For Mischa Creary, stepping onto the court in the second game of the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series against South Africa was more than just a few minutes of action—it was the culmination of hard work and an unyielding desire to prove herself.

After spending the Horizon Series against England last year on the bench, the 28-year-old Sunshine Girl made her presence felt during Jamaica’s 59-47 victory on Wednesday night. Introduced late in the final quarter, Creary capitalized on her limited time as she converted four of her five attempts on goal and showcased her readiness for competitive play.

“I was never injured during last year’s Horizon Series,” Creary, whose skill and versatility earned her scholarship to The Mico University, where she is pursuing a degree in Physical Education, clarified.

“I had a little niggle, yes, but nothing that made me unfit to take the court. To finally get my moment in the second game of this series was good. I mean, there’s a lot more I felt I could give, but I went out and did my part,” she told SportsMax.Tv.

Creary’s return to action comes after a challenging period of recovery from an ankle injury in 2023 that sidelined her for eight months.

While reflecting on that journey back, Creary, who represented Jamaica at the youth level and made her senior debut at the Americas qualifiers in 2022, expressed pride in her perseverance and dedication.

“My biggest accomplishment for the year would be getting selected for back-to-back series after my ankle injury. I’ve been working hard at training and alongside my physio to ensure stability. There’s always going to be disappointment, but nothing to break you—it’s only a building process that I have to learn from and grow,” Creary shared.

That growth has come through changes both on and off the court, as Creary revealed that she has overhauled her diet and lifestyle while taking rehabilitation more seriously. These adjustments, she said, have allowed her to rebuild her strength and focus, which put her in a position to seize opportunities like the one she had on Wednesday.

Though her time on the court was brief, Creary saw it as a meaningful step in her journey.

“My performance was good. I mean, there’s more to give, but I’m not being too hard on myself. My team stomped their class and showed that we are a force to be reckoned with. There are things that we still need to fine-tune, but we definitely showed up and showed out so far—all 15 players,” Creary noted.

Now, with the final game of the series looming on Saturday, Creary is eager to contribute further as the Sunshine Girls aim for a clean 3-0 sweep of the series.

“My goal for this year is just to remain focused and keep pushing in training and rehab—to get fitter and stronger as we gear up for the Horizon Series and Fast5 in November. The aim is simple... to make a squad and be ready when called upon,” she ended.