From 5 consecutive Olympic podium finishes to 2 straight early exits, the Australian Women’s National Team is looking to get back on track. While there are multiple WNBA stars on the roster for the Paris Olympics, Lauren Jackson coming out of retirement is what gave them a big boost ahead of the event. Add to that the experience of their head coach, Sandy Brondello, who also serves as the head coach of last WNBA season’s finalists, the New York Liberty, and anything less than a medal will feel like a disappointment.
Well, it’s not only Brondello who’s motivated to guide the Opals to victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. As soon as the dual Flyers championship coach and the Opals assistant coach, Cheryl Chambers, learned about her hectic Opals schedule, she immediately stepped down from her head coach position. “I won’t be returning to the Southside Flyers as head coach next season. This decision is mainly due to the hectic Opals schedule leading into the Olympics in July,” she said. It feels like the Opals are blessed, right? Read on to learn more about the Australian team’s two extraordinary coaches.
Sandy Brondello’s journey started as a star player
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For Brondello, her basketball journey started when she was just 9 years old. Initially, she played on a grass court made by her father in their backyard. With all the love her father poured into building it, Brondello’s court was just enough. Eventually, it also paved the way to help her make it to the Australian Women’s National Basketball League.
Who do you think has had a bigger impact on women’s basketball?
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