Cahill retires from playing basketball

When it's time, it's time. Amanda Cahill, who graduated from Clyde High School in 2014 and Indiana University in 2018, has been around basketball her entire life. That won't change, but her playing days are over. Cahill, 29, recently announced her retirement from basketball, citing the time had come to turn the page. "Basketball has been great to me and provided me with so many opportunities, experiences and connections," Cahill said. "I am getting married in August and just graduated with my master's in social work. I thought these life transitions were prompting me to also transition away from basketball and lean more into a different career. "I plan to still be around the game, but just not as a player — as a fan and maybe one day a coach." The love of the game won't leave, as her dad, John, is the head boys basketball coach at Fremont Ross. Amanda's younger brother, Jake, who stands 6-foot-5, started for the Little Giants during the summer as a freshman. John coached Amanda to a 99-6 record in her four years at Clyde. The Fliers went a perfect 56-0 in Sandusky Bay Conference games and made a pair of state semifinal appearances. Amanda tallied more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. She was the Division II Player of the Year her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. "My basketball career has shaped who I am as a person," Amanda said. "It taught me so many life lessons and I can connect almost all of my closest relationships to the sport in some way. I just am so thankful for all of my teammates and coaches that have helped make each step of my career so special. Growing up in Clyde, I got to play with my best friends from an early age and for my mom and close family friends. "We had a special group and that continued to hold true through high school and joining with older and younger players." Cahill spent most of her professional career in Luxembourg and also played in Australia. She played for Residence de Walferdange in Luxembourg. "Playing professionally was an amazing experience," she said. "It allowed me to travel the world, gain dual citizenship in Luxembourg, play for their national team, meet my future husband and meet many of my closest friends. I am so grateful I had the opportunity and will always cherish those moments. "I plan to still go abroad this seasons while my fiancé plays, but work remotely." Cahill currently works for a therapist practice in Ohio that does telehealth. She plans to continue doing that while her soon-to-be husband, Henry Pwono, is playing overseas. They hope to come back to the states when he is done and settle down. "My fondest memory as a player professionally is winning the cup championship a few years ago (for Walferdange)," Cahill said. "My team was a large underdog, but we had a lot of people show up and play well, which allowed us to win. Our club had nothing planned to celebrate us because no one thought we could win. "Off the court, I am really thankful for all of the countries I got to travel to. My favorite places I have been are Barcelona, Athens and Copenhagen." At Indiana, Cahill started all 135 games she played in across four seasons. During her senior season, she was named the MVP of the Women's National Invitational Tournament, scoring 50 points over her final three career games. "College was also an amazing time that had many ups and downs, but really shaped who I am as a person," she said. "Being away from home helped me to grow up and I also was fortunate to meet some of my closest friends at Indiana. It was a great school and we really built up the momentum for women's basketball, which I am proud to have been a part of. "They have found great success in the past years and I am glad I got to be a part of that and the rich basketball culture in Indiana." Cahill said she is looking forward to life after basketball. She said it'll be a change, but she's ready to embrace what is next. "I just want to thank my family for all of their support throughout the years," Cahill said. "They have traveled so many miles and celebrated the wins with me and comforted me through the losses. I hope that I made them and my community proud. "I have always been more than just a basketball player and I want to really encourage young athletes to try their best and enjoy their sport, but always know your identity is more than only an athlete."