The WNBA play-offs are here and Australians are flying the flag in all five matchups.
Seven Consulting Opals head coach Sandy Brondello guided New York Liberty to a No.1 seed finish with the Liberty going on to take game 1 over Atlanta Dream, 83-69, in the early hours of Monday morning.
Opals assistant coach, and UC Capitals WNBL coach, Paul Goriss is part of the Dream’s coaching staff.
They were national team mates in Paris but now Alanna Smith and Amy Atwell are opponents with Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury facing off in a first-round series.
Smith compiled 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks in the Lynx’ 102-95 win.
Fellow 2024 Paris Olympic medallist Kristy Wallace and her Indianna Fever suffered a 93-39 defeat to Connecticut Sun first-up and will look to bounce back in game two.
Opals 2006 World Champion and Olympic silver medallist Tully Bevilaqua is a member of the Fever coaching group.
Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb wear the green and gold of Australia together and as Seattle Storm team mates will look to take down the might of reigning back-to-back champions Las Vegas Aces when their series gets underway.
Steph Talbot (Los Angeles Sparks) and Jade Melbourne (Washington Mystics) didn’t make post-season action with their teams and will now home to prepare for the Cygnett WNBL season with Adelaide Lightning and the UC Capitals respectively.
There are also familiar faces across the WNBA plays offs with Leonie Fiebich, Kayla Thornton, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (New York), Naz Hillmon, Jordin Canada, Nia Coffey (Atlanta Dream), Marina Mabrey, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Tiffany Mitchell (Connecticut Sun), Bridget Carleton, Olivia Epoupa, Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) Sophie Cunningham, Monique Billings, Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury) Jackie Young, Kierstan Bell (Las Vegas Aces) and Mercedes Russell (Seattle Storm) all previously playing in Australia in the WNBL or NBL1.
