How White finds balance

By Stephanie Smarrelli 

 
At just 18-year-old, Hope White has stepped into the spotlight as a replacement player with the GIANTS. 

But off the court, she’s a young adult. 

Her favourite pastime? 
 
“Going to the pub with friends,” she said. 

“I love going out, dancing and vibing to the music with my friends and having a good time.” 
 
That being said, she doesn’t need a big night out to be happy. 

“We don’t necessarily have to be out doing a crazy activity or anything at all,” she said. 
 
“I most enjoy spending quality time with my best friends. 

 
“Netball’s so full on, I enjoy being able to chill and just hang out.” 
 
Music is a big part of her downtime; she’s not tied to one particular genre and while her playlist is a mixed bag there’s two artists who can always draw her to the dance floor.  
 
“Drake & Rihanna,” she said. 
 
“I love their collaborations. 
 
“But I also enjoy listening to bands at the pub. 
 
“My playlists are random songs, anything and everything.” 
 
New to Sydney, hailing from Maitland in regional NSW White is still discovering her favourite spots to visit. 
 
But there’s one meal she’s always down to try. 

 
“I love pasta,” she said. 
 
“It’s my favourite dish ever. 
 
“I love trying different pastas when I go out to eat.” 
 
She’s also discovered an interest in art. 
 
The 18-year-old finding art as a way to relax and take her mind off the pressures of elite sport. 
 
“The other week when we were doing Indigenous paintings, I really enjoyed that,” White reflected. 
 
“I enjoy putting my headphones in, listening to music and colouring in. 
 
“It might sound weird, but I really enjoy it.” 

 
The calm, quiet version of White is one fans might not expect. 
 
Her lively personality often shines across the GIANTS social media but she’s reserved at heart, an over thinker who comes alive amongst her closest friends. 
 
But her friends have a couple of different words they’d use to describe her. 
 
White phoning good friend Matisse Letherbarrow for three words she’d use to describe her.  
 
“Strong, caring, and funny,” White laughed reading out Letherbarrow’s response.  
 
Reflecting on joining the GIANTS, there’s one player she's glad to have by her side alongside Letherbarrow. 
 
“Monika ‘Otai,” White said. 

“Mon’s my best friend, we hang out constantly, we grew up together in the pathway and have won two gold medals together.” 

 
Her relationship with her teammates has flourished over the last few months. 
 
“At the start of the year, I was so shy and nervous,” she said. 
 
“Now it's so cool to have the friendships and relationships I've built in the team. 
 
“They’re amazing players but also great people.” 

Reflecting on the last year, White is still pinching herself. 
 
The midcourter has gone from playing in the National Netball Championships to her SSN debut. 
 
“It’s been insane,” she said. 

“Twelve months ago, I never would have thought I'd be here.

“I'm grateful every day when I rock up to training, I'm still like there's no way this is real.” 
 
White’s thriving in the GIANTS environment and learning lots from her teammates. 
 
But there’s one thing, they’ve helped her with most. 
 
“My confidence,” she said. 
 
“When I’m overthinking, that’s when I tend to fall away from how I want to play. 

“Jamie (Jamie-Lee Price) gave me a pep talk the other day about backing myself and having confidence.  

“I’ve learned I need to back myself because everyone around me is backing me, I just need to believe in myself.” 
 
While the GIANTS co-captain has been a great source of advice for White so has another team member.   

“Gina, she isn’t playing but every single training session she's giving me feedback and telling me ways I can be a better player or implement new things,” White said. 

White confessed she’s her own biggest critic.  
 
“Sometimes I get frustrated at myself because I want to be able to do things now,” she said. 

“But I need to remember I'm 18, it’s my first year, it's a process and I’m going to make mistakes and it's okay because those mistakes will help me learn. 
 
"I put these expectations on myself and that's when I start to doubt myself and lose a bit of confidence. 

“When that happens the team reminds me, I should go out there and have fun because that’s when I'm playing my best netball.” 



Pictures supplied by Hope White & Getty Images