| "You only get what you put in!" -- Heather Durand |
Every athlete has a voice that deserves to be heard. For Heather Durand, she is the voice of reason. Heather first started playing ball in the second grade. After watching her older brother play, Heather considered herself as a little tomboy and knew she wanted to play, too. By the time she was in fifth grade, she fell in love with the game. Durand became successful at Bradford Christian Academy as she became a member of the 1,000 points club, 2x All-State selection, and excelled with the highest academic honors.
As a freshman, Durand began her college career at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). After one season at SNHU, she transferred to Lynn College. During her two seasons at Lynn College, Heather was able to showcase her talent where she played 39 games during both her freshmen and sophomore year. During the 2019-20 season, she led the team with the highest Free Throw Percentage (FT %) at 85.7 and was named to the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Unfortunately, the 2019-20 season ended all college sports events due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. After the 2019-20 season, Durand transferred to Florida Memorial University (FMU) to continue her college basketball career. During her time at FMU, her leadership made an impact on the team where she was named captain for the Lions.
Durand’s hard work continues to influence those that look up to her. Heather advises all the future athletes that want to take their game to the next level to “Work hard, get in the gym, and practice, practice, and practice!” “You only get what you put in! Don’t overwork yourself because there are moments I thought I was done but kept pushing through it and I’m glad that I did,” states Durand. Heather continues to advise that people should explore multiple sports. “Don’t limit yourself to one until you know which one you love.”
As a student-athlete, Heather excelled in the classroom as she majored in data analytics and computer. Although data analytics may not be applicable to the sport, Heather’s interest in sports management and social media marketing were two majors that she knew can help apply to the sport in so many ways. Durand describes how sports made academics easy for her as it taught her time management. Even though she did well with schoolwork, Durand explains how good grades were required in order to continue to play. “It was kind of like a reward in my eyes,” Heather states.
When it comes to inspiration for the game, Heather found that role model that she looked up to in Phoenix Mercury’s Skylar Diggins-Smith. Skylar Diggins has made an impact on so many athletes since her days at Notre Dame as she was the 3rd pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. “I remember watching her (Skylar) play in Notre Dame and wanted to be just like her,” states Durand. As the support and viewership of women’s basketball continue to grow yearly, the talent of women in basketball continues to make an impact on athletes around the world. When asked about the increase of women’s basketball, Heather describes the impact and the talent of women in sports: “We are so talented and even though it’s not showcased enough we are making an impact in sports all around the world.”
Heather’s story gives hope and strength as she is an amazing advocate for women's empowerment and finding one’s voice. Durand explains why her story stands out from the rest: “I have been through a lot of adversity through the sport. I’m a strong advocate for women's empowerment and voice as a student-athlete who has been through questionable behaviors made by a former male coach. It’s important to speak up and speak out if a coach is abusing their power. I had a great career and hopefully will continue to play.”
As an official Beautiful Ballers Athlete, it is wonderful to see empowered women empowering women both on and off the court. Heather saw how impactful Beautiful Ballers are as well as having the same stance that she believed in when it comes to advocating women’s sports. When asked about the reason for joining the Beautiful Ballers team, Heather answers that she believed in the Beautiful Ballers message and values. “Women are amazing and women who play sports are amazing so this platform helps me emphasize just that. So happy to be a part of this team and excited to see what we accomplish as beautiful strong women.”
To learn more about Heather and her story, be sure to follow her on Instagram: heather_durand_
