Photo Courtesy of FIBA.Basketball
SE: Williams Finds Balance as Pro Career Begins in Russia
Jan 29, 2021 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
After Peyton Williams graduated from Kansas State last spring, her Dad gave her a book on Russian history.
When it comes to graduation gifts, Oh, the Places You'll Go! probably doesn't need to worry about losing any ground to a book about Tolstoy and Czar Nicholas.
But for Williams, it was perfect reading before her first season as a professional basketball player with Spartak Vidnoje, a team playing just outside Moscow in the Russian Premier League.
In a new country, in a pandemic and while learning a new language, it takes someone like Williams to unpack postgrad life in Russia.
"I didn't know much coming in," she said. "But I obviously had a lot of stereotypes in the back of my mind, brought forth from previous generations that lived through the Cold War."
Midway through her first season with Spartak, Williams is immersing herself in a country that has never really faded from relevance in the eyes of most Americans. Williams majored in Anthropology and International Studies at K-State, with a minor in Political Science.
That's really the story of her first year in Russia, as Williams focuses all her energy on basketball for the first time in her life. But when just getting coffee in Vidnoje is something of an adventure, focusing on one sport doesn't feel so singular.
"Several people, whenever they looked at my game, were like, 'I'd like to see it when she's only focused on basketball.' So, there's that aspect, where I'm focused on basketball and not volleyball, school or college life," she said. "But if I focus too much on basketball, then I start to overanalyze and overthink."
Williams was a two-sport star at K-State, the kind of athlete that's become more of a rarity since the days when Bo Jackson was climbing outfield walls in Kansas City and running over linebackers in Los Angeles.
From 2016 to 2020, Williams played volleyball and women's basketball for the Wildcats, making the conference rookie team and earning All-Big 12 honors as a middle blocker.
In basketball, somehow, Williams took it to another level.
She finished her career as the ninth-leading scorer in program history and made two All-Big 12 teams. In 2019, she represented the United States at the Pan-American Games in Peru.
The demands on her time with Spartak aren't so different from life as a two-sport athlete in Manhattan, but playing in a new country still has plenty of unexpected challenges.
"Our coach doesn't speak English, he understands it, but he doesn't speak it super well," Williams said. "We have a translator, Sevara, and she's also our point guard, so she translates during practice."
That's helpful in a country where even learning everyone's name can lead to some confusion.
"Russians and their names," Williams said. "We have two Anastasias, three Darias and I think two Ksenias. Name originality is at a zero."
Playing her first professional season with Spartak, Williams is carving out a role in a far-flung league, but one that becomes the center of the women's basketball world every winter.
Russia is especially popular with WNBA stars, an attractive option for those looking for playing time or an additional source of income during the offseason.
In her first game with Spartak, Williams faced Russian powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg and players like Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner, Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot.
"We got whooped," she said.
But the rough welcome didn't last, as Spartak and Williams found their footing - especially when the team arrived in Turkey for the EuroCup last week.
The tournament is similar to soccer's Europa Leagu and Spartak qualified with a fourth-place finish in Russia last season, when Williams was still at K-State.
She might not have been part of qualifying for the tournament, but Williams is a big reason why Spartak advanced past the group stages last week.
In three games against teams from Hungary and Turkey, she averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds with a pair of double-double performances. In the biggest games of the season, Williams was the only American on a Russian team playing in Turkey and one of the best players on the floor.
For all the challenges and opportunities that come with life in a new country, Williams said she spends most days when Spartak aren't playing at her apartment or the gym.
Staying in touch with K-State assistant coach Chris Carr, who played two seasons in Europe, has been helpful as she adjusts to some of the differences in the Russian league.
"He was really awesome about helping explain to me where my strengths are and where I don't play as well," she said. "He's been a good touchpoint on the coaching staff."
And on road trips with Spartak, Williams is taking everything in with an anthropologist's eye.
In Turkey, she was speaking with a photographer about how easy it can be for Americans to become disillusioned with politics.
"On one hand, it feels like we're being dramatic," Williams said. "But on the other hand, if we don't set the example and fight for transparency, democracy and all these things we claim to uphold, then who will?"
Traveling through Russia, a country with 11 different time zones, basketball never feels like the only focus for long. Williams has made friends in Vidnoje, trading English lessons for tips with her Russian, helping her master everything from public transportation to the grocery store.
After spending four years balancing volleyball and basketball at K-State, Williams is finding ways to balance her career with Spartak and adjusting to life in Russia.
She's still not sure where that ability comes from.
But sitting in her apartment outside of Moscow, after dinner with a few of her Russian friends, it's pretty amazing where it's helped Peyton Williams, professional basketball player, go.
"Maybe it's a personality thing, maybe it's my major, but it's allowed me to spend more time with my teammates," she said. "That's something I'm looking forward to. Just to be naturally curious and get more involved. Keep pushing myself outside my comfort zone."
After Peyton Williams graduated from Kansas State last spring, her Dad gave her a book on Russian history.
When it comes to graduation gifts, Oh, the Places You'll Go! probably doesn't need to worry about losing any ground to a book about Tolstoy and Czar Nicholas.
But for Williams, it was perfect reading before her first season as a professional basketball player with Spartak Vidnoje, a team playing just outside Moscow in the Russian Premier League.
In a new country, in a pandemic and while learning a new language, it takes someone like Williams to unpack postgrad life in Russia.
"I didn't know much coming in," she said. "But I obviously had a lot of stereotypes in the back of my mind, brought forth from previous generations that lived through the Cold War."
Midway through her first season with Spartak, Williams is immersing herself in a country that has never really faded from relevance in the eyes of most Americans. Williams majored in Anthropology and International Studies at K-State, with a minor in Political Science.
That's really the story of her first year in Russia, as Williams focuses all her energy on basketball for the first time in her life. But when just getting coffee in Vidnoje is something of an adventure, focusing on one sport doesn't feel so singular.
"Several people, whenever they looked at my game, were like, 'I'd like to see it when she's only focused on basketball.' So, there's that aspect, where I'm focused on basketball and not volleyball, school or college life," she said. "But if I focus too much on basketball, then I start to overanalyze and overthink."
Williams was a two-sport star at K-State, the kind of athlete that's become more of a rarity since the days when Bo Jackson was climbing outfield walls in Kansas City and running over linebackers in Los Angeles.
From 2016 to 2020, Williams played volleyball and women's basketball for the Wildcats, making the conference rookie team and earning All-Big 12 honors as a middle blocker.
In basketball, somehow, Williams took it to another level.
She finished her career as the ninth-leading scorer in program history and made two All-Big 12 teams. In 2019, she represented the United States at the Pan-American Games in Peru.
The demands on her time with Spartak aren't so different from life as a two-sport athlete in Manhattan, but playing in a new country still has plenty of unexpected challenges.
"Our coach doesn't speak English, he understands it, but he doesn't speak it super well," Williams said. "We have a translator, Sevara, and she's also our point guard, so she translates during practice."
That's helpful in a country where even learning everyone's name can lead to some confusion.
"Russians and their names," Williams said. "We have two Anastasias, three Darias and I think two Ksenias. Name originality is at a zero."
Playing her first professional season with Spartak, Williams is carving out a role in a far-flung league, but one that becomes the center of the women's basketball world every winter.
Russia is especially popular with WNBA stars, an attractive option for those looking for playing time or an additional source of income during the offseason.
In her first game with Spartak, Williams faced Russian powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg and players like Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner, Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot.
"We got whooped," she said.
But the rough welcome didn't last, as Spartak and Williams found their footing - especially when the team arrived in Turkey for the EuroCup last week.
The tournament is similar to soccer's Europa Leagu and Spartak qualified with a fourth-place finish in Russia last season, when Williams was still at K-State.
She might not have been part of qualifying for the tournament, but Williams is a big reason why Spartak advanced past the group stages last week.
In three games against teams from Hungary and Turkey, she averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds with a pair of double-double performances. In the biggest games of the season, Williams was the only American on a Russian team playing in Turkey and one of the best players on the floor.
For all the challenges and opportunities that come with life in a new country, Williams said she spends most days when Spartak aren't playing at her apartment or the gym.
Staying in touch with K-State assistant coach Chris Carr, who played two seasons in Europe, has been helpful as she adjusts to some of the differences in the Russian league.
"He was really awesome about helping explain to me where my strengths are and where I don't play as well," she said. "He's been a good touchpoint on the coaching staff."
And on road trips with Spartak, Williams is taking everything in with an anthropologist's eye.
In Turkey, she was speaking with a photographer about how easy it can be for Americans to become disillusioned with politics.
"On one hand, it feels like we're being dramatic," Williams said. "But on the other hand, if we don't set the example and fight for transparency, democracy and all these things we claim to uphold, then who will?"
Traveling through Russia, a country with 11 different time zones, basketball never feels like the only focus for long. Williams has made friends in Vidnoje, trading English lessons for tips with her Russian, helping her master everything from public transportation to the grocery store.
After spending four years balancing volleyball and basketball at K-State, Williams is finding ways to balance her career with Spartak and adjusting to life in Russia.
She's still not sure where that ability comes from.
But sitting in her apartment outside of Moscow, after dinner with a few of her Russian friends, it's pretty amazing where it's helped Peyton Williams, professional basketball player, go.
"Maybe it's a personality thing, maybe it's my major, but it's allowed me to spend more time with my teammates," she said. "That's something I'm looking forward to. Just to be naturally curious and get more involved. Keep pushing myself outside my comfort zone."
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