FIBA AsiaCup 2021: Australian Opals Team Announced

[maccca3232]

I believe this will be the senior team national debut for many former (though 1 current) college players:

• Jaz Shelley (Nebraska formerly Oregon career)
• Tiana Mangakahia (formerly Syracuse career)
• Kristy Wallace (formerly Baylor career)
• Alex Sharp (formerly Wake Forest career)
• Lauren Nicholson (formerly St. Mary's career)

While this is in part due to the unavailability of many players due to WNBA Playoffs and travel restrictions, it is still a worthy achievement for them.

FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2021 website
Team Announcement source

Full Opals team

NAME	CURRENT TEAM
Sami Whitcomb*	New York Liberty, USA
Rebecca Allen	New York Liberty, USA/ Valencia, Spain
Maddison Rocci	Southside Flyers
Jazmin Shelley	University of Nebraska, USA
Tiana Mangakahia	Northside Wizards, QLD /Dynamo, Russia
Lauren Nicholson	JCU Townsville Fire
Kristy Wallace	Melbourne Tigers
Alexandra Sharp	Perth Lynx
Darcee Garbin	Perth Lynx
Keely Froling	Bryden Lawyers Sydney Uni Flames
Zitina Aokuso	JCU Townsville Fire
Lauren Scherf	Perth Lynx

 

[HuskyFan1125]

I’m pretty sure Keely Froling played a couple seasons at SMU.

 

[eebmg]

So I guess they don't think the Liberty can make the playoffs? They have given up on Cambage?

 

[Lorcan]

I’m pretty sure Keely Froling played a couple seasons at SMU.

I think the key here is “debut” for former college players, otherwise Froling might well be included on that list.

I’m surprised that someone like Alanna Smith doesn’t ditch the Mercury for the chance to make an impact on the national team at a tournament like this—but a WNBA title chance seems like a good thing to stick around for.

 

[maccca3232]

I’m pretty sure Keely Froling played a couple seasons at SMU.

That's what I thought but I couldn't find her stats on NCAA, so didn't include.

So I guess they don't think the Liberty can make the playoffs? They have given up on Cambage?

They have named 2 reserves as a contingency, though that is the team as announced.

As long as Cambage continues to make herself available, which historically she has unlike some of the top men (Andrew Bogut and Ben Simmons), she will be the first player chosen.

 

[Ozzie1986]

The wnba finals are on at the same time, that’s why Cambage, Magbegor, Talbot and smith are not in the squad. At 36, they are also looking to move on from Mitchell at pg, hence why they are bringing a bunch of younger options. The European based players have also had to turn the tournament down and the rest of the Tokyo squad aren’t going to do another 2 weeks quarantine within a month On return.
a few other players chosen in the initial squad have turned the opportunity down also because of work commitments, wnbl commitments or not wanting to do quarantine.
liberty are sitting in 8th spot, if they don’t make finals, Allen n Whitcomb will go to Jordan. If they get through, the 2 young reserves, Melbourne(u19 WC) and wehrung will replace them.

 

[ochoopsfan]

A regular season game in the Spanish Endessa league was moved from the first weekend in October to the first weekend in November. Both teams, Valencia and Avenida could/would have players missing. Valencia has Becca Allen on the Aussie team and Avenida has KLS, Karlie, Copper and Alarie who could still be in the WNBA playoffs. Good move by the league as it wouldnt be fair for 2 of the top 3 teams in the Spanish league to play shorthanded for an important game.

 

[maccca3232]

 

[awhom111]

Third place for Australia after they lost to Japan again in the semifinals. China thought that they had this one, but Japan continued their dominance.

Here were the final rosters:

India:
Vaishnavi Yadav, Uttar Pradesh (India), Pensacola State (JC)
Sruthi Arvind, Indian Railways (India)
Stephy Nixon, Kerala (India)
Sathiya Senthil Kumar, Indian Railways (India)
Naveentha Pattemane Udayakumar, Indian Railways (India)
Sreekala Rani, Kerala (India)
Anumaria Chenganamattathil Shaju, Kerala (India)
Shireen Vijay Limaye, Indian Railways (India)
Sahana Shivamogga Mohan, Karnataka (India)
Pushpa Senthil Kumar, Indian Railways (India)
Madhu Kamari, Indian Railways (India)
Nishanthi Masilamani, Indian Railways (India)

Japan:
Stephanie Mawuli, Antelopes (Japan)
Risa Nishioka, Koalas (Japan)
Nanako Todo, Sunshine Rabbits (Japan)
Moe Nagata, Antelopes (Japan)
Mai Yamamoto, Antelopes (Japan)
Saki Hayashi, Sunflowers (Japan)
Soari Miyazaki, Sunflowers (Japan)
Tamami Nakada, Sunflowers (Japan)
Haruno Nemoto, Koalas (Japan)
Kiho Miyashita, Wings (Japan)
Himawari Akaho, Iris (Japan)
Monica Okoye, Red Wave (Japan)

New Zealand:
Mary Goulding, Bendigo Spirit (Australia)/East Perth Eagles (Australia), Fordham
Ashley Taia, Canberra Capitals (Australia)/Logan Thunder (Australia), Indiana State
Krystal Leger-Walker, Washington State/Waikato Wizards (New Zealand)
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State/Waikato Wizards (New Zealand)
Tessa Boagni, Canterbury Wildcats (New Zealand), Cal State Northridge
Ashleigh Karaitiana, Melbourne Boomers (Australia)/Southern Districts Spartans (Australia), Hawaii
Brooke Blair, Brisbane Capitals (Australia), Idaho State
Chevannah Paalvast, Bendigo Spirit (Australia)/Logan Thunder (Australia), Monmouth
Penina Davidson, Melbourne Boomers (Australia)/Nunawading Spectres (Australia), Cal
Lauryn Hippolite, Canterburg Wildcats (New Zealand), Hawaii Pacific (DII)
Zoe Richards, Rockhampton Flames (Australia), Eckerd (DII)
Kalani Purcell, Melbourne Boomers (Australia)/Southern Districts Spartans (Australia), BYU

South Korea (family name first):
Shin Ji-Hyun, Bucheon (South Korea)
Yoon Ye-Bin, Yongin (South Korea)
An He-Ji, Busan (South Korea)
Choi Eun-Sil, Asan (South Korea)
Park Hye-Jin, Asan (South Korea)
Kim Min-Jeong, Cheongju (South Korea)
Park Ji-Hyun, Asan (South Korea)
Kang Lee-Seul, Bucheon (South Korea)
Yang In-Young, Bucheon (South Korea)
Bae Hye-Yoon, Yongin (South Korea)
Kim Dan-Bi, Incheon (South Korea)
Jin An, Busan (South Korea)

Australia:
Sami Whitcomb, Galatasaray (Turkey)/New York Liberty, Washington
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse/Northside Wizards (Australia)
Kristy Wallace, Melbourne Tigers (Australia), Baylor and Drafted 16th in 2017 by Atlanta Dream
Lauren Nicholson, Townsville Fire (Australia)/Kilsyth Cobras (Australia), St. Mary's
Jade Melbourne, Canberra Capitals (Australia)/Centre of Excellence (Australia)
Alex Sharp, Perth Lynx (Australia)/Willetton Tigers (Australia), Wake Forest
Jaz Shelley, Oregon and transferred to Nebraska
Darcee Garbin, Perth Lynx (Australia)/Frankston Blues (Australia)
Keely Froling, Canberra Capitals (Australia)/Launceston Tornadoes (Australia), SMU
Zitina Aokuso, Townsville Fire (Australia)/Melbourne Tigers (Australia)
Lauren Scherf, Sydney Flames (Australia)/Kilsyth Cobras (Australia)
Abigail Wehrung, Adelaide Lightning (Australia)/Bendigo Braves (Australia)

China (family name first):
Yang Liwei, Inner Mongolia (China)
Li Yuan, Inner Mongolia (China)
Wang Siyu, Xinjiang (China)
Wu Tongtong, Shanxi (China)
Zhang Ru, Henan (China)
Li Meng, Bayi (China)
Pan Zhenqi, Bayi (China)
Huang Sijing, Inner Mongolia (China)
Yang Hengyu, Shandong (China)
Li Yueru, Inner Mongolia (China), Drafted 35th in 2019 by Atlanta Dream
Han Xu, Xinjiang (China), WNBA (2019)
Yi Lifan, Beijing (China)

Philippines:
Khate Castillo, Boosters (Philippines)
Mar Prado, Adamson University (Philippines)
Afril Bernardino, club unknown
Ella Fajardo, Gill St. Bernard's (New Jersey), Enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson
Frances Mae Cabinbin, club unknown
Janine Pontejos, Army (Philippines)
Ria Nabalan, Navy (Philippines)
Ann Pingol, National University (Philippines)
Clare Castro, Aces (Philippines)
Andrea Tongco, club unknown
Camille Clarin, National University (Philippines), Blair Academy (New Jersey)
Kristine Cayabyab, National University (Philippines)

Taiwan (family name first):
Chen Wei-An, Cathay Life (Taiwan)
Chu Yu-Chin, Taiyuan Textile (Taiwan)
Lin Wen-Yu, Taiyuan Textile (Taiwan)
Han Ya-En, Cathay Life (Taiwan)
Lin Hsien-Fang, Hubei (China)
Lin Yu-Ting, Cathay Life (Taiwan)
Cheng I-Hsiu, Cathay Life (Taiwan)
Lin Tieh, Taiyuan Textile (Taiwan)
Liu Hsi-Yeh, club unknown
Tai I-Ting, Cathay Life (Taiwan)
Peng Hsiao-Tong, Taiyuan Textile (Taiwan)
Wang Yu-Yi-Wen, Chunghwa Telecom (Taiwan)