For Jordan Horston, basketball has always been more than just a sport. It has been an outlet that has embodied connection and opportunity. A space that has allowed her to build lifelong friendships and experience incredible moments. And most importantly, it has been a navigator and safe haven in her life. When asked about her early ties to the game, Jordan is clear on the person who inspired it all—her father. "From picking up a ball at the age of three just watching him coach to then cherishing the time that me and my dad spent together playing basketball, it was written. I wanted to be just like him. He is my superhero," says Jordan. This was just the beginning. The more she played the sport, the more she fell in love with the game. Soon enough, Jordan was set on her goal of one day playing basketball at the highest level. She was all in. Throughout her time in high school, Jordan worked to expand her game and inch closer to her dreams of playing in the WNBA. From helping the team to a City League title and a state championship to being named a McDonald's All-American to earning the MVP recognition at the McDonald’s All-American Game to receiving the Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year award, Jordan earned an array of accolades throughout her time in high school that cemented an incredible personal legacy early on. Even with these amazing feats, she remained focused on the bigger picture.
As she looked to the next chapter, Jordan committed to the University of Tennessee and officially embarked on her collegiate basketball career. It was up from there. Throughout her time at Tennessee, Jordan continued to elevate her basketball IQ, make an impact on the game—finishing her career as one of only two Lady Vols to record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists—and work towards her goal of playing in the WNBA. Before she knew it, the opportunity she had been working towards from a young age was here. With the ninth overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, the Seattle Storm selected Jordan. She had done it. She had achieved her childhood
dream of playing the sport she loved at the highest level. The rest is history! Over the past two years, Jordan has embraced this new chapter of her basketball career to the fullest. From playing with the Storm to joining the Tokomanawa Queens in New Zealand this season to signing with Athletes Unlimited Basketball for the upcoming 2025 season, Jordan is just getting started. As she continues her professional career in the sport, she is looking forward to exploring business and philanthropic ventures surrounding her love for fashion, animals, and community outreach beyond the game as well. Through it all, there is an important life-lesson that Jordan keeps at the forefront of her mind: with hustle and heart, anything is possible!
Let’s dive into your journey early on! In high school, you played four sports—basketball, softball, tennis, and ran cross country. When did you decide you were all in on basketball and wanted to one day play the sport at the highest level?
Yeah! So fun fact, I played like literally every sport except for football—my dad wouldn't let me play football. I wanted to play though, I really did want to go out there but he wouldn't let me play (*laughs*). I always was serious. I’m like…with whatever I'm doing, I'm going to be very serious about it. If I was playing soccer, I was like: “Ok, I'm all in on soccer. I'm training for soccer. I'm doing this.” I've always had that mindset of: “Whatever I'm doing is what I'm focusing on.” But, when I really put basketball as my main focal point was going into my freshman year of high school. I was being recruited and stuff. People were noticing me, so I was like: “Ok, I can really go somewhere with this basketball stuff. Let me put all my attention into this and put the other sports in the back right now.”
You had an incredible career in high school. You helped the team to a City League title and a state championship. Personally, you were a McDonald's All-American, got the MVP recognition at McDonald’s All-American Game, were named the Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year in 2019—just to name a few. As you reflect back on that journey, what did earning those accolades and receiving those honors mean to you?
I'm gonna be honest, I didn't really care about those accolades. You know, they were cool. I didn't understand what I was even getting at the time. I was like, “Oh nice, I’m a McDonald’s All-American. Gatorade Player of the Year? Nice.” I missed the point of what it really was that I was getting. Now that I'm getting older, I’m understanding that those are really, really great achievements, great accomplishments, and great awards to get. While I was in that time (though), I didn't really understand it. I just thought: “Oh, they recognized me. I'm doing something right.” I also always thought—you know with me and all my friends that were playing at the time—like: “Why didn’t they get one? Why didn’t they get the award?” I was always pretty blind to my talents, if that makes sense. I didn't really realize how good I was. But, I think that that's why I'm so humble.
Along with that, you also had a unique high school experience because you got to play for Team USA and won two gold medals there. First, what was that experience like for you of playing for Team USA and heading overseas to play basketball at that level as well?
