Teenage sensation Sitaya Fagan has been given her first Opals call-up as coach Sandy Brondello turns her focus towards the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Fagan made headlines when she received 27 scholarship offers from some of the best women’s college basketball programs in the US last year.
But ahead of her first season with the University of Southern California, the 18-year-old has been named in the Opals squad for its upcoming two-game series against World Cup silver medallists China at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena in July.
Fagan is not the only fresh name to receive a call-up.
Former Sydney Flames young gun Bonnie Deas was given the nod after a stellar college season with the University of Arkansas.
The squad announcement comes as Brondello looks to finalise her 12-player roster for the World Cup in Germany beginning in September.
Against China, the Opals will be without most of their Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) stars, who helped them sweep the World Cup qualifiers in March.
Experienced forward Darcee Garbin returns to the national team for her first appearance in two years following the birth of her daughter.
After being waived from their respective WNBA clubs, Ally Wilson (Washington Mystics), Alex Fowler (New York Liberty) and Maddy Rocci (Toronto Tempo) come into the squad.
Despite being called up for the initial 19-player squad for the qualifying tournament, veteran forward Sara Blicavs has missed out.
Opals squad:
Zitina Aokuso, Amy Atwell, Chloe Bibby, Isabelle Bourne, Bonnie Deas, Abbey Ellis, Sitaya Fagan, Alex Fowler, Alicia Froling, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Steph Reid, Maddy Rocci, Alex Wilson, Courtney Woods
AAP
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