Kathleen Walsh was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and began playing basketball at just five years old. Throughout her youth, she competed at the provincial level with Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball and was a proud member of the NL Canada Games Pod.

Kathleen attended Gonzaga Regional High School, where she played varsity basketball for all three years and was recognized for her dedication and skill on the court. Following graduation, she was recruited to play collegiate basketball with the Crandall University Chargers. Unfortunately, after one season, her playing career was cut short due to a career-ending injury.

Despite this setback, Kathleen’s passion for the game led her to the coaching side of the sport. At just 19 years old, she became the assistant coach of the U17 Women’s NL National Team. Her leadership and commitment were quickly recognized, and at age 20, she was appointed Manager of the Women’s NL Basketball Team set to compete at the 2025 Canada Games, hosted in her hometown of St. John’s.