I'm thankful for my sport in so many ways, but one very important reason is because I love my team. I am so immensely blessed to have them in my life, and they have made my life better in more ways than they know.

My team is my family, and while there are countless reasons why they will always hold such a special place in my heart, I tried to narrow it down to my Top 13.

1. We're always laughing when we're together...

Everything's funnier with my team. You can always count on us to be "that group" of people that's laughing to the point of tears at dinner every night.

2. ...But we still know how to clean up our act and compete.

When it comes time to play, we know how to pick ourselves up (probably off of the floor from laughing) and go out on the court and show everyone the competitive team we are.

3. We have the same goals.

We make it our number one goal to honor God with our actions, both on and off the court. Of course, we still strive to win as a competitive team, and we are able to establish the smaller goals needed to work toward this ultimate goal.

4. We support and build up each other.

Every one of us on the team has become better, both as a player and a person, in the short time we have known each other. We encourage, motivate, listen to, pray for and give advice to each other.

5. We tell each other anything and everything.

We don't judge, and our secrets are safe within our team. We can tell each other anything. From our deepest, darkest secrets or how long it's been since we've washed our hair. Whatever it is, we'll listen.

6. We can be ourselves with each other.

Like I just said, our team doesn't judge. A team is a group of people who sees the many different versions of you: the weird and hysterical version of you, the 5:00 a.m. practice version of you, the crying after a tough loss version of you, the trying to sleep on a long bus ride version of you—and they still love you to pieces.

7. We need each other.

We wouldn't be us without our teammates. We rely on every single person, so even when only one of us is missing or not doing their part, we won't be complete as a team.

8. We do life together.

We're a team on the court, and off the court too. As a team, we are actively involved and interested in each other's academic, social and spiritual lives, outside of just our athletic lives.

9. We know how to have fun.

When the game or practice is over, and we don't have to take ourselves quite as seriously, our team definitely knows how to loosen up and have a good time.

10. We tease each other relentlessly.

You can be sure that we teammates, will be the first one to point out when one of us does or says something embarrassing. We also make sure it will never be forgotten.

11. We have no boundaries.

Whether we are dancing around while not fully dressed, sending each other humiliating snapchats or discussing our bodily issues way too into detail, we are always pushing the boundaries of how close is too close. We wouldn't have it any other way, though.

12. We pick each other up when we're down.

We're always there to cheer someone up, to get another's head back in the game, to comfort everyone and we never give up on each other.

13. We're a family.

The amazing bond that we have will never be lost. We are together, in our successes and in our failures. Family is family, no matter what.

A great team is so much more than merely people that you play your sport with. A successful team knows each other on a deeper level. They know each other's likes, dislikes, fears, strengths and weaknesses; they are also able to accommodate around all of these things. A true team will never be broken. Once a team, always a team.