Basketball Australia has announced a 20-player squad including nine Victorians, ahead of February’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament where the Seven Consulting Opals will look to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A 12-player team will be picked from the extended quad for the Group A tournament in Belem, Brazil where Australia will play the host nation, Germany and Serbia from February 8 to 11.
The Opals must finish top three in their group to qualify for next year’s Olympics.
Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello said the squad featured plenty of international experience as well as Australia’s stars of the future.
“The qualifiers in Brazil are definitely a challenge, the standard of women’s basketball globally has lifted considerably since the last Olympics as the game continues to gain momentum,” she said.
“Our squad is a great mix of experience and exciting emerging talent, so we approach the qualifiers with confidence but great respect for our opposition. We will have limited preparation for these qualifiers, but we know with the Opals, we lift for the big occasion and with an Olympics spot on the line we can expect each player to bring it.”
Seven Consulting Opals Squad
Rebecca Allen - VIC
Zitina Aokuso
Sara Blicavs - VIC
Isobel Borlase
Darcee Garbin
Cayla George
Shyla Heal
*Lauren Jackson
*Alice Kunek - VIC
Tess Madgen
Ezi Magbegor - VIC
Anneli Maley - VIC
Jade Melbourne - VIC
Stephanie Reid - VIC
Maddison Rocci - VIC
Alanna Smith - VIC
*Stephanie Talbot
Marianna Tolo
*Kristy Wallace
Samantha Whitcomb
*Subject to fitness
Head Coach: Sandy Brondello
Assistant Coach: Cheryl Chambers - VIC
Assistant Coach: Paul Goriss
Assistant Coach: Shannon Seebohm