OREM, Utah — Erin Thorn knows her life isn't for everyone.
The former Brigham Young University star admits being a professional basketball player brings unique challenges to a person's life.
Drafted in the second round by the New York Liberty, Thorn is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Women's National Basketball Association.
She sees it as a chance to be an ambassador, albeit in tennis shoes and boasting a deadly outside shot.
"It's a different opportunity," she said. "It's not necessarily a mission, but kind of like that. I may be someone's only contact with the church. … For me, it's almost easier to be a good example out there because I know I'm the example."
One issue that arose immediately was that of working on Sunday. Like most athletes who make the transition from collegiate to professional sports, she struggled with the decision.
"If you won't practice or play on Sunday, you just don't play professional sports," she said. Thorn considered both the decisions of those who chose to give up a career in athletics and those who went on to play professionally.
"I do what I can with the situation I'm given," Thorn said. "And I really wanted to play professionally. I wanted to see how far I could go. … I didn't want to have any regrets."
Thorn said she gets to a Mormon service whenever she can and understands that others might choose a different path.
"It's not right for everybody," Thorn said. "But for me, I kind of feel like it's my chance to be an example of the church — whether or not I go to church."
Her teammates and coaches apologize for swearing and understand when she declines an offer to go to an R-rated movie.
"They know what kind of person I am," she said. "They see how I live."
She went to church in New York a few times when she was first drafted and met a family that assumed she was a nanny. When they invited her over for dinner, they found out she was a professional basketball player for the Liberty and began following the team faithfully. "They became fans, and for the last six years I've had a little family out there," she said.
She also made appearances at ward activities in the area, including speaking to Young Women groups. "I just did a little question-and-answer thing for them," she said.
The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 4.6 points in her six seasons in New York. The best was 2007, when she averaged 9.7 points while starting all 29 games.
Like most athletes in the WNBA, Thorn has to work another job in the lengthy offseason. The past two years, she's taken her skills to Greece. Interestingly, one of her Panathinaikos teammates is married and LDS — Kristen Rasmussen, who has played in the WNBA since 2000. So each Sunday, Thorn and the young couple get together and have their own Sunday services, complete with lessons and songs.
"That's been really nice," Thorn said.
Some players who go overseas to work have trouble getting paid. But she said the team she plays for is one of the more reliable about paying its players, and it has a great fan following.
"They love their teams there," she said. "It doesn't matter what sport. They have a very loyal following."
She keeps in touch with her college coach, Jeff Judkins, who encouraged her to follow her dreams into the WNBA.
"He did it himself," said Thorn, who worked for two years as an assistant after graduating from BYU. "He said go play. … We'll be here when you get done."
Thorn said she hopes to someday return to coaching when her playing career is done.
"I would love to come back and be a part of the program again," she said. "I think I would go insane in a regular job. If I can't be playing, coaching is the next best thing."
Thorn won't be taking on those coaching duties anytime soon, however. Earlier this month, she signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA.
"Having Erin on the team will bring six years of WNBA veteran leadership, especially postseason experience that the team needs," said Steven Key, head coach and general manager, in a press release from the Sky. "Her ability to spread the floor and get the ball inside will help tremendously in the coming season."
Thorn isn't worried about the solvency of the league, although it recently sent a memo saying there wouldn't be some player bonuses this year.
The 27-year-old Orem native knows no life is perfect, but she feels especially blessed to be able to earn a living playing basketball.
"Especially when I'm struggling with something, I think: 'They pay me to work out! They pay me to stay in shape. They pay me to play a game I love.'
"It's my job," she said, drawing out the word "job" and smiling. "To be able to call basketball your job is pretty great."
e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com