Lara McSpadden enters WNBL season with Sydney Uni Flames on a winning run
Rising basketball star Lara McSpadden is hoping to bring winning form into the new WNBL for the Sydney Uni Flames.
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She might be young and less inexperienced than some of her teammates but basketballer Lara McSpadden could well be the Sydney Uni Flames’ new lucky charm.
The Sydney University student has one big advantage over the majority of her teammates heading into the new competition - she’s been making a habit of winning.
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The 20-year old has spent the off-season playing in various leagues and tournaments and heads into the 2019/20 WNBL with two significant victories under her belt.
McSpadden was most recently a member of the Newcastle Hunters side which won the Waratahs League.
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And prior to this she was a member of the Emergng Opals who won gold at the world university games.
“I’d love to be seen as the lucky charm,” McSpadden, 20, said. “Hopefully it comes true.’’
The Flames are regrouping after a horror 2018/19 season saw them unexpectedly claim the wooden spoon in Australian leading women’s basketball competition.
The Flames, who won the WNBL crown in 2016/17, managed just two wins in their 21-game regular season..
“I don’t want to go through that again,” said McSpadden, the 193cm big who was born in Penrith but who now lives in Newcastle and Sydney.
“My big goal is to make the Opals squad so it’s very important for me to have a breakout season with the Flames.”
Starting off the bench last year, McSpadden is hoping to make more of a mark during the 2019/20 season.
“The goal for me is to make the starting five,” she said.
“I want to make my presence more known.’’
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The Sydney Uni Flames kick off their season with a road trip to Adelaide, and then Perth, this weekend before returning to Brydens Stadium on October 19 for their round two home opener against Southside Flyers, led by former head coach Cheryl Chambers.