WNBA player and Gorham native Mackenzie Holmes returned home this week to host a youth basketball clinic in Portland.

According to the Seattle Storm forward, it's been a few years since she's hosted a similar event simply because she hasn't been home.

"I was talking to my family," commented Holmes. "I was like, 'I don't know the last time I've seen Maine fall leaves or been around for foliage season.' So, it's been really cool to get this month at home and spend time with family and friends."

The camp was split into two sessions for hoopers in grades 4-12 in the area. While the drills highlighted a range of skills, Holmes hoped that the campers would walk away with one important lesson.

"I think, if anything, just to be an inspiration to them, like just to see that it's possible for kids from Maine to get to high levels of basketball," answered Holmes. "So, even if they didn't learn anything, I'm hoping that I can at least share some knowledge, share some wisdom, and share part of my story as to how I got to this point."

Both sessions closed with the chance to meet the all-time leading scorer for the Indiana Hoosiers.

"I mean, it's a blessing. It's why I do it. It's definitely a reason why I keep playing, why I keep trying to be the best of my ability, is just to be someone that they can look up to because I know at one point I was in their shoes, I was having the big dreams, big aspirations," added Holmes. "So it just means a lot that people are still watching, still paying attention to what I'm doing and are willing to show up to do that and look up to me."

Holmes' season with the Storm has come to a close, but for her it's not too long of an offseason. The former All-American will soon travel overseas to China to play in the WCBA before returning to Seattle in the spring.