Basketball Journey in Taiwan: Gulich Immersing Himself in Taiwanese Basketball Scene
Unleashed in the Unlikely Basketball Terrain
On the courts of the Women's Super Basketball League (WSBL), Marie Gulich, a towering presence for Taiyuan Textile, has been raising eyebrows.
Standing 1.95m tall, she towers over everyone in the WSBL except for Cayla George, the 1.93m Australian from Cathay Life Tigers - the team Taiyuan is aiming to dethrone in the WSBL best-of-five championship series kicking off on Saturday.
With her WNBA pedigree intact, Gulich, the 30-year-old powerhouse, didn't disappoint in the WSBL. In 23 regular-season games, she was one of only two players boasting a double-double average. Topping the WSBL in scoring (13.9 points per game) and trailing narrowly in rebounding (10.1 rebounds per game in 2nd place), she's been the league's unstoppable force.
Gulich's dominance on the Taiwanese court may be surprising, considering her storied past. As the captain of the then-world No. 19 German national team, she led the team to a respectable 7th place in their Olympic debut in Paris last year, hinting at even grander achievements to come.
"When my agent called me, saying there was a team in Taipei City interested in me ... I'm not gonna lie, I had to look up where Taiwan was," Gulich quipped in a Taipei interview, some 9,422km away from her hometown of Cologne.
Now drawing the curtain on her maiden Taiwanese season, Gulich has no qualms about her decision to play in the land of the Formosa Bears. She unabashedly asserts she wouldn't do it any other way for her debut on the Asian scene.
Gulich's path to basketball was as inspiring as her journey to Taiwan. She dabbled in soccer and handball in her younger years but found her "comfort zone" in basketball at age 12. Struggling with height issues growing up, basketball was the first place where she could embrace her remarkable stature.
"Growing up, I was always taller than everyone, and I was very uncomfortable in my body. People would always comment on how tall I was, and I felt a little ashamed," she shared. "I think once I set foot in that gym, I felt comfortable because my height was something special and positive. I think that's why I stuck with basketball in the first place."
Gulich initially did not intend to go professional. The fourth German player ever drafted into the WNBA in 2018, when she was selected 12th overall in the first round by the Phoenix Mercury, her basketball journey took a notable turn. She played for three WNBA teams over three seasons while also competing in Italy and Poland during the WNBA off-season. In 2020, she left the WNBA and joined Valencia Basket in Spain, winning multiple Europe-based championships before signing with Taiyuan. Taiwan is the fifth country in which she has played for an overseas club.
Basketball has often been Gulich's ticket to adventure and personal growth. She has embraced every destination, relishing new experiences and friendships. "I love [basketball], but I love what comes with it [even more]," she said. "I love that you meet really cool people, that I can grow as a person, challenge myself, and see the world."
Germany's female basketball rankings have continued to climb since Gulich joined the national team in 2018, rising from No. 58 to No. 13 as of the latest FIBA rankings. Commentator Ku Yen-wei described Gulich as the "centerpiece that binds the [Taiyuan] team together." Taiyuan Head Coach Chiu Chi-yi acknowledged her teamwork ethic, stating, "Marie is special, because teamwork is her priority, and we really appreciate that. That's why we reached out to her without hesitation."
Taiyuan approached Gulich in September last year, during her recovery from a knee injury. The WSBL season, which started in January, fit perfectly with her recovery schedule, allowing her to officially sign with the team in October 2021.
Gulich offered praise for Taiwanese players, lauding their agility and tenacity. "I see my teammates and everyone practice so hard every day," she said. "Over the past years, this program has been working, building, and striving to win a championship."
Taiyuan clinched a spot in the WSBL finals with a league-best 21-3 regular-season record, posing a stern challenge against the Tigers, who have claimed every WSBL championship except for one, in 2010, when the team did not compete in the league.
"This is like an adventure for me, but I take it very seriously," Gulich declared. Her coach and teammates spoke of her relentless work ethic and diligence, from nutrition and sleep to meticulous training sessions.
Life in Taiwan has been an intriguing change from Gulich's experiences in the US and Europe, where players typically live independently. "Here, it feels like being back in college—living together, eating together, and it feels more like a community," she beamed. "I really enjoy that."
The WSBL's packed schedule, four-team structure, and smaller crowds have added new dimensions to her basketball experience. "Obviously, I prefer a big crowd and a lot of energy because you feed off it ... So I'm really looking forward to the finals," she shared.
Gulich will return to Germany after the championship series to prepare for the Women's EuroBasket tournament in June. She cherishes the friendships she's made and eagerly anticipates a return to Taiwan, where she's had a "smooth transition, thanks to the English signage and efficient MRT system."
"The adjustment is still there—there's a different culture and a lot of Chinese around—but you can still navigate the city. It's so well-organized, like the MRT system. It's so easy to get around, and it's a smooth transition," she said. "So, if someone asked me, 'I haven't traveled to Asia, where should I go?' I would say: 'Go to Taiwan, for sure.'"
- In the Women's Super Basketball League (WSBL), Marie Gulich, a former WNBA player, has been an outstanding player for Taiyuan Textile, often averaging a double-double and leading the league in scoring.
- Basketball has allowed Gulich to pursue adventures and personal growth, as her basketball journey has taken her to five different countries, including Taiwan, Spain, Poland, Italy, and the United States.
- Despite the cultural differences, Gulich found living in Taiwan to be quite enjoyable, feeling like being back in college with her teammates and appreciating the well-organized MRT system.
