With the 2012 London Olympics creeping up on us, the Australian Women’s Basketball team have begun preparations early, announcing a squad of 24 for the games.

After claiming the silver medal behind basketball powerhouse, the United States at the previous three games, the Opals are hoping to take the next step in London and bring home Australia’s first ever Gold medal for basketball.

Experience and leadership seemed to be the key theme in the named squad headlined by WNBA superstars Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor and top players in the national league, Suzy Batkovic, Kristi Harrower and Belinda Snell.

All five have international experience, playing all over the globe for the Opals in a combined 662 international games.

Head coach Carrie Graf believes this experience will be key to the squad’s success, indicating that specialist role players will surround the core group.

“There are a core group of players who are going to clearly be in that Olympic team and then there are going to be a few spots open for players to battle it out and for us to see what is going to be the best fit for the team,” she said.

The first selection camp in March will give the players a chance to show their expertise in the specialist roles Graf is looking for.

“Who are the specialists who are potentially going to fill one or two of three spots on that Olympic team? That’s what we’re looking for,” she said

The selection of rising stars Liz Cambage and Jenna O’Hea gives the squad a mixture of youth and athleticism to compliment its experience.

Cambage stands at a massive 203cm and was drafted with the number two pick of the WNBA draft in 2011 to the Tulsa Shock.


While O’Hea is having a stand out season with the Dandenong Rangers in the WNBL, averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.

The selection camp in March will see six players missing to finish up their overseas commitments before returning for the second camp in May, held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

“Six of the athletes are off-shore in Europe so they won’t be a part of that first selection camp, so it’s a really good opportunity for some of those other athletes to show their wares,” said Graf.

The women’s basketball event tips off on July 28.

2012 AUSTRALIAN OPALS SQUAD

Suzy BATKOVIC  /  Adelaide Lightning

Abby BISHOP  /  Adelaide Lightning

Elizabeth CAMBAGE  /  Bulleen Boomers

Rohanee COX  /  West Coast Waves

Rachael FLANAGAN  / Townsville Fire

Cayla FRANCIS /  Logan Thunder

Kristi HARROWER  /  Bendigo Spirit

Laura HODGES (nee Summerton) /  Bracco Geas Sesto, Italy

Natalie HURST  /  Aix-en Provence, France

Lauren JACKSON /  Ros Casares, Spain

Rachel JARRY  /  Bulleen Boomers

Kathleen MACLEOD  /  Dandenong Rangers

Jenna O’HEA  /  Dandenong Rangers

Elyse PENALUNA  /  Bulleen Boomers

Erin PHILLIPS  /  TS Wisla Can-Pak, Poland

Alicia POTO  /  Sydney Uni. Flames

Samantha RICHARDS /  Bulleen Boomers

Jennifer SCREEN  /  Adelaide Lightning

Belinda SNELL  /  Sydney Uni. Flames

Penny TAYLOR  /  Fenerbahce, Turkey

Marianna TOLO  /  Canberra Capitals

Kristen VEAL  /  Logan Thunder

Carly WILSON  /  Canberra Capitals

Hanna ZAVECZ  /  Uniqa Euroleasing Sopron, Hungary