Come one, come all - new Opals squad
TweetOPALS coach Brendan Joyce today has named a new 34-player squad ahead of Rio Olympic qualification (in August) to cater for expected absences and injuries.
The sudden rush of WNBA teams identifying Aussie players as recruiting targets and injuries to players such as LJ and Lizzie means, for once, it seems to make sense.
"We're naming a big squad this week so you can have your usual go at me for it," Joyce joked when we spoke on Sunday.
Since he succeeded Carrie Graf after the London Olympics, Joyce has named 192 players in squads, making sure no-one who has walked past a basketball stadium since 2008 is overlooked.
OK. Only kidding this time.
The extended squads last year certainly worked out well, especially when Liz was injured on the eve of the FIBA World Championship and Gabe Richards came in at the last second.
That depth paid then so far be it for me to continue challenging what, at first, does seem player overkill.
Given this squad will be cut back to 24 by week's end, there's a lot to like about young players being given a taste and older players not having to fear being overlooked and/or forgotten.
Tess Madgen and Kristen Veal from the last Oceania Championship are perfect examples of that.
FIBA has Australia rated at #2 behind the USA - which again begs the question why seed them to meet in the World Championship semi final last year? - and the depth of our talent suggests the international federation has it right.
Here's the new Opals squad: Rebecca Allen (Melbourne Boomers), Suzy Batkovic (Townsville Fire), Sara Blicavs (Bendigo Spirit), Abby Bishop (University of Canberra Capitals), Alex Bunton (Adelaide Lightning), Natalie Burton (Melbourne Boomers), Elizabeth Cambage (Dandenong Rangers), Rebecca Cole (Melbourne Boomers), Aimie Clydesdale (Dandenong Rangers), Stephanie Cumming (Townsville Fire), Katie Rae Ebzery (Sydney Uni Flames), Cayla Francis (Townsville Fire), Laura Hodges (Adelaide Lightning), Natalie Hurst (Peac-Pecs, Hungary), Lauren Jackson (University of Canberra Capitals), Rachel Jarry (Melbourne Boomers), Alice Kunek (Dandenong Rangers), Tessa Lavey (Bendigo Spirit), Tess Madgen (Melbourne Boomers), Kathleen McLeod (Dandenong Rangers), Leilani Mitchell (Sydney Uni Flames), Mia Newley (Townsville Fire), Jenna O'Hea (Lattes Montpellier, France), Erin Phillips (Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA), Elyse Penaluna (Bendigo Spirit), Gabrielle Richards (Bendigo Spirit), Lauren Scherf (Dandenong Rangers), Belinda Snell (Bendigo Spirit), Stephanie Talbot (University of Canberra Capitals), Penny Taylor (Dandenong Rangers), Marianna Tolo (Bourges, France), Louella Tomlinson (West Coast Waves), Kelly Wilson (Bendigo Spirit), Hanna Zavecz (University of Canberra Capitals).
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