The Opals are decided to revive respect throughout the girls’s program after a disappointing quarter-final exit on the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The preparation for the marketing campaign was thrown into chaos when star centre Liz Cambage racially and bodily abused gamers from the Nigerian nationwide workforce in a personal pre-Olympic scrimmage in Las Vegas.
Cambage’s behaviour was a breaking level for the taking part in group, who voted to have their troubled teammate faraway from the workforce.
The controversial centre later opted to withdraw from the Olympics, citing psychological well being.
Cambage’s exit from the workforce, only a week out from the Tokyo Olympics, had a serious psychological affect on the Opals and so they did not recuperate in Tokyo.
A yr and a half on, Brondello says the Opals are in a a lot stronger and united place heading into the World Cup in Sydney.
“We’re having an ideal preparation; unlike we did in Tokyo,” Brondello mentioned forward of the Opals’ opening World Cup sport towards France on September 22.
“A lot of things were out of our control in Tokyo, and a lot of the things that happened around it.
“That’s not an excuse, but this is one of the best preparations we’ve had since I’ve taken over.
“Everyone is relatively healthy, and we are making good progress. It is a new atmosphere here and we’re heading in the right direction.
“That excites me as a coach.”
Brondello credit an ideal combine within the present Opals squad for the workforce’s seamless preparation to this point.
From the return of the best Opal in Lauren Jackson to rising faces like Anneli Maley and Darcee Garbin, the Australian girls are properly positioned for achievement.
“We have a really good balance of players with World Cup experience and newcomers to the group, which is exciting,” she mentioned.
“It shows the depth of women’s basketball in this country.
“It is a home World Cup, and we’re excited, but we’ve got to make sure we’re prepared.”
Playing a house World Cup in Sydney can also be a monumental enhance, as Brondello is aware of all too properly.
She donned the inexperienced and gold within the 1994 World Championships in Australia, which was performed in Adelaide, Hobart, Launceston, and Sydney.
“It’s really an advantage playing at home,” she mentioned.
“I was playing in the last home World Cup in 1994 and I have great memories from that.
“We know we didn’t do so well in Tokyo and it’s nice to be back in front of our home crowd and getting the preparation right.
“To be successful, you need to prepare. Hopefully, we can peak at the right time and get on the podium.”
Originally printed as Opals coach hails Australia’s preparation ahead of home World Cup in Sydney
