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Twitter to livestream 20 WNBA games as eight Australians contend for roster spots
By Roy Ward
Australia's connection to the WNBA will grow stronger this season with eight Opals pressing for roster spots and a new addition to the league's broadcast agreement.
The WNBA announced on Tuesday that 20 games would be livestreamed on Twitter over the next three seasons as part of a deal with the social media company.
Opal and Dallas Wings guard Erin Phillips will play a leading role for her club in the upcoming WNBA season. Credit: Rohan Thomson
The deal also includes 40 highlight packages a week to be featured across Twitter.
Australian supporters have been able to view selected games on ESPN or pay for WNBA League Pass live streaming service to view all games but the new deal will give the league a chance to draw in new supporters around the world.
With the season set to tip off on May 14 [AEST] there are eight Australian Opals contending for roster spots and five WNBL imports from last season also battling for places.
Dallas Wings guard and AFLW star Erin Phillips is playing a leading role for her club while Rachel Jarry is impressing with the Atlanta Dream.
Leilani Mitchell, Steph Talbot and Cayla George are all in the mix with Phoenix Mercury while Seattle Storm has Jenna O'Hea and Sami Whitcomb in the wings.
Rebecca Allen has returned to the New York Liberty where recent Bendigo Spirit forward Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe is pushing to make her WNBA debut.
WNBL imports Ally Malott (Dandenong Rangers), Natasha Cloud (Townsville Fire) and Asia Taylor (Sydney University Flames) are all playing to make the Washington Mystics roster while
University of Canberra Capitals import Jazmon Gwathmey is again pushing to retain her place on San Antonio Stars' roster.
Opals forward Abby Bishop is listed as a free agent and is not linked to any side at present after previously playing with the Storm.
The Wings still hold Liz Cambage's WNBA rights and she is open to returning to the club in 2018.
WNBA clubs are expected to finalise their rosters on May 13 [AEST] but can trade, cut and sign players during the season.
WNBL coaches Cheryl Chambers and Paul Goriss will join new Australian Opals coach Sandy Brondello as her assistant coaches heading up to the Tokyo Olympics.
Melbourne-based Chambers led the Sydney University Flames to a WNBL championship last season while Goriss had a long career coaching in both the men's and women's programs at the BA Centre of Excellence and several Australian junior teams before taking on the University of Canberra Capitals coaching job last season.
The two Australian-based coaches will complement Brondello, who is based in Phoenix where she coaches the Mercury.
Basketball Australia high-performance general manager Jan Stirling said the appointments added to a new era for the Opals.
"Sandy has great respect for the WNBL and Basketball Australia's high-performance pathway and has selected two assistant coaches that will provide a framework to complement her own coaching expertise," Stirling said.
"Cheryl's extensive familiarity with our WNBL talent pool and Paul's in-depth knowledge of our athletes in USA colleges are areas that Sandy considers vitally important to the Opals achieving podium success."
Brondello has also appointed retired Australian great Penny Taylor as her new director of player development and performance at the Mercury, where Taylor spent most of her WNBA career.
Phillips' Wings will play the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA's first Twitter game on May 15 [AEST].