sportsfan
Years ago
anyone know how they are going with the tour of America only article was this one
http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/storm_wins_exhibition_game_2014_05_03.html
just says seatle won and talks about them nothing about Australia
That was their first stop and it was essentially behind closed doors.
There will be more news with upcoming games.
That article is the 2nd match against Seattle.
BA put out these tweets yesterday after the first match:
*The @AussieOpals opened their tour of the USA with a strong performance - going down 70-68 to the @seattlestorm in their first scrimmage*
*Bec Allen 16p Nat Hurst 14p & @Laura_Hodges11 12p in @AussieOpals 70-68 scrimmage loss to @seattlestorm on USA tour*
only score info from today's match is:
3-time Olympian @Laura_Hodges11 leads @AussieOpals with 18pts in 71-57 scrimmage loss to @seattlestorm
I hear the Rangers have bought Liz Cambage for next season.....If you cant win a championship you gotta BUY one!!!
I wonder how many caravans come with the deal....???
Another article about the recent Seattle vs Opals match, includes a bit more about the Aussies:
Players like PG Leilani Mitchell (Kennewick HS/New York) and C Liz Cambage (Tulsa) could not play despite touring with the team because they're under WNBA contract. PG Erin Phillips opted to play for Phoenix this summer and All-Stars Penny Taylor (Phoenix) and Lauren Jackson (Seattle) are recovering from knee injuries.
"It’s a little disappointing because originally we were set to play Team USA and it was going to be on national TV," first-year Opals coach Brendan Joyce said of the tour’s design before the collective-bargaining agreement was ratified in March. The Aussies are playing the games as part of its preparation for the FIBA World Championship in Turkey this fall. The Opals travel to Minnesota for an exhibition game Monday.
“We decided to still follow through with the tour because I have a lot of young players,” Joyce continued. “To expose them to this level, the best athletes in the world, it’s a great experience for them to see the level they’ve got to be at not only for the WNBA but to win medals. I can already see that I’ve got a couple girls who can match it athletically.”
One is F Rebecca Allen, who also caught the eye of Agler. He had a brief talk with her about the possibility of trying out for the Storm team. O’Hea, an Aussie Olympian who honored her WNBA contract, also noticed the improvement in Allen from playing against her in the WNBL last winter.
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/womenshoops/2014/05/03/storm-cuts-three-players-after-scrimmage-with-australian-national-team/
paul
Years ago
Bec Allen is going to be an absolute gun. Such length to go with a pretty skilled game.
What is Joyce talking about? The Opals were never going to play against team USA at this time of the year.
Most of the players on team USA are finishing off European commitments and are only just arriving in the country. They then need to get to training camps for the start of the wnba season.
Strange thing for him to say.
paul
Years ago
Team USA doesn't necessarily mean the best 12, the Opals on this tour aren't Australia's best 12.
Bec Allen has signed with the NY Liberty.
For the 90s nba heads she will be playing for Bill Lambier.
She should fit well with what should be a tough defensive squad.
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