Amy Atwell’s elevation to the Opals team for the Olympics is the highest of highs in a rollercoaster 2024.
Earlier this year, the sharpshooting guard led Perth Lynx to the 2023-24 WNBL Grand Final Series as the league’s second highest scorer, averaging 18.8 points per game.
Atwell produced one of the league’s most outstanding finals performances when she sunk 9 triples in game 1 of the championship series.
However, Perth would fall to the Southside Flyers in game two and the deciding third game to clinch the trophy.
Weeks later, the 26-year-old was on the verge of a second crack at the WNBA. In 2022, she was drafted out of the University of Hawaii by Los Angeles Sparks. Atwell played four games then was waived.
Fast forward to May 2024 and on the eve of the new WNBA season she was cut by Phoenix Mercury.
She would pick up where she left off with Bendigo Braves in NBL1 South. Atwell was a key figure in the team’s undefeated 2023 campaign which culminated in the NBL1 National Championship crown.
Atwell was part of an Opals tour to Japan for a pair of friendlies in June and suited up in the green and gold during the Ford Ballin’24 extravaganza in Melbourne earlier this month where Australia defeated China, 2-0.
After missing out on the 12-player Olympic team, Atwell and Alice Kunek were days later called into the touring party as training players for warm-up games against Spain and Canada in Spain this week.
She was set to be in France for the Games to watch and support partner Ally Wilson and the Australian Gangurrus but was called into the Opals team on Thursday night after scans ruled Tokyo Olympian and triple World Cup medallist Bec Allen out with a high-grade hamstring injury.
The WA product has been immersed in the Opals’ Olympic preparations over the past few months and gets her opportunity at the 11th hour.
Now and forever an Olympian, Atwell’s year may reach new heights in Paris.
