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Back in April, Alison Bales got the thrill of a lifetime when she was selected with the No. 9 pick in the WNBA draft.

But starting her professional basketball career with the Indianapolis-based Indiana Fever wasn't the only positive. The location of her team was of equal value.

"I could have played anywhere, but I'm in Indiana," Bales said. "I am really glad to be close to my friends and family."

Bales was born in Indianapolis and lived there until she was 5. Now she lives just an hour away from her grandparents, where she can go horseback riding, and two hours away from her parents in Beavercreek.

In college, Bales' family rarely made the eight-hour drive to Duke to watch her play. Now the family has season tickets behind the bench to every home Fever game.

The 6-foot-7 rookie center recently discussed how her life has changed since becoming a pro basketball player.

Q What is the biggest difference between college basketball and the WNBA?

A The traveling. At Duke we were kind of spoiled because we had chartered flights. The bus would drop us off by the plane and we would be the only ones on there. Now we have to fly commercial.

Q What is the competition difference?

A The WNBA is just a whole different level. My team is older so most of (my teammates) are in their 30s, so the experience they have gives them a big advantage.

Q How much is your contract worth?

A Thirty-five thousand dollars. In the WNBA they have set amounts that you'll make your first year, depending on when you were picked (in the draft).

Q What do you do between games?

A We make a lot of appearances at places. If we have free time and we're at home I like to go shopping and go swimming back at my complex. And I might go see my family, too. When we're on the road I usually just hang out with my teammates. It's a little different because in college everyone is the same age, but we all get along.

Q What's your favorite store?

A Tall Girls. It's the only place I can find dress pants that fit me.

Q What is your favorite restaurant?

A The Cheesecake Factory. I like their pork chops and their cheesecake, of course. But if my friends or family are in town I'll go anywhere with them.

Q How long do you plan on playing in the WNBA?

A I want to play for a while, maybe 10 years. We'll see how it goes and how well my body holds up.

Q What will you do in the off-season?

A I will be playing basketball over in Europe. It's a pretty common thing for (WNBA) players to do. The money is good and I'll be able to see the world. I'm young so it'll be a good experience.

Q How long will you be overseas?

A I leave Oct. 14, come back for two days for Christmas and then go back until the end of April or the first May.

Q Do you ever come back to Beavercreek?

A I go back a lot. Actually, this summer I have a basketball camp planned for the end of September for girls in the area. Plus in July I'm going to a friend's wedding. I'm driving down and back in one day because I have practice, but it's manageable.

Q What do you want to do after basketball?

A I don't really know. My mom works in medicine, so maybe I'll do that, but that's a lot more schooling I'll have to do after I'm done playing.

Q What was your major in college?

A I was a double major in biological anthropology and anatomy, and cultural anthropology.

Q What does that mean?

A In cultural anthropology, someone watches a certain aspect of human life and then usually writes a book about what they found. It's a lot like sociology. In biological anthropology and anatomy, I really liked the anatomy part. We got to dissect a cadaver once and that was really neat. But trust me, getting a double major at Duke is no easy task.

Contact this reporter at

rhehr@DaytonDailyNews.com.