National Team News ... Last Updated: Thursday 10th May, 2001

Australian Players Dominate 2001 WNBA Broadcast Schedule

MAY 10, 2001 -- Australian basketball fans will have the chance to watch live at least one Australian player each week, it was revealed today with the announcement of the 2001 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) schedule on Optus Television's ESPN channel.

Optus Television's live coverage of the WNBA will tip off on Tuesday, 4 June when the New York Liberty, featuring Australian Jessica Bibby, will play the Sacramento Monarchs.

Australian players make up over 10% of the WNBA's personnel and are currently represented on 11 of the league's 16 team rosters. At least one of the eleven teams with an Australian player is featured each week on ESPN's schedule.

The Phoenix Mercury has five Australian players and an Australian assistant coach and is featured twice on the schedule.
On 11 July the Mercury face last year's Championship runners-up the Los Angeles Sparks and on 6 August they square off against the four-time defending Champions, the Houston Comets.

On June 25 Australian fans can also catch former Opals head coach Tom Maher as he guides his team the Washington Mystics in their game against the Minnesota Lynx. The Mystics have three Australians - Jenny Whittle, Belinda Snell and Annie Burgess - on their roster and the Lynx have Opals Kristi Harrower and Jo Hill.

"Australian fans can now see their favourite local players in the major league live each week on ESPN," said Ben Amarfio, Managing Director of NBA Australasia which represents the WNBA in Australia.

"The fact that every game features at least one Australian player and that some could show as many as seven is further evidence of the impact Australian women are having on the WNBA," said Amarfio.

ESPN's coverage will also feature a live broadcast of the WNBA All-Star Game on 17 July.

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FIVE MORE AUSTRALIANS HEADING TO WNBA

MAY 2, 2001

Five more Australian women have been added to Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team rosters as the number of Australians who could play in the league this season reached 21.

Jenny Whittle (Tarbes - France) and Belinda Snell (Sydney Panthers) have both been added to the Washington Mystics roster. The Mystics are coached by former Opals' coach Tom Maher and also have another Australian, Annie Burgess, on their
roster.

Shelley Sandie (Canberra) has also been added to the Orlando Miracle team list and Jo Hill (Tarbes - France) has been picked up by the Minnesota Lynx. Hill will join fellow Opal Kristi Harrower on the Lynx roster.

Alison Cook-Tranquilli (Ciudad - Spain) is the fifth Australian to be added to a WNBA roster and will be joining the reigning WNBA Champions, the Houston Comets. The Comets have won all four of the WNBA Championships since the league started in 1997.

There are currently 21 Australian players whose rights are held by WNBA teams. This is the highest number of any players from any country other than the United States. Russia has the second highest number of players whose rights are held by the WNBA with nine.

Australians are represented on 11 of the WNBA's 16 teams. The Mercury has five Australians on their roster (Michele Timms, Michelle Cleary, Michelle Brogan, Kristen Veal, Trisha Fallon) as well as an Australian assistant coach (Carrie Graf).

Lauren Jackson was recently selected as the number one overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm. She was one of a record four players chosen in the Draft and one of three Australians selected in the first round.

"The 'A' in WNBA obviously must stand for 'Australia'" said Ben Amarfio, Managing Director of NBA Australasia and local WNBA representative. "Having so many members of the Opals' squad playing nightly against the best basketballers in the world should greatly enhance Australia's gold medal prospects at the coming World Championships."

Australians can watch the 2001 WNBA season live on Optus Television's ESPN channel commencing late May.

AUSTRALIANS ON WNBA ROSTERS FOR THE 2001 SEASON

Phoenix Mercury
Michelle Brogan
Michelle Cleary
Trisha Fallon
Michele Timms
Kristen Veal
Carrie Graf (Assistant Coach)

Washington Mystics
Annie Burgess
Belinda Snell
Jenny Whittle
Tom Maher (Coach)

Detroit Shock
Carla Boyd
Jae Kingi
Rachael Sporn

Seattle Storm
Katrina Hibbert
Lauren Jackson

Minnesota Lynx
Kristi Harrower
Jo Hill

Cleveland Rockers
Penny Taylor

Houston Comets
Allison Cook-Tranquilli

Miami Sol
Sandy Brondello

New York Liberty
Jessica Bibby

Orlando Miracle
Shelley Sandie

Portland Fire
Tully Bevilaqua