#4 Kali Pocrnic

get to know kali pocrnic

I’m Kali Pocrnic, a 23-year-old basketball player originally from Canada. Basketball has always been a huge part of my life. Moving across the world to pursue this sport was a big step, especially since it meant being away from my family and friends.

Outside of basketball, I’m very family-oriented. My family is small but really important to me. It's just me, my mom, my dad, and my sister. My sister introduced me to the game, and her being better than me growing up, inspired me to push myself harder. My parents were both athletic growing up, so sports have always been a big part of my life. They’re caring, kind, funny people, and I think that I get my sense of humor from them. I love them so much.

When I’m not on the court, I love spending time with family and friends, and I’m all about enjoying the little things in life. I like going on walks and reading. I also love to take on new experiences and challenges, which I think helps me grow both as a person and as an athlete. I want to be known as someone who’s happy, fun, and caring.

Being an athlete requires sacrifices. One of the biggest challenges for me has been being away from my loved ones. Coming from Canada and moving so far from home was tough, especially since I’m so close to my family. But this was something that I have wanted to do.

The thing that fires me up is when people underestimate me. I'm a shorter player, and some people think that my height is a disadvantage. For me, it’s just motivation. I work even harder to prove people wrong, that size doesn’t define my skill or determination.

To young athletes, I’d say this: Enjoy the small moments. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of performing and always pushing yourself to be better. But don’t forget to take a step back and enjoy the process. Focus on becoming the best athlete you can be, but also remember to have fun along the way. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

I have the best roommate and teammate Sarah Gates, and we’ve been spending a lot of time together. Our day starts with coffee before heading to practice. After practice, we always eat lunch at Huudi, which honestly has the best lunches ever! Then we chill out and get ready for our evening practice. When we come home we’ll make dinner, and sometimes we end the night with a sauna.

I’m super excited for this season. I can't wait to see the ToPo-fans at our games, I have heard from my teammates that they are truly amazing! I also want to see how far we can go as a team, watching everyone develop and come together is truly awesome.