Wildcats Association Series | Patricia Brossmann, Perth Redbacks

Patricia Brossmann’s basketball career has taken her from Germany to the United States, across Europe and eventually to Western Australia, where she has found a second home at the Perth Redbacks.

Brossmann grew up playing basketball in Germany, progressing through the youth national team system before earning a scholarship to the University of San Diego in 2016.

After graduating in 2020, she began her professional career in France and later played in Italy and Germany before moving to Perth in 2022 to join the Rockingham Flames.

The balance offered by NBL1 West, along with Western Australia’s people, culture and lifestyle, quickly made Perth feel like home.

“I picked up my first contract in Australia in 2022 and never looked back,” Brossmann said.

The Redbacks’ focus on engaging players, coaches, staff, supporters and local families has created an environment in which Brossmann feels connected to every level of the club.

“Coming back to the Redbacks was a no-brainer for me,” she said.

“The culture we’ve built and the community the club has developed over the past few years really drew me back.”

Brossmann has embraced the Redbacks’ community focus through school clinics and other initiatives, helping the club connect with young players and families beyond game night.

The relationships that have been built across the entire club have strengthened her sense of belonging and reflect the inclusive culture she believes sets the Redbacks apart.

It's an environment where players and community members can feel welcome, grow in confidence and pursue their ambitions.

“We’re not just focusing completely on basketball,” Brossmann said.

“We’re really about making sure everybody feels welcome and engaged, and giving people a platform and a space where they can grow and dream big.”

Brossmann is now helping deliver that vision through her role as the Redbacks’ Female Development Officer.

After more than 20 years in basketball, she sees the position as an opportunity to pass her experience on to the next generation and strengthen the pathway available to girls throughout the association.

Brossmann believes more environments are needed where young female players can develop their skills while feeling safe, supported and comfortable.

Through her work at the Redbacks, she wants to ensure girls have access to that space and feel encouraged to pursue whichever basketball pathway they choose.

The Redbacks’ investment in female development has allowed Brossmann to combine her international playing experience with her desire to give back.

“I want to give girls that platform to grow and develop, and really make sure they feel comfortable,” she said.

That work recently included a dedicated girls’ day hosted by the Redbacks, which attracted around 40 young players.

The turnout demonstrated the appetite for female-focused programs and reinforced the importance of creating opportunities that place girls at the centre of the basketball experience.

Brossmann’s passion for developing young players has been shaped by the challenges and opportunities she has experienced throughout her own career.

Travelling the world, spending extended periods away from home and adjusting to life in different countries have required resilience and independence, while the highs and lows of professional sport have contributed to her growth as both a player and person.

While Brossmann is proud of the places basketball has taken her, she considers her personal development the most meaningful part of the journey.

“I’m really proud of who I’ve become as a woman and who I want to continue becoming,” she said.

At the Redbacks, Brossmann now has the opportunity to use that journey to benefit others.

She remains focused on competing for the club while helping expand the programs and pathways available to girls throughout the association.