Opal, WNBA star Leilani Mitchell to light up Sydney Uni Flames in 2016 WNBL

THE Sydney University Flames have pulled off a “miracle’’ last-minute coup by enticing Olympic point-guard and WNBA star Leilani Mitchell to the club for the upcoming WNBL season.

Australia's point guard Leilani Mitchell at the Olympic Games.

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THE Sydney University Flames have pulled off a “miracle’’ last-minute coup by enticing Olympic point-guard and WNBA star Leilani Mitchell to the club for the upcoming WNBL season.

Exactly a week after learning young gun Tahlia Tupaea will be out injured for almost two thirds of the season, a contract has been signed with the Opals veteran and former Flames player.

“It’s a miracle it all came together,’’ said Flames general manager and former Opal Karen Dalton of Mitchell, who played for the club in 2014/2015.

France's guard Marine Johannes drives past Australia's point guard Leilani Mitchell in Rio.

Mitchell brings to the Flames the experience of being an Opal, 20 WNBA playoff games and match fitness from her recent Rio and Washington Mystics campaigns.

It is a massive boost for a team which has struggled to dominate the league in recent years but this season has the line-up more than capable of winning the national competition.

“No pressure then,’’ laughed new coach Cheryl Chambers.

“It’s exciting to have a WNBA and Opal player here and she’s a person who just gets on with things, nothing much seems to phase her.’’

Leilani Mitchell has rejoined the Flames straight from the WNBA.

Chambers said she wants to have her team all together “at least once” before making a prediction on their season fortunes.

“We haven’t played a game all together yet,’’ she said.

“I’m hoping Leilani will be here next week in time for the pre-season game in Canberra on Saturday.’’

Mitchell, who played in Adelaide last season, was part of the Opals team which bowed out of the Olympic Games in the quarter-final stage of the tournament, averaging 11.3 points per game, 4.5 assists and shot 55.6 per cent from the three-point line.

After Rio she flew straight to the US to play with Mystics before agreeing to terms with the Flames on Wednesday.

The Sydney Uni Flames will host the first game of the 20176/2017 WNBL on October 7 against Perth Lynx.