All 12 members of Australia's 2006 world basketball championship winning outfit were named in the 26-woman Opals squad
All 12 members of Australia's 2006 world basketball championship winning outfit were named in the 26-woman Opals squad to begin preparation for the Beijing Olympics.
They include Adelaide Lightning guard Erin Phillips, who is recovering from a knee reconstruction.
The youngest member of the squad is 20-year old Townsville Fire guard Renae Camino, while recent WNBL championship winner Tully Bevilaqua is the oldest at 34.
Opals head coach Jan Stirling warned that players could be added or deleted from the squad at any time.
"That has always been the case with shadow teams when they're announced 18 months out from an Olympic Games," Stirling said.
The Opals will undertake tours to China, Russia and the United States this year as they gear up for the 2008 Beijing Games.
Meanwhile, Basketball Australia also announced a 17-man Boomers squad, whose players will vie for a place on the national team to compete at the 2007 FIBA Oceania Qualifying Series in August.
The Australian men have to defeat the New Zealand Tall Blacks in that series to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
“Forget Beijing and forget medalling – we’ve got to qualify first,” Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian said.
“Only the World Champions Spain and the host nation China are guaranteed a spot in Beijing, so I can confidently say that all the other nations are thinking like we are. At this point, qualifying is the goal.”
Australian men’s squad: David Andersen, Chris Anstey, Stephen Black, Andrew Bogut, CJ Bruton, Aaron Bruce, Wade Helliwell, Joe Ingles, Sam Mackinnon, Darnell Mee, Patrick Mills, Brad Newley, Matthew Nielsen, Glen Saville, Luke Schenscher, Jason Smith, Mark Worthington
Australian women’s squad: Eva Afeaki, Suzy Batkovic, Tully Bevilaqua, Michelle Brogan, Renae Camino, Rohanee Cox, Hollie Grima, Jacinta Hamilton, Kristy Harrower, Lauren Jackson, Kathleen MacLeod, Sharin Milner, Emily McInerny, Jenna Ohea, Erin Phillips, Natalie Porter, Alicia Poto, Emma Randall, Samantha Richards, Jenni Screen, Deanna Smith, Belinda Snell, Laura Summerton, Penny Taylor, Jenny Whittle, Carly Wilson
