anything would be an upgrade (well almost anything) from Joyce, and Brondello is certainly a fabulous pick BUT how are BA going to budget this one out, 30 in the Opals squad, vast majority are based here, but even those who are not most will still require international flights to be paid for, plus accommodation, its not like they have the Cof E with its ready made facilities in Phoenix. Plus the cost of camp staff, meals, and team physios etc, they will blow the budget very quickly , or they will be pulling money from other areas of BA programs which in the long run effects basketball overall.

great in theory but not so much a practical or a financially good move if shes staying put to keep her job with the WNBA.

âgree totally, how can you have a head coach who cant coach at the main tournaments, makes absolutely no sense what so ever,how can she even select players to go to these camps if shes not there to see them play, or is it another case of nepotism at its finest.

has the opals squad been announced yet, its just over two weeks from the first camp IN Phoenix

Bondello is a great coach, but the program needs a full time coach who IS available for all camps and training's not one that fits the Opals in when they can .
Understandably she wouldn't want to give up her WNBA gig, so why on earth was she even considered.
Jan Sterling has potentially stuffed the opals program yet again. Isn't their a committee that can see common sense or is it purely a one man(woman) show.

How many potential opals are currently in the WNBA
and Europe?

Anyone know who's in?

She's certainly a good choice for opals coach, but not in this current situation of trying to coach two teams on opposite sides of the world.
The costs are going to go through the roof from a budget that is already depleted.

A national team requires a committed coach who places that commitment before any other sporting ones they may have.

What might the squad look like?

But how much of it is Olaf? Another point not discussed yet. Waters will get murkier.

Very Old calm down, it's well known Olaf & Sandy run as a tandem in both WNBA & Euroleague. So it was a valid question asked re: Opals.

Wish Sandy the best but every contact I have had with Stirling leaves me despairing for the future of women's basketball in Australia.

Whys that?

For starters "very old" a committed coach WOULD and SHOULD be available for every tournament/ game the national team they are coaching has to play, that really is what they are there for.
This business of BA now going to appoint another coach to coach at the Aisia cup, and then at Commonwealth games should not be happening IF Brondello was fully committed to the team, not just the title of "national" coach.
Could you imagine any other national coach not coaching the team they had been selected to coach for their country at an international,qualifying tournament or something like the Commonwealth games.
Brondello certainly has the credentials and could be a fantastic addition to the Opals program, but she really needs to set her priorities for the next four years to this program, or she should not have agreed IMO

I've never been so underwhelmed or so shocked at how completely out of touch she is with the program she is meant to lead.

Exactly, she knows nothing about the local scene.

whitcomb or Mitchell?

Ohea/Cumming
Allen/Talbot
Tolo/Blicavs
Cambage/George

Pgs, who knows? (Mitchell)
Another guard (Whitcomb)
Another big

So who should be her assistants?

Olaf... or is he the head coach?

I think if you read the negative comments were about Stirling.

Why don't we see how she goes before bagging or adoring her. Can't see why she needs to be full time, wnba doesn't go for 12 months. Prefer our coach to be getting game time practice in best league in world than sitting in Canberra watching game film all day. Gives her a chance to watch and scout main competition in US players as well as her own.
And are training camps apart from when main tournaments are near really that vital. Just have regular get together when schedules allow and concentrate on six months before games. Players are professionals, shouldn't take two years to learn new system.
As for bagging Stirling, she'll forget more about basketball, leadership and accountability in next five minutes than most of us will ever know. Record speaks for itself.

The issue is going to be the logistics of getting those players together when the coach is on the other side of the world , the reality is it's going to be a very expensive excersise over the next four years, can BA really afford it?

Chris Lucas is my tip for assistant. He is appointed Uni Games coach which is actually emerging opals. So expect he will get a gig

In my opinion Stirling's legacy has been undone by her recent times in a job she is unfit for.

The "assistant" will be Olaf no doubt.

Yes Olaf probably will be but I still think Lucas will get Aussie based role.

Oh hell no. Lucas is terrible.

Both based in nsw
Chambers or Seebohm for interim job please.

and in Clerks.

Behind every great woman there's a great man.

He has some nice roles on his resume but I'm yet to be impressed by Olaf in the WNBL, WNBA, or Europe. But considering how much of his coaching has been alongside Sandy I guess it does make sense for him to be with the Opals to keep some continuity when Sandy is away.

Yet you're impressed with Sandy?

I'm hoping Seebohm gets the interim job.

Hoping to hear that the Assistant job will be offered to the WNBL coach of the year.

Chambers and goriss named opals assistant coaches.

Thank goodness Lucas didn't get it. Good appointments I think

Great news

Can this happen with..

Brondello-Mercury
Chambers-Flames
Goriss-Capitals/Gems

Thought gems and Asian cup were playing close to the same time.

Boomers-Lemanis(4th Olympics)
Opals-Brondello(takes over from Joyce)
U19 mens-Caporn(poor results 7th + DNQ)
U17 mens-Schueller(takes over from Watkins 1 silver)
U19 women-Goriss(1 bronze)
U17 women-Seebohm(1 gold)

Gayporn was talked up but seems to be a massive fail, considering all other programs outside of lolJoyce medalled lately.