Players

DOB: 06.01.91

Height: 187cm

Junior Club: Eltham Wildcats (VIC)

WNBL Clubs: AIS 2008 – 2010; Bulleen Boomers 2010 – 2013; Dandenong Rangers 2013 – Current.

WNBL Championships: (1) Bulleen Boomers 2011.

Bio: It was a tough start to the WNBL for Kunek, playing just 22 games in her three seasons at the AIS, but the talent was obvious and it wasn’t long before the Melbournian was helping the Bulleen Boomers to the 2011 WNBL title.

A post-title exodus opened the door for a bigger contribution from Kunek and she accepted the challenge, posting career-high numbers as the young Boomers team reached the 2012 WNBL Grand Final.

Another major roster changeover saw the talented scorer take on a starting role, elevating to top-class status, averaging more than 13 points, 5 rebounds and shooting at better than 42 per cent from beyond the arc.

This saw Kunek help the Emerging Opals claim bronze at the 2013 World University Games and earn a call-up to the Opals training squad for the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championships.

Career Highlights: World University Games: 2013 (Bronze), FIBA 3X3 Women’s World Championship: 2012 (Bronze), FIBA U19 World Championships: 2009.

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Ashleigh Stewart

Brittany Smart

Chloe Molloy

Courtenay Wragg

Elyse Penaluna

DOB: 23.04.88

Height: 193cm

Junior Club: Broadmeadows Broncos (VIC)

WNBL Clubs: AIS 2004/05; Dandenong Rangers 2006/07; Bulleen Boomers 2007 – 2011, 2012/13; Bendigo Spirit 2013 – Current.

WNBL Championships: (2) Bulleen Boomers 2011; Bendigo Spirit 2014.

Bio: Regarded as one the most talented players in the WNBL, Penaluna is looking to return to the form that had her on the cusp of Opals selection for the 2010 FIBA World Championships and 2012 London Olympic Games.

A serious knee injury saw the free-scoring forward (a career 50 per cent shooter) miss 18 months of competition, returning with the Bulleen Boomers for the 2012/13 season.

Penaluna impressed on her return, reminding fans why she was such a key piece in the Boomers 2011 WNBL title team. Unfortunately a further knee injury sidelined her late in the season and required off-season surgery.

A move to reigning champ Bendigo saw Penaluna play 21 games before suffering another serious knee injury, which saw her miss the WNBL finals.

Career Highlights: World University Games: 2009 (Bronze), FIBA U21 World Championship: 2007 (Silver), FIBA Oceania Championships: 2009, 2011.

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Emma Pearce

Genna Ogier

Kasey Burton

Kate Oliver

Kristen Veal

DOB: 24.07.81

Height: 176cm

Junior Club: Norwood Flames (SA)

WNBL Clubs: AIS 1997 – 1999; Canberra Capitals 1999 – 2004; Sydney Uni Flames 2005 – 2008; Logan Thunder 2008 – Current.

WNBL Championships: (4) AIS 1999; Canberra Capitals 2000, 2002, 2003.

Bio: Emerging on the scene alongside Lauren Jackson, Suzy Batkovic and Penny Taylor as part of the AIS team that created history in winning the 1999 WNBL Championship, Veal quickly became a household name.

She remained in Canberra, joining the Capitals and adding a further three titles to her trophy cabinet – all the while she was creating history in America, becoming the then youngest player to be selected in the WNBA Draft.

At just 19 Veal was selected at pick 13 of the 2001 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, just the second Australian to be selected in the first round behind former AIS and Canberra teammate Lauren Jackson.

Despite a lucrative deal to stay in the WNBA, Veal decided against extending her stay in the USA and after a successful stint in Canberra, the then 24-year-old took her talents to Sydney in 2005.

A brief, but successful, stay in Sydney saw the team reach back-to-back finals, before Veal was offered the chance to take on a leadership role at the new WNBL club – the Logan Thunder in 2008.

In her five seasons at the Thunder, Veal has played over 100 games for the club and is seen as the spiritual leader of the team. After a solid 2012/13 season in southern Queensland, Veal was called into the Opals squad by Head Coach Brendan Joyce.

Career Highlights: WNBL All-Star Five: 2003, FIBA Oceania Championships: 2003, 2013, FIBA Junior Women’s

World Championships: 1997 (Silver), Youngest ever player selected in WNBA Draft in 2001 (19), Drafted at pick 13 of the 2001 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury.

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Madeleine Garrick

DOB: 01.04.92

Height: 179cm

Junior Club: Shepparton/Bulleen (VIC)

WNBL Clubs: Bendigo Spirit 2009/10; AIS 2010 – 2012; Bendigo Spirit 2012 – Current.

WNBL Championships: (2) Bendigo Spirit 2013, 2014.

Bio: The Goulburn Valley product made her name with the Bendigo Spirit as a 17-year-old before taking the opportunity to join the AIS for a productive three season stay.

A return to the Spirit eventuated, with Garrick developing into a vital role player off the bench, contributing big minutes in Bendigo’s run to their first-ever WNBL Championship.

Entering her fifth WNBL season, the 21-year-old posted career-high marks in field goal and three-point field goal shooting as Bendigo won back-to-back titles.

Career Highlights: FIBA U19 World Championship: 2011, Australian Youth Olympic Festival: 2009 (Gold).

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Olivia Thompson

DOB: 20.01.93

Height: 187cm

Junior Club: Forestville (SA)

WNBL Clubs: AIS 2009 – 2012; Townsville Fire 2012 – Current.

WNBL Championships: Nil.

Bio: It was in her final season at the AIS where Thompson emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in the WNBL. Injuries ravaged the young team and Thompson stepped up to average more than 10 points and 6 rebounds.

This made the South Australian a hot commodity on the open market, eventually deciding on Townsville as her next destination. The 187cm forward fitted seamlessly into the Fire rotation, providing energy and offensive power in the team’s run to the WNBL Grand Final.

A genuine star of the future in the WNBL and potentially on the international stage.

Career Highlights: World University Games: 2013 (Bronze), FIBA U17 World Championships: 2010.

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Shanae Greaves

DOB: 08.04.93

Height: 183cm

Junior Club: Knox (VIC)

WNBL Clubs: Melbourne Boomers 2013 – Current.

WNBL Championships: Nil.

Bio: Greaves has forged a path through the SEABL with the Knox Raiders to earn her place on the Melbourne Boomers WNBL rosters for the 2013/14 season. Racking up more than 100 SEABL games – including 84 in the past three seasons – Graves has done the hard yards and the improvement in her game has been evident each year.

Now with the chance to play at the top level expect the young forward to look to make an impact.

DOB: 12.08.90

Height: 180cm

Junior Club: Barossa Valley (SA)

WNBL Clubs: AIS 2008 – 2010; Bendigo Spirit 2010 – 2012; Melbourne (formerly Bulleen) Boomers 2012 – Current.

WNBL Championships: Nil.

Bio: A fierce competitor from the moment she stepped on to a WNBL court, Madgen has quickly establish herself as one of the most gifted offensive guards in Australia.

The sister of NBL and Boomers star Ben Madgen, the 180cm guard impressed in her time at the AIS also helping Australia finish fifth at the 2009 FIBA Under 19 World Championship.

Joining the Bendigo Spirit proved the perfect situation for Madgen to show her wares, leading the Spirit in scoring and taking out back-to-back Club MVP honours.

A surprise move to Bulleen and a switch to point guard saw a year of development and growth for Madgen, still averaging in the top 15 in scoring and top 10 in assists.

Madgen returned to the Jayco Opals program in 2013, helping the team reach the 2014 FIBA World Championships – defeating New Zealand in the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championships.

Career Highlights: FIBA Oceania Championships: 2011, 2013, FIBA 3X3 Women’s World Championships: 2012 (Bronze), World University Games: 2011 (Bronze), 2013 (Bronze), FIBA U19 World Championships: 2009.

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