In Focus: Basketball Brings Peace To Corral
November 17, 2016 | General, Women's Basketball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Heather Corral's career was over. After seven knee surgeries, she had accepted the idea her body simply wouldn't allow her to play the game she loved, so she signed the paperwork required to medically retire.
That was it. She was prepared to fix her full attention on the next stage of her life – becoming a doctor.
Then something happened. Those papers she signed, well, they were never filed. They were misplaced. Technically, she was still a Division I basketball player.
And, in that moment, when she heard that news, she realized she really wasn't OK with giving up the game. So, while talking to teammates Katie Collier and Kelli Kingma, she made a decision.
"This is a sign," she said. "I'm supposed to play. Nobody ever loses papers like that."
Two years later, not only is Corral back on the team, she's a starter averaging eight points through Washington's first two games.
"I've actually done what a lot of people thought I would never do," she said.
Once she made the decision to continue her career, there was no guarantee. Back in December 2014, she faced a long road to recovery. It started with a rehab plan. It required a team effort. Corral put in the work and the Huskies' doctors and training staff monitored her progress.
Early on, Corral set an ambitious goal.
"I want to play in Australia," she said.
The odds of being ready to play during Washington's foreign tour were slim. But, back in August, in a dimly lit gym in Brisbane, Corral stepped onto the court during the team's first game abroad.
"All of a sudden, I checked into the game in Australia," she said. "I was going for it."
This was a moment years in the making. And, in that game, on that foreign floor, all of the surgeries, the rehab, the training was worth it.
"I just don't think I've ever been that elated," she said.
For Corral, there is just something that feels right about being on a basketball floor.
"When I'm on a basketball court I'm a different person, just so happy to be out there, so excited," she said. "I'm just a completely different person when I'm out there."
Basketball has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Her mother and father, Hala and Art, both played in college and her sister, Ashley, was a star at USC.
The game is the family business.
"It's just always been in the family," Corral said.
But, for as much love as standout has given the game, basketball has, at times, been cruel. In addition to the knee surgeries, she's had several shoulder surgeries, not to mention a few broken bones along the way.
After everything she has been through, each minute on the court is something to savor.
"Basketball just brings me a different peace than anything else," she said. "I've always been super passionate about school, but it's stressful for me. I'm passionate about becoming a doctor one day, that's stressful. But basketball, for some reason, that's my outlet for stress, running up and down that court every day."
There were days growing up, before the injuries, that practice was tedious and weight workouts didn't seem worth the effort. Now, though, "I look forward to practice every single day. I look forward to seeing my teammates every day. I look forward to every game, no matter who we play. I'm ecstatic to be out there."
Corral is often asked if she worries about the future, about the potential for another injury, one more season cut short. But right now she is only focused on Thursday's WNIT Preseason Tournament game against Missouri.
"I wasn't supposed to be playing right now," she said. "Every extra minute I get to be out there is more than I ever expected."
Whenever Corral's college career ends – she has the option to return and play next season as well – she then plans to turn her attention to helping people going through what she's already endured. The oceanography major wants to go to medical school. She wants to work with athletes.
She wants to be able to look someone in the eye and say, "I've been in your shoes."
But before she can do that, she has a few more games to play, a few more experiences to enjoy. After everything she's been through, each game is a gift.
