Basketball has been part of Nola’s life from the very beginning. With both of her parents having played the game, much of her childhood was spent around basketball — whether that meant playing, watching, traveling to games, or simply being immersed in the sport’s culture. She developed a passion for the game at an early age, and her first NBA experience came when she was just seven months old at an Indiana Pacers versus New York Knicks game, where she famously got to high-five Carmelo Anthony as he entered the tunnel.

In addition to basketball, Nola was also a dedicated ballet dancer for many years. She began ballet at the age of two and trained extensively, eventually performing en pointe in productions of The Nutcracker along with numerous other performances. Balancing two highly demanding disciplines helped shape her work ethic, discipline, and attention to detail. At 13, recognizing the level of commitment required to pursue basketball at the highest level, she made the difficult decision to step away from ballet and fully dedicate herself to the sport she loved most.