Jason Collins' ex-fiancee, Carolyn Moos, spoke with reporters on Tuesday and admitted that she was shocked when Collins revealed to her that he was gay.
"He actually called this past weekend and we spoke a couple of times on Monday, so it's really fresh in my mind," Moos told CNN. "It's going to be a process, absolutely, and it just takes a lot of perspective, and a lot of understanding, and a lot of open conversation."
Collins and Moos dated for eight years and were even engaged to be married before he ended the relationship in 2009.
"Calling off the wedding was obviously a tough decision but it was the right one because I knew I wasn't getting married for the right reasons," Collins told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in a separate interview.
Moos, who played several seasons in the WNBA, told TMZ that she never understood what went wrong in their relationship until now.
"It's very emotional for me as a woman to have invested eight years in my dream to have a husband, soul mate, and best friend in him," Moos said. "I care about [Jason] tremendously and only want the best for him. I want Jason to be happy for a lifetime and stay true to who he really is, inside and out."
Monday marked a milestone for the LGBT community when NBA center Jason Collins became the first professional athlete to come out while actively playing. The 12-year NBA veteran has played for multiple teams since the New Jersey Nets drafted him in 2001, and he most recently finished the 2012-13 NBA season with the Washington Wizards.
NBA plays such as Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd have all expressed their support for Collins' historical, courageous announcement.
Currently a free agent, Collins has told reporters he intends to play next season.