Meet Makayla Robinson, the Kirtland airman who helped the Women's Armed Forces Basketball team win gold

Makayla Robinson knows Georgia — humid weather, trees that seem to touch the sky and large bodies of water at every corner.

And in 2022, when U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Robinson, 377th Weapons Security Systems Squadron defender, stepped off the plane in New Mexico for assignment at Kirtland Air Force Base, she was immediately homesick.

Though Robinson understood the Land of Enchantment’s appeal, it wasn’t quite home.

But there was one similarity between the high desert of central New Mexico and the coastal grasslands of Savannah, Georgia — both had basketball courts.

“To me, basketball calms my nerves,” she said. “It makes me use my brain and solves a lot of my frustrations. It’s like a puzzle piece, figuring out what defense to use and the techniques and tactics people will play.”

After starring for the Effingham County High School girls basketball team, Robinson earned a scholarship to Troy University in Alabama.

A 5-foot-5 point guard, she averaged 9.8 points per game over four seasons (2016-2020) for the Trojans, earning All-SunBelt Second-Team honors her sophomore year.

Robinson said COVID was in full force as she wrapped up college, hampering her ability to get a job, so she decided to join the armed forces.

At Kirtland, she was a regular on the basketball court, shooting baskets by herself or joining in pick-up games.

“I was playing one day and some Space Force dude said, you’re pretty good!“ Robinson said. “Little did I know, he knew the coach for the Women’s Armed Forces Basketball team. He put me into contact, and I was able to try out.”

Robinson would eventually be one of 12 women on the Women’s Armed Forces Basketball team, which represents the United States in the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) International Basketball Tournament.

One of the lowest ranking members on the military team, Robinson said she was nervous at first as she didn’t know any of her teammates. However, all the women had at least two things in common — they were serving their country and they loved basketball — and would become good friends while practicing for the SHAPE tournament.

From September to December 2023, the U.S. WAFB team would visit multiple European countries and compete against teams from France, Belgium, Latvia and the Netherlands.

“It was definitely a different game playing with foreigners,” Robinson said. “Their playing style was more aggressive than how we play here in the States. It reminded me of how serious it was.”

Robinson fondly remembers their game against France. The game was neck-and-neck until the U.S. women decided to get serious. The Americans won every single game they competed in and Robinson left with a shiny gold medal around her neck.

“Basketball keeps me in shape and I think it’s the reason why I can go through PT (physical training) so well,” Robinson said, “Basketball gives me my cardio and I hate running so it helps me out a lot.”

As Robinson looks toward her future, basketball is on the front of her mind.

“I’m still looking for my next basketball venture,” she said. “I hope to get in the WNBA or maybe in a league overseas. Being on Team USA sparked a flame in me.”