Six debutantes have been named among an extended Opals squad that will fight for a place on an Australian team set to tackle next month’s Asia Cup without its WNBA talent — and World Cup bronze medal-winning coach Sandy Brondello.
LA Sparks WNBA draftee Shaneice Swain, WNBL Breakout Player of the Year Isobel Borlase and Swain’s fellow Nike Hoops Summit attendee are among those in line to wear the green and gold for the first time in a 19-woman squad that will be trimmed to 12 in the lead up to the tournament.
Shyla Heal returns to the Opals fold after her high-profile mid-season switch from Sydney to Townsville bore a WNBL title alongside fellow squad members Lauren Nicholson and emergent point guard Steph Reid.
Read Next
Just four members of the World Cup bronze-medal winning Opals team are under consideration to return to the scene of their 2021 triumph, while WNBL Coach of the Year and Fire champion Shannon Seebohm will take the reins for Brondello, who is head coach of New York Liberty.
“I’d like to congratulate all the players who have made the Asia Cup squad, it’s an important event on our calendar as we work towards qualifying for the Olympics,” Brondello said.
“There is some great young talent coming through who will debut in Sydney and I’m excited to see how they will perform on the international stage.”
Most of the missing bronzed Opals will be tied up with WNBA commitments during the tournament, while legend Lauren Jackson retired from international competition, Sara Blicavs is taking a break ahead of the WNBL season and Steph Talbot is recovering from an ACL.
Captain Tess Madgen, Darcee Garbin, Anneli Maley and Marianna Tolo will bring the rose-gold experience and the squad has been bolstered by the return of 2018 World Cup silver medallist Alex Bunton who could be an Opal for the first time in five years.
The gap in elite overseas experience will be filled by gun forward Alice Kunek, fresh off a championship-winning season with Sopron Basket in Hungary and gun guard Chantel Horvat, who most-recently played in Poland.
It’s the first time the Asia Cup will be held in Australia and Seebohm said he was “honoured” to coach the Opals, especially as tournament host.
The Aussies have been grouped with The Philippines, Chinese Taipei and third-ranked Japan. Games will be played at the Quaycentre between June 26-July 2.
OPALS ASIA CUP EXTENDED SQUAD
Amy Atwell
Chloe Bibby
Isobel Borlase
Alex Bunton
Keely Froling
Darcee Garbin
Shyla Heal
Chantel Horvat
Alice Kunek
Tess Madgen
Anneli Maley
Tiana Mangakahia
Lauren Nicholson
Nyadiew Puoch
Stephanie Reid
Maddison Rocci
Lauren Scherf
Shaneice Swain
Marianna Tolo
COACHING PANEL
Shannon Seebohm, Head Coach
Cheryl Chambers, Assistant Coach
Renae Garlepp, Assistant Coach
Kristi Harrower, Assistant Coach
Basketball journalist
Read Next
Comments
Reader comments on this site are moderated before publication to promote lively, but civil and respectful debate. We encourage your comments but submitting one does not guarantee publication. You can read our comment guidelines here. If you believe a comment has been rejected in error, email [email protected] and we’ll investigate. Please ensure you include the email address you use to log in so we can locate your comment.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Basketball News Click Here
