Newcastle basketballer Suzy Batkovic could make her international return at next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games after being named in the Opals squad on Friday.
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Batkovic, who turns 37 this month and missed selection for last year’s Rio Olympics, will join fellow Hunters product Katie Ebzery in the 18-player training group to meet in early February.
“This squad has been selected based upon performance levels in the various leagues in which the athletes compete as well as at past Opals camps and the recent FIBA Asia Cup in India,” Australian women’s head coach Sandy Brondello said.
“All of our Opals coaching staff will continue to monitor and evaluate the contributions the players make to their respective clubs leading up to the Commonwealth Games.
“Beyond that tournament, we are also preparing for the FIBA World Cup which will be held in Spain in September 2018 following our successful qualification at the FIBA Asia Cup earlier this year.”
The Commonwealth Games will take place from April 5 to 14 with the Opals based out of Townsville, where Batkovic plays WNBL for the Fire.
OPALS: Rebecca Allen (Lyon - France), Suzy Batkovic (Townsville Fire), Abby Bishop (Adelaide Lightning), Stephanie Blicavs (Dandenong Rangers), Elizabeth Cambage (Melbourne Boomers), Katie Ebzery (Sydney Uni Flames), Cayla George (Townsville Fire), Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo Spirit), Natalie Hurst (Canberra Capitals), Alice Kunek (Perth Lynx), Tessa Lavey (Dandenong Rangers), Ezi Magbegor (Canberra Capitals), Lauren Mansfield (Energa Torun - Poland), Leilani Mitchell (Hatay - Turkey), Jenna O’Hea (Melbourne Boomers), Belinda Snell (Sydney Uni Flames), Stephanie Talbot (Mondeville - France), Marianna Tolo (Abdullah Gul - Turkey).
