Opals squad for 2023 women’s Asia Cup confirmed: Six rookies named as Shyla Heal returns

The Opals will be banking on youth at next month’s Asia Cup – after unveiling a squad missing its WNBA talent, but loaded with debutantes. FULL SQUAD INSIDE.

Michael Randall

@MickRandallHS

2 min read

May 23, 2023 - 12:04PM

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Six debutantes have been named among an extended Opals squad that will fight for a place on an Australian team set to tackle next month’s Asia Cup without its WNBA talent — and World Cup bronze medal-winning coach Sandy Brondello.

LA Sparks WNBA draftee Shaneice Swain, WNBL Breakout Player of the Year Isobel Borlase and Swain’s fellow Nike Hoops Summit attendee are among those in line to wear the green and gold for the first time in a 19-woman squad that will be trimmed to 12 in the lead up to the tournament.

Shyla Heal returns to the Opals fold after her high-profile mid-season switch from Sydney to Townsville bore a WNBL title alongside fellow squad members Lauren Nicholson and emergent point guard Steph Reid.

Shaneice Swain is one of six debutants to get a call-up for the Opals squad. Picture: Getty

Just four members of the World Cup bronze-medal winning Opals team are under consideration to return to the scene of their 2021 triumph, while WNBL Coach of the Year and Fire champion Shannon Seebohm will take the reins for Brondello, who is head coach of New York Liberty.

“I’d like to congratulate all the players who have made the Asia Cup squad, it’s an important event on our calendar as we work towards qualifying for the Olympics,” Brondello said.

“There is some great young talent coming through who will debut in Sydney and I’m excited to see how they will perform on the international stage.”

Most of the missing bronzed Opals will be tied up with WNBA commitments during the tournament, while legend Lauren Jackson retired from international competition, Sara Blicavs is taking a break ahead of the WNBL season and Steph Talbot is recovering from an ACL.

Shyla Heal will also return to the fold for the Opals. Picture: Getty

Captain Tess Madgen, Darcee Garbin, Anneli Maley and Marianna Tolo will bring the rose-gold experience and the squad has been bolstered by the return of 2018 World Cup silver medallist Alex Bunton who could be an Opal for the first time in five years.

The gap in elite overseas experience will be filled by gun forward Alice Kunek, fresh off a championship-winning season with Sopron Basket in Hungary and gun guard Chantel Horvat, who most-recently played in Poland.

It’s the first time the Asia Cup will be held in Australia and Seebohm said he was “honoured” to coach the Opals, especially as tournament host.

The Aussies have been grouped with The Philippines, Chinese Taipei and third-ranked Japan. Games will be played at the Quaycentre between June 26-July 2.