Torresin excited by night and day difference at Eagles

Madison Torresin is a well-travelled professional now where being part of winning teams is what matters and she can't be more excited to see how far the East Perth Eagles have improved on and off the court in two years.

Torresin had a previous stint at the Eagles in 2023 and that was a season where she did perform well personally with 14.3 points and 9.7 rebounds, but it was on a team that only won five games, was playing at Herb Graham Recreation Centre and then training elsewhere.

That's why the 28-year-old is so excited to be back in 2025 and to see how far the club has come in terms of the way it's run, the new home venue at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, and with the women's team she is now part of.

The Eagles are now 2-0 to start the season and Torresin is anything but surprised because from the moment new coach, and former president, Tim Symons reached out to her about returning in 2025, she knew it was something she had to be part of.

"Honestly when I left here I left with good vibes within the whole community that's here," Torresin said.

"Obviously on the team I was on we weren’t winning and all that, but basically Tim sold me on his coaching and the group of girls that he has recruited and brought in.

"Honestly, it sounded too good to be true and there was no way I could say no. I'm living with Carl and Mia, and everything just seems so together with the whole club and our team.

"I'm excited to be part of it and I honestly think we have a great chance of making it far. So I didn’t need much convincing and coming back to Australia was just the icing on the cake because I love it here."

The Eagles have started the season with a win over the defending champion Rockingham Flames at home and then on the road to a Mandurah Magic team who was undefeated when they beat them last Saturday.

While Emma Clarke is still to come into the line-up when healthy, Torresin can't be more excited by a group she's part of with point guard Abby Cubillo, centre Sasha Goodlett and fellow new arrivals including Akim Lual and Awatea Leach.

"I'm excited and I think as a team collectively we have all our pieces so I think going forward from the coaching staff to the team, all the signs are pointing to us having a really good season," she said.

"I think people will be surprised by us this year because especially with the females we haven’t been anywhere close for a few years now. So I think we are going to turn a lot of heads and I'm very excited to be part of it."

When Torresin last played at the Eagles it was only in 2023, but the changes have been stark and it all starts with the club hierarchy headed up by Mia Filpo now the president and with the women's team, Symons taking over as coach.

Throw in the new facility of the Peter Campbell Basketball Arena inside Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, and it hasn’t taken Torresin long to appreciate she made the right call to come back.

"I love it and because it's our home court, it's such an advantage getting to practice there and to get shots up there too. I love that side of it and it's such a big improvement on what we had two years ago," Torresin said.

"It's really a brand new team only from two years ago when I was here the last time and then the club has changed a lot with a new president with Tim as our coach obviously.

"I'm super stoked that this is a winning team and everyone on it has that winning mentality. I've only had a few practices with the team but even in practice the girls are all going hard and want to win. I love that mentality."

Ever since completing her college career at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, Torresin has put together an impressive professional career all over the world including stints in Germany, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Luxembourg and France.

Her first stop in Australia was at the Rockhampton Cyclones of the NBL1 North in 2022 before coming to East Perth a year later.

Like any career it has its up and downs, but she couldn’t be more thankful than being able to make a living playing the sport she loves.

"I would recommend any other player coming out of college like I was to just go for it," Torresin said.

"I know some people are scared to leave home, but once you do, just the people you meet and the different culture you experience, and connections you make is incredible.

"This is my seventh year doing it now and I still connect with the people I met in my first and second years overseas. Honestly it's so worth it and you get to see the world, and experience new things and that even includes good and bad things.

"But even from the bad things, you learn from those experiences and can make the best of those situations like overcoming language barriers. I love every ounce of this life I'm getting to live."

In 2021, 2022 and 2023 Torresin played virtually all-year round going from season to season, and she does enjoy that and is back doing that now having come straight to East Perth with her last game in Cyprus only on March 26.

However, she did find she needed a break going back to this time last year when she elected against a return to Australia. It's the best thing she ever did to return home to Canada where her family is based just outside Toronto.

"I did play all-year round for three years straight but last year my body really needed a break so I didn’t come back to Australia," Torresin said.

"But now that I'm back to it and I love it, and it's getting to play basketball year-round so you can't complain as long as my body's healthy.

"That break for me last year was huge for me not only physically, but mentally as well I feel like it helped my love of basketball only grow fonder.

"That helped me in the end and physically I was able to work in the off-season on certain things and my body felt great this past season in Cyprus, and hopefully that continues here."

For so many reasons it was a welcome time spent at home for Torresin not only freshen up mentally, to give the body a rest and to work on some things in her game, but also to spend much-needed time with the family and to be there for her brother's wedding.

"The other great thing was getting to go home and I spent four months there and it was amazing. My brother even got married in that time so it was good for so many reasons," Torresin said.

"The whole family came in and I got to spend quality time with them even my grandparents that I'm lucky to have.

"It was a good time and now they can go back to getting up at 5am or whenever it is to watch my games here, but it means so much to me knowing that I still have their support wherever I am."