The Details: Perfect Timing For Romeo, Huskies
November 22, 2016 | General, Women's Basketball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Natalie Romeo was shooting free throws.
A few hours before Washington's season opener, the junior was still waiting for the final word on her eligibility after transferring from Nebraska. As she walked toward the far end of the floor, coach Mike Neighbors blew his whistle.
"Bring it in," the coach said to his players.
Romeo had a feeling Neighbors was going to break the news. But she was unsure of the verdict.
"I was frozen," she said.
As a smile broke across Neighbors' face as he shared the news Romeo had waited months to hear.
"I hope you guys are ready for Natalie to play for you," Neighbors told the Huskies.
The gym erupted. There were hugs. There was laughter. There were even a few tears. It was a moment Romeo will never forget.
"Everyone went crazy," Romeo said. "It was pretty cool. It was, honestly, amazing. We were in shootaround and the team just rushed me and hugged me. I started bawling. It was so cool to see how much the team cared. I can't even put it into words."
When asked to rank that moment, Romeo didn't hesitate: "It's definitely in the top five," she said.
And now here she is, a starter for a program ranked among the nation's elite, a group that heads into tonight's 5 p.m. home game against Idaho with a 3-1 record. Not only is Romeo a contributor – she is Washington's third-leading scorer averaging 9.8 points per game – she is also a starter.
But to get to this point, she had to endure months of uncertainty. After a coaching change at Nebraska, Romeo decided she wanted to be a little bit closer to her family – she is from Northern California and has a brother, Vince, who plays at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.
When Romeo decided to transfer, she wanted to make sure she returned to the West Coast, while playing at "a competitive and rigorous program," she said.
Washington felt like the right fit, but then she had to wait.
"It was really hard, because my whole life I've been contributing on the floor," she said. "It was tough to adjust to having a different kind of role, trying to be there for everyone. It was really hard for me, but if it was the other way around I would keep my head up and accept what I had to do."
Throughout the process, Romeo relied on her teammate to help ease the transition.
"I've never been around a group of girls like this who are so welcoming and understanding," she said. "They really care about who I am as a person. It was hard for me, because I didn't really know what my role on the team was going to be this year, so I had a difficult time, but everyone has been so supportive.
"It didn't matter if I played or not, they were still going to love me for who I am."
She traveled with the Huskies to Australia this summer, but could only watch during games. She still found a way to compete, representing her country in the FIBA 3x3 World Championships.
"It was completely different, not what I was expecting really," she said. "It was really fast. The whole experience overall was amazing. I loved getting to meet my new teammates and bond with them. I stepped out of my comfort zone."
With only 12 seconds on the shot clock during each position, Romeo said the fast-paced game helped her prepare for the season.
"It was a much faster game than I'm used to," she said. "When I came back, everything was a bit slower."
After all the waiting and wondering, everything is on track for Romeo. From her teammates to the coaching staff and the way she is playing, well, "everything is great," she said. "I'm having a good time. My teammates are so supportive, no matter what. My family is always there for me. It really has come together for me."
