injury where she ruptured her ACL, tore her meniscus and partially her MCL.

It took her almost two years to get back on the court and there was never any guarantee that it would be possible, but by that stage she had moved to Perth for her teaching studies and began playing at the Perth Redbacks.

There has been more knee injuries since including tearing her meniscus in 2020 and then requiring a second knee reconstruction in 2022, but what has stuck out about Thompson is her determination to not give up.

That's why the Redbacks were willing to appoint her as sole captain for the first time in 2025 even with a team featuring superstars like Anneli Maley, Patty Brossman and Natalie Chou.

That's also what makes her so proud to reach 150 games this Friday night when the Redbacks are at home to the Mandurah Magic with a team that is giving Thompson the chance to even think about the ultimate reward of being a championship captain.

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Getting to 150-game milestone

Thompson has missed just about four complete seasons all up with her knee injuries and even in 2025 she got hurt against the Goldfields Giants back on April 27, and was only able to make it back against the Eastern Suns on June 28.

While that means there's been plenty of dark times along the way, Thompson has shown tremendous determination to make it back each time and that's why a milestone like this means so much.

"It hasn’t been easy to get here and it's been a tough slog, but the thing that has got me to 150 is just keeping on showing up and getting through what I can," Thompson said.

"I'm very proud to finally be here and whilst not a crazy milestone like 300 or something, the work and effort I've put in to get to 150 has been huge and I'm very proud to finally be here."

All the obstacles along the way

While Thompson does try not to think too much about the injuries she's had to overcome given she has the obvious reminder with her knees every time she gets back on the court to run around, she's proud of sticking with it.

It would have been easy after that first horrific injury for Thompson to think returning was going to be too had, and then the three more knee injuries since might have been too much for anyone to handle.

But Thompson has always found that the harder things get, the more determined it makes her to overcome the odds.

"I'm very proud that I haven’t given up. Early in my injuries I didn’t take no as an answer and it was an easy process to just stay focused on my rehab until I got back on court," Thompson said.

"But as it's got later in my career and there's been more injuries it's definitely become harder. It's a huge commitment especially now with full-time work and it's taking more of a toll on my personal life.

"It's definitely been a really tough commitment but to continue on and keep showing up, and to get to something like 150 feels really rewarding. I'm very proud that I haven’t given up."

Honour of being captain

As proud as Thompson is to get to the 150-game mark in her career, the fact that this Redbacks team of 2025 was willing to make her captain is something that she will always hold dear.

It's a team in third place with a 13-4 record and having won eight of their last nine games with big names like Maley, Brossmann and Chou, and added to with the likes of Alaska Rhebok, Shenae Hartree and two-time champion Sophie Doran.

But for Thompson, the fact that she is captain and her vice-captain is Georgia Denehey, and considering they started playing in the SBL together back in 2014 is another part of the whole story that makes it special.

"It meant so much (to be named captain) and it's probably the biggest achievement of my career to be honest other than this 150 games," Thompson said.

"To be a captain of a team has been a really rewarding achievement and nothing really compares. I feel like I've been seen for the hard work I've put in and the commitment I've made to the club and the team.

"I feel really supported in my role too and then it's so cool that Georgia is the vice-captain. To think I first started working with her way back when we were at Slammers, she's been part of my SBL and NBL1 journey from the start and has been me from the start with all my injuries.

"It's really cool for us to be back working together, and I think we work really well as that ying and yang. I'm majority of the time a quiet leader and she's a bit of the opposite, and I think we work really well together."

Making a return this season

On the back of being named captain and with the Redbacks looking to build on what they did last year making the finals, Thompson was excited with how things were looking before that untimely knee injury against the Giants in just the fourth game.

However, she was always determined to get back as soon as she could and even when not playing, made sure she did all she could to still be a good captain and supportive teammate.

"It was huge to make it back. I was worried when I had injured myself this season that I had played three games would not get back on court," Thompson said.

"The fact that I was able to make a comeback within eight weeks and finish the season off very close to the end of the season was really special. Everyone got around me and I felt very supported, and everyone was really excited and happy for me so that was a huge deal."

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Credit to coach Rendulic

Another big part of what has made the past two seasons so enjoyable for Thompson is the arrival of Tim Rendulic, or more accurate his return to the Redbacks where he was formerly an assistant and prior to that had his own 184-game playing career.

It's hard to imagine a more passionate basketball person, or insightful and dedicated coach, and Thompson wouldn’t want anyone else to be sharing this captain-coach partnership with.

"I think Tim is a great coach and I really have enjoyed working with him and playing under him the past two years," Thompson said.

"I think he's done a really good job of setting up our program and making our expectations, and what we need as a club very clear. He's really built our culture and values as a club, and I think that's helped us become tighter as a team and to really strive for the success that we've been having.

"He bring a great balance of being approachable and being a great person, but he also keeps everyone accountable and is authoritative when we need him to be.

"I have really enjoyed playing under him and I respect him, and I think he respects me for who I am and the player I am as well so it works both ways."

Best team being part of

While Thompson has had to overcome plenty on a personal front in her career, team success has eluded her as well but this Redbacks team of 2025 could very well be giving her the best chance of changing that.

The Redbacks look set to at worst finish in third position with three games to go and they could still sneak into the top two, and she rightfully is excited about the team she's part of.

"I honestly just wanted to be back to play with the team and the calibre of players we have this season," Thompson said.

"I was excited to still watch them when I was injured and their success on-court is something I still feel like I'm part of, and it's been a pleasure to actually still be part of it.

"But to get back to playing and to be able to experience that stuff on-court with them as well is really rewarding. I'm very grateful that I'm able to play with the group that we have this year."

Excited for what lies ahead

In Thompson's 149-game career to this point, she has only played in six playoff games and only one finals victory but there's every reason for her to think that can change the rest of 2025 and this Redbacks team should be shooting to be at RAC Arena on grand final night.

"I'm so excited thinking about the rest of the season. Every year I've definitely felt we're working towards being a top four team and contending for a championship, and this year that feels quite real," Thompson said.

"I feel like where we're going, ending up as the top team is all we're aiming for and it's so exciting thinking that is a realistic possibility.

"Especially for someone like me who has made finals but never really been part of a team who got close to a championship. It's definitely exciting to see where we might be able to take this."

Life away from basketball

While life is difficult just on a physical front in basketball for Thompson, she has no complaints about life away from the game alongside long-term partner Archie Hall, and with her blossoming teaching career at St Norbert's College.

"It is always busy but I do really love it and it's nice to have something outside of basketball that I feel gives me a sense of purpose, and keeps me busy," Thompson said.

"I'm loving the school that I'm at and loving the roles that it's given me especially including working with some students who are even in my NBL1 team. That's really rewarding and it's cool to be a part of."

Chris Pike

Thompson rightfully proud to reach 150