Why would it be good?

The women's game is a bit different than the men...

She can make it straight to the WNBL.

May not be eligible for College depending if she was paid etc in the WNBL.

There is no push at all to go to college for these elite level players. Tier 1 athletes that can play minutes in our comp are instructed to stay here in WNBL and develop. Tier 2 athletes are encouraged to go to college where they will get to play. Women situation is way different to men who benifit from college.

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Very few of our really elite girls go to College and those that do find it a hit and miss proposition. The facilities might be delightful, but the standard of coaching and play is very inconsistent.

We have one of the best systems in the world for developing female elite basketballers, and the college system has rarely featured in that.

Despite Andrew Gaze being the player he was dosent mean his daughter is a gun. Look through those that are making it or in the frame and you will see that staying and playing 15 to 20 minutes like the best players out of AIS do is where you need to be. The pathway is made very clear to those that need to know!!

Some US colleges may have great facilities but they also have a lot of rules and restrictions on when and how often you can train. Unless you are at one of the top 10 colleges in the States the level of competition is not up to the standard of our WNBL. Just look at our top Opals over the past 2 decades and its evident they didn't need the US college system to be amongst the top players in the world! Michele Timms, Rachel Sporn, Michelle Brogan, Trish Fallon, Kristy Harrower, Shelley Gorman, Sandy Brondello, Jenny Whittle, Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor, Suzi Batkovic, Belinda Snell, Jenna O'Hea, Liz Cambage, Erin Phillips and so on!! Not sure we actually have any solid Opals performers that ever went to College so clearly our pathways of the AIS & WNBL etc are working! That's not to say College isn't a great experience and opportunity for those players that aren't going to be Opals anyway.

I'm not saying College isn't a great option for many girls but its certainly not the best option for our top players/future Opals! If you look at all the Opals players over the past decades they didn't go to College! In fact the best know player to go to college would probably be Jess Foley and although she's had a great career she has only ever been a fringe Opal and many would argue that she developed her game more once she returned. To say there aren't many college age players playing minutes in the WNBL currently is not true! Tess Madgen, Steph Cummings, Sara Blicavs, Alice Kunek etc!! Can anyone list the Opals players that actually went to an Olympics or Worlds that went to College????

Either way, for me it is the fact that if a player goes to play in the US college system on a scholarship, those 4 years are potentially paid for!

Not quite the same here, because the money isn't here...

Isn't this one of the main attractions (males or females)?

Yes but if you are one of the elite girls you are paid to play in both WNBL and SEABL etc so you are funded. Agreed that lower level and so lower minute player would be better off in college as they would be paid very little here.

Carly Mijovic was/is the best big her age in the country. Given that a number of other girls her age(also bigs, I am comparing apples to apples here) have gained a full scholarship to US college it is fairly safe to say that she could play college ball. Would she and should she are two different questions but it was not what the post asked.

Anyone can play college ball as long as they have not been paid to play professionally. They can play with professionals as long as they are not being paid. Players are aware of what they can or can't do to be eligible for US college. Clearly as Carly had been payed to play in the WNBL she has no intention of going to College.
As for the so called 'free' ride at college what's the point if your qualifications aren't recognised when you return? Our uni system allows students to pay for their degrees once they are working and earning money so it's not like they have to pay up front fees.
Once again can anyone think of an Opals player that went the US college route and then became an Opal???? Surely that's proof enough!!

You've got to be kidding and no offense to the girls mentioned above but they are hardly Opals!!! They have never been to a Worlds or Olympics and perhaps apart from Teagan are role players at best for their WNBL clubs. I think this list really proves my point!

Exactly!! None of the names you listed will ever be 'Opals' in the true sense! Opals are not juniors, they are senior players playing in World Championships and Olympic Games!!!! Players have been going to College for the past 20 years and yes I'm sure even more now but these are typically players that have not made it to the AIS or a WNBL roster! The fact is women mature earlier than men and our standout girls are doing just that by the time they are 17/18 & 19 years old!! They don't need to to go to college and players like Loz, Penny, Jenna, Erin, Liz, Rachel etc have shown that the Australian pathway is working!!
Happy to eat my words when our next Olympic team is comprised of more US college graduates than not!!

LJ was CAL

LJ was what??? Loz went straight from the AIS to the Opals & WNBL!!!

The thread asks, could she ever play US college?

Of course she could, whether she does is another matter, her choice...