Perth Lynx co-captain Amy Atwell hopes emotions can be left on court as team strives for WNBL championship

New Perth Lynx co-captain Amy Atwell has laid bare the challenge of maintaining relationships within elite female sport, saying one of her biggest goals is for players to feel comfortable challenging their teammates without feeling like they will take it personally. The Olympic bronze medallist was upgraded from vice-captain to co-captain alongside Anneli Maley for this season. Atwell said one of the biggest challenges in sport is accepting that internal criticism is a key to success. She believes most female athletes have struggled with the fall-out required to demand excellence. “You need to be able to held accountable and you need to hold other people accountable but within reason. It’s a fine line because it needs to all be left on the court. I think that’s something girls sometimes struggle with. As women, we tend to get more emotional,” Atwell told The West Australian. “Women’s sport is a bit more emotional in general. You’ll see guys fight it out on court, they’ll walk off and be best mates and grab a beer afterwards. It’s definitely a bit different for women and we do tend to get a bit emotional. “Playing elite sport, you’ve got to master the skill of ‘it’s not personal.’ If it’s coming from a teammate or a coach, you’ve got to hear the information that’s being given to you. “If you want to be the best version of yourself, you are doing yourself a dis-service if you are taking it the wrong way or not hearing it for what it is. It’s something we’ve been working on and something women in general need a little more practice at, but it is definitely achievable.” Atwell said building relationships and understanding how individuals learn from criticism is a crucial part of leadership. The star shooter said recently retired Australian Opals captain Tess Madgen had set a shining example for how to lead and Atwell will be using use her as a role model. “I’ve learnt a lot from her about the areas I lack. I’m more of a lead by example leader but I’m trying to lead more by being vocal and checking in on teammates,” Atwell said. “The way she conducted herself on and off the court and the standards and expectations she held herself to were higher than anyone around her. You know you’re going to get the best from her so she expects to get the best out of you. She makes you want to work harder.”