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Flyers and Boomers dominate Opals squad

The Opals have named the squad for the upcoming training camp in preparation for the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Serbia.

The Opals have named a 16 woman strong squad that will attend the upcoming training camp that will be held in Sydney from the 31st of January to the 4th of February.

The Opals will be without Captain Jenna O'Hea who haswithdrawn from the squadto focus on her physical and mental health

Reigning Champions in the Southside Flyers have four players selected in the side with Maddi Rocci, Rebecca Cole, Abbey Bishop and Sara Blicavs all named.

Rocci has impressed in her first season at the Flyers, averaging 9.3 points per game and Cole has once again been a key player in the Flyers line up averaging 18 points per game, which is the most in the Flyers squad.

Boomers trio Cayla George, Ezi Magbegor and Tess Madgen once again have been named in the squad after being a part of the Opals side that went to Tokyo.

Bendigo Spirit's Anneli Maley will make her squad debut after an impressive season for Bendigo, averaging 20 points per game.

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Sydney Uni Flames' Shyla Heal is also among the 16 players named after a good start to the season with the Sydney Uni Flames having averaged 16 points per game and was a stand out in the Flames last outing against the Boomers, having 29 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.

Perth Lynx duo Darcee Garbin and Sami Whitcomb have also been named in the squad after helping the Opals bring home Bronze at the 2021 Asia Cup.

Opals Squad

Sami Whitcomb        Perth Lynx
Shyla Heal                Sydney Uni Flames
Maddi Rocci             Southside Flyers
Rebecca Cole          Southside Flyers
Lauren Nicholson     Townsville Fire
Tess Madgen            Melbourne Boomers
Jade Melbourne       UC Capitals
Steph Talbot             Adelaide Lightning
Sara Blicavs             Southside Flyers
Anneli Maley            Bendigo Spirit
Alanna Smith           Adelaide Lightning
Ezi Magbegor          Melbourne Boomers
Darcee Garbin         Perth Lynx
Abby Bishop            Southside Flyers
Cayla George          Melbourne Boomers
Zitina Aokuso          Townsville Fire

After the training camp, the Opals Squad will go from 16 players to 12 ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Serbia where Australia will face Korea, Serbia and Brazil. The Tournament will take place from the 10th to the 13th of February.