Back in 2021, Steph Talbot appeared in a Basketball SA Pathway video where she spoke about one of her biggest dreams — winning an Olympic medal for Australia. Four years later, that goal became reality.

In this conversation, we revisit that journey and explore what it feels like to achieve a dream you've carried for so long. We discuss the sacrifices, setbacks and lessons along the way, as well as the leadership growth that has shaped Steph both on and off the court.

As captain of the Adelaide Lightning, Steph reflects on how her approach to leadership has evolved throughout her career, and the responsibility she now feels as both a leader and role model for the next generation of players coming through South Australian basketball.

We also explore the impact role models had on her own journey and the importance of visibility and representation for young athletes. That includes players like Aspen Crase, who are now coming through the pathway and benefiting from seeing athletes like Steph achieve success on the world stage while remaining connected to their South Australian roots.

Beyond basketball, we talk about Steph's deep connection to home. Despite a career that has taken her around the world, she shares why returning to Adelaide remains so important, what it means to represent her home state through the Adelaide Lightning, and how she balances the demands of international basketball, WNBA commitments and national team duties.

Away from the court, we also learn about the things that help her reset and stay grounded — including her love of the water and finding moments of balance amid the relentless schedule of professional sport.

But as every elite athlete knows, reaching one goal doesn't mean the journey is complete.

We discuss the ambitions that continue to drive her — earning selection for the Australian team at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin and helping deliver a long-awaited WNBL Championship for the Adelaide Lightning.

This is a conversation about dreams, leadership, resilience, representation, home, and the responsibility that comes with inspiring those who follow behind you.

Because sometimes achieving the dream isn't the end of the story — it's the beginning of the next chapter.