Liz Cambage has only been with Southside for two months but her “massive” presence on and off the ground will take Flyers to great heights in the 2020 WNBL season.
That’s the opinion of Flyers captain Jenna O’Hea, overwhelmed by Cambage’s influence on the team in such a short amount of time.
O’Hea says her Opals teammate has a strong aura that has already come to fruition in practice games ahead of the season’s start next Thursday.
“The teams are trying to double and triple Team Liz and she can still shoot over her because she’s so much bigger,” said O’Hea.
“It also allows us to open up to her because she just attracts so much attention.
“She’s also a very good and willing passer-by. Once we get used to where she likes to catch the ball and where we can move, I think it will be really good.”
O’Hea is housed with Cambage in the team’s North Queensland hub, which gives her a daily glimpse into one of the best basketball players in the world.
The 2011 WNBL champion with the Bulleen Boomers knows how to reach the team at the highest level by holding the team accountable, setting high standards and knowing when to have some fun.
O’Hea believes the Flyers are quick to learn how to live and play with Cambage.
“I’m with Liz now and we both like our time alone, but when we meet she sings and dances,” she said.
“When she’s in the team environment, she’s on, but when we’re back in the room, she likes to relax and listen to some music.
“I’m just thrilled to be in her presence again. I like their energy and we have a lot of fun together. “
O’Hea expects one of the most competitive WNBL seasons in history as the campaign is played in a hub over an intense six week period.
That’s why no team will take them for granted in the race for a championship.
“We had a few practice games in quarantine and you can’t just rock and expect to win,” she said.
“Every game will be very difficult and I think some luck will come to keep everyone healthy.
“There are a lot of games out there in a short period of time, so recovery will be key.
“I also think that there will only be misses because of tiredness. So it’s about who can keep his players healthy.”
Southside Flyer
Ins: Liz Cambage
Monique Conti
Rachel Jarry
Stephanie Blicavs
Outs: Anneli Maley
Steph Reid
Kiera Rowe
Mercedes Russell
Louella Tomlinson
X Factor: Getting past Liz Cambage is impossible. In addition to being one of the best players in the world, Cambage has an aura that gives flyers confidence that they will beat anyone.
Forecast: 1 ..
Melbourne boomers
Ins: Tess Madgen
Izzy Wright
Hope Terdich
Rachel Antoniadou
Ashleigh Christian
Outs: Monique Conti
Paige price
X factor: Ezi Magbegor. Having won a WNBA championship in her first season with the Seattle Storm, Magbegor will be full of confidence to play with a point to prove.
Forecast: 2 ..
Canberra capitals
Ins: Tahlia Tupaea
Britt Smart
Hannah Kaser
Ashley Taia
Jade Melbourne
Outs: Kia nurse
Olive Epoupa
Gemma Potter
X-Factor: Guard Maddi Rocci is poised to improve and needs to be aggressively carrying more cargo this year.
Forecast: 3 ..
Adelaide Blitz
Ins: Alanna Smith (injured)
Taylor Ortlepp
Marena Whittle
Carlie Smith
Alex Wilson
Abbey defense
Ella Batish
Louella Tomlinson
Outs: Nat Hurst (retired)
Hannah Kaser
Lauren Nicholson
Jessie Edwards
Jennie Rintala
X-Factor: Carlie Smith
After playing for Australia with three medals on the 3×3 stage, Smith is ready to play on the WNBL stage.
As a pre-eminent player in her youth, she had to battle her inner demons, leaving her school, basketball and almost derailed a promising career.
Smith recently played with the University of Sunshine Coast Rip City (USC) in the NBL1 North competition (QBL for this 2020 season), where she averaged 13.75 points with 8.69 rebounds in 2018.
Forecast: 4 ..
Perth Lynx
Ins: Sami Whitcomb (bad season due to the birth of the first child)
Darcee Garbin
Alex Ciabattoni
Jessie Edwards
Ashleigh Isenbarger
Kayla Steindl
Alexandra Sharp
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycar
Outs: Nadeen Payne
Lauren Mansfield
Alison Schwagmeyer
Marena Whittle
X Factor: Katie Ebzery.
Ebzery is poised to take Perth to higher accolades after being named the club’s MVP last season.
She excelled in her second season in the franchise, averaging a team high of 16.3 points plus 4.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Forecast: 5 ..
Townsville fire
Ins: Shyla Heal
Mia Murray
Lauren Nicholson
Nadeen Payne
Megan McKay
Courtney Woods
Steph Reid
Lara McSpadden
Sharna Thompson
Outs: Tess Madgen
Darcee Garbin
X-factor: Shyla Heal. She may be 19, but Boomers legend Shane Heal’s daughter has all the skills to play for Townsville this season.
Forecast: 6 ..
Sydney Uni Flames
Ins: Lauren Mansfield
Anneli Maley
Alison Schwagmeyer
Funda Nakkasoglu
Kiera Rowe
Nat Burton
Carly Boag
Outs: Sarah Graham (retired)
Alex Wilson
Tahlia Tupaea
Britt Smart
Lara McSpadden
X-factor: Funda Nakkasoglu.
Born in Melbourne, the 24-year-old guard got her first impression of the WNBL in 2012 when she signed a rookie contract with the Bulleen Boomers for one season. Most recently, she played her first year as a professional for Galatasaray SK in the Turkish women’s basketball league – exactly where her father comes from and plays professionally. She is also a member of the Turkish national team. The young guard looks forward to returning to Australia to continue their basketball journey in Sydney.
Forecast: 7 ..
Bendigo Spirit
Ins: Cassidy McLean
Paige price
Piper Dunlop
Mary Goulding
Shelby Britten
Amelia Todhunter
Alicia Froling
Jennie Rintala
Georgia Pineau
Outs: Gabe Richards (retired)
Abbey defense
Heal Shyla
Abbey defense
X-factor: Carlie Ernst. It’s her sophomore year at the club and she is ready to make a difference with her size and length.
Forecast: 8 ..
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