Opals’ young gun Alex Fowler on the phone call, red-eye flight and training camp that changed her life

On her way to practice with her second-tier team, one phone call would change Alex Fowler’s life for good. Three months later, she’s part of a new-look Opals Asia Cup squad that is eyeing history.

When Alex Fowler picked up the phone and heard Sandy Brondello on the other end of the line, she had no idea the “out-of-the-blue” call from the Opals coach would alter the trajectory of her career.

It was early April and the 23-year-old Townsville Fire forward was in Perth — in the car on her way to practice with her new NBL1 club Perry Lakes.

But the Opals, in their first training camp beginning the four-year LA 2028 Olympic cycle, had injuries — and Brondello needed reinforcements.

“Sandy called up and asked me to get on the red-eye flight and I got to Melbourne that night and trained with the Opals for the rest of the week,” Fowler said.

Alex Fowler makes the most of her Opals debut against New Zealand in May. Picture: Getty Images

The junior prodigy, who represented Australia at two junior world cups and a junior Asian championship alongside the likes of Opals and WNBA luminary Jade Melbourne, had no notion that her efforts at the camp would quickly develop into her senior Opals debut in May’s Trans Tasman Throwdown series against the Tall Ferns.

“I didn’t know what to expect or what I was doing at the camp,” she laughed.

“Everyone was welcoming and I just did whatever I was supposed to do or what I thought I should be doing at that camp and had a lot of fun.

“Then the call later came out of the blue to play against New Zealand.

“It was a very cool and unexpected opportunity.”

A training camp opportunity was enough to convince Opals coach Sandy Brondello young forward Alex Fowler had a national team future. Picture: Getty Images

Being an Opal had always been the dream for the four-year Portland NCAA college standout, but Fowler had no real expectation, two months later, she’d be in China on the verge of a full FIBA debut in the Asia Cup.

“I was not expecting this off-season to be what it was, but I’m very grateful for it,” she said.

It’s something of a full circle moment — the Townsville local first rubbed shoulders with Opals star Cayla George as part of the Fire’s youth academy and now they’re teammates on the national team.

George remembered Fowler as a “bright young talent” who was now “right in the mix” for future national team honours.

“It’s amazing she didn’t make the squad initially, got called in to help out and now she’s right in the mix,” George said.

“She very much deserves to be here and I’m very impressed by her.

“She’s got a great mentality, great attitude and wants to learn.

“She’s a sponge. She works really hard and does all the little things a real glue kind of player.

“I got to play with mentors like Penny (Taylor) and Lauren (Jackson) so hopefully I can be that for her and help her develop and grow in her own way.”

A young Alex Fowler with Cayla George in Townsville. Picture: Supplied/Cayla George

Fowler jokes she’s got a great icebreaker for social — or Opals — situations: she’s a triplet.

Alex, Victoria and Georgia grew up playing basketball but Fowler says in personality, looks and life paths, each is unique.

“I often forget that it’s (triplets) not that common but it’s my icebreaker for everything but it’s kind of like a little hidden thing I get to bring out every now and then,” Fowler laughed.

“They did basketball growing up, they were around the Fire all the time with Cayla, Kate Gaze, Suzy Batkovic, they’d come out and watch us.

The Fowler triplets, Victoria, Georgia and Alex. Picture: Instagram/Alex Fowler

“But they’ve ventured off and done their own thing, Georgia went into soccer and Victoria went into acting.

“So we’re all very different and, as we get older, we just look at it as we’re normal siblings.”

Fowler says the “built-in sisters and best friends” were more an issue for mum and dad when they decided they all wanted their own birthday parties.

“When we were younger, we used to have all our birthday parties together but, as we got older, we wanted to have our own,”

“Our parents had to put a stop to that because it was too expensive, too many cakes, too many friends.”

Alex Fowler was a key figure in Townsville’s charge to last season’s WNBL grand final. Picture: Getty Images

The Opals’ Asia Cup campaign tips off Sunday against the Philippines. The Aussies have medalled at every Asia Cup they’ve participated in — one silver and three bronze — but never taken gold.

It’s something Fowler, George and the Opals have vowed to change.

“We’ve definitely spoken about it and we’ve got some goals of our own, especially this being kind of a newer group coming through,” Fowler said.

“It’s good that we have the vets like Cayla around because they’ve had the experience of these other Asia Cups and they can help us lean into what we’re trying to achieve.

“I think we have these goals of doing better than we’ve ever done and we talk about the Opals’ legacy and just continuing that on.

“Whatever comes at the end of the tournament, we’ll just know that we put in the hard work with these goals that we have in mind and hopefully we’re able to achieve them.”

Originally published as Opals’ young gun Alex Fowler on the phone call, red-eye flight and training camp that changed her life