AFTER 50 games in the WNBL you would think Louise McLean's career was still in its early stages but she has hinted it is the opposite.
The Warrnambool basketball export, who plays for Bendigo Spirit, explained the 2009-10 season could be her last in the country's top women's competition.
"I might retire," she said. "My little boy Jaylen is starting kinder in Warrnambool on Monday.
"I'll be moving back home and then doing a lot of travelling back and forth.
"He'll stay with my parents and my boyfriend as well so between us hopefully it won't be too much travelling.
"I'd love to keep playing (in the WNBL) but obviously family comes first and it might be a bit too hard," she said.
"I'll just play it by ear."
McLean will rack up her 50th WNBL match this weekend.
Bendigo will travel to take on Bulleen tomorrow night before it hosts the AIS on Sunday, which will bring up McLean's half-century.
"I was a bit surprised it's my 50th, just because of my injury last year," she said.
"One of the girls had their 50th the other week and we both started at Bendigo together.
"I only played seven or eight games last season so I thought my 50th was a fair way off but then Kristi (Harrower) told me it was coming up.
"It's pretty exciting and to play them all with one club is pretty good," she said.
The 25-year-old believed this season, her third with the Spirit, was her best yet.
"The first one was a learning curve and then last year I was out with my injury so this season has been good," she said.
"I'm pretty happy with the way I've been going.
"Since Christmas I've been shooting more during the day.
"(My shoulder's) not far away from 100 per cent."
McLean is averaging 6.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists this season.
She was prominent against Townsville a fortnight ago in what she rated as her career-best match, shooting 17 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing off three assists.
The Spirit are fifth with three rounds remaining.
Despite Adelaide challenging for their position, McLean was confident her side would keep its spot in the five.
"We've got five games and three are definitely winnable," she said.
"If we maybe pinch another game against Bulleen or Townsville, we will push for fourth but it depends on other results.
"If we win the three then we're 90 per cent sure we'll stay in there."
If Bendigo keeps its spot, it will mark her WNBL finals debut.
McLean revealed the WNBL was never a dream growing up.
"I always wanted to go to America, which I did, then I was home for a year-and-a-half, then I went to Adelaide," she said.
"When the opportunity with Bendigo came up, I thought 'maybe I would like to play that'."
McLean said there was a chance she would line up with the Warrnambool Mermaids in 2010 but said nothing was confirmed yet.
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