“Basketball has been a part of my life for such a long time so it always will be in some way.”
For Brianna Cinque, that belief shaped everything about her senior year. Rather than defining her final season through intensity and pressure, she chose a different path.
After competing in a highly structured varsity program, Cinque decided to spend her last year playing women’s club basketball, a move that reshaped not only her experience as an athlete, but her entire approach to the sport she’s played for years.
The choice wasn’t about walking away from basketball, it was about finding her way back to why she started playing in the first place.
“I still had a love for basketball and I wanted to continue to play in a low stress environment,” Cinque said. “At this point I still had two more years left at Cortland so I thought joining the club team would be a great way for me to make friends, stay active and continue to play the sport I love.” That mindset set the tone for a season rooted in enjoyment rather than pressure.
Adjusting to the club level came with its own surprises. After years in a structured, intense varsity environment, Cinque quickly noticed the difference.
The level of competition and the way everything was organized stood out the most to Cinque. “Coming from such an intense program the way things were way more laid back on the club in terms of games and practices was very surprising but also appreciated,” said Cinque.
The shift gave her space to breathe, play freely, and enjoy the game again. Cinque added, “I was also shocked by how we play two games back-to-back for every opponent we play,” a format that brought a new kind of challenge and excitement.
Her impact was also felt by those she played alongside. Teammate Reese Fellows reflected on what stood out about Brianna from the very beginning.
“I remember meeting her at varsity tryouts two years ago. She stood out by being full of life, energetic, and having a clear love for the game.” said Fellows. “You could tell right away she was one of those players who just enjoyed basketball in its purest form, and that’s exactly what she brought with her.”
Looking back, Cinque recognizes how different her senior year might have been had she stayed on varsity.
“If I had stayed on varsity I definitely wouldn’t have got to experience half the things I did this year being on club,” Cinque said.
The flexibility of club basketball opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed.
“My life is so much more flexible on club,” said Cinque. “I’m able to devote time to my studies and friends.”
That flexibility even allowed her to take a major step outside her comfort zone.
“I also even studied abroad in January in Thailand which would have been hard to do on varsity since we are still in season in January and it’s a very important time,” said Cinque
Beyond travel, Cinque also prioritized her future.
“I was able to focus a lot more on school and nursing school applications which would have been hard to do being on varsity because it takes up so much time and comes with a lot of responsibilities,” said Cinque.
While Brianna embraced a new environment, she didn’t leave her experience behind.
Her varsity background became an asset to her club team.
“I feel like I definitely brought a lot of skill and experience to club from my varsity years,” Cinque said. “I think playing at the varsity level allowed me to see a lot of things on the floor that boosted my basketball IQ and I was able to bring that to this team.”
More importantly, she brought a refreshed mindset.
“My appreciation for just having fun and treating basketball like the stress free fun thing it has allowed me to help my team slow down and just remember to have fun while playing the game,” said Cinque.
That mindset defined her senior season.
“I really enjoyed playing basketball with all my teammates and coaching staff,” Brianna said. “We had a lot of fun this year while also performing extremely well.”
Success, for her, wasn’t only measured in wins, but in the experience itself.
Looking ahead, Brianna believes basketball will always be a part of her life, and she sees herself possibly coaching in the future or doing occasional training.
“I think basketball has been a part of my life for such a long time so it always will be in some way,” Cinque said.
In choosing club basketball, Brianna Cinque didn’t step away from the game. She stepped into a version of it that reminded her why she loved it all along.