The WNBA preseason for the LA Sparks has been headlined by the addition of Australian Liz Cambage.
Key factors:
- Amy Atwell got here into the Sparks match after fellow Australia Liz Cambage was fouled out
- Atwell top-scored for the Sparks after simply quarter-hour of motion
- The Perth-born 23-year-old received the Large West Convention participant of the 12 months for the College of Hawaii
Anticipation had been constructing for weeks for her first pre-season run, however with the previous Opals star fouled out and scoring simply 4 factors within the 87-84 win over the Phoenix Mercury, followers have been surprised by one other Australian who got here off the bench.
It solely took quarter-hour of courtroom time for Amy Atwell to steal the present. The little-known Australian high scored for the Sparks with 19 factors, sinking six from six three-pointers.
Earlier than the sport, Atwell mentioned she had been battling the transition from school to skilled basketball.
The 23-year-old was the twenty seventh general choice and the third choose of the third spherical for the Sparks in final month’s WNBA draft.
“It is sort of been my dream ever since I began once I was seven or eight… very good distance from dwelling however I am loving each second of it over right here,” she mentioned.
Atwell moved from her hometown Perth six years in the past to play for the College of Hawaii.
“It compelled me to develop up quite a bit at a really younger age… it was a hostile setting coming over right here, I did not actually know anybody once I first moved over right here, so it is positively helped my growth on and off the courtroom,” she informed the ABC.
It hasn’t been an injury-free path to choice for Atwell, however her knee troubles might have had a constructive affect on her taking pictures prowess, now being executed in probably the most aggressive arenas for girls’s basketball.
“I’ve put loads of time into my shot… all I may actually do is shoot for some time,” Atwell mentioned.
Sparks coach Derek Fisher mentioned Atwell is reaping the rewards of her onerous work.
“Amy is a assured participant as a result of she’s labored at her skill to shoot the basketball. She is also simply assured usually,” he mentioned.
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Atwell was the primary College of Hawaii participant to be named the Large West Convention participant of the 12 months, averaging 17.8 factors and 6.9 rebounds a sport.
Her credentials over the previous 5 years with the aspect have been unrivalled — 534 factors in 30 video games, with 13 video games the place she scored greater than 20 factors.
Even in Atwell’s quick tenure with the Sparks, Fisher has witnessed her dedication to incomes her spot in his aspect.
“You are not going to shoot six from six from three each evening however the confidence to shoot six from six from three, she does have that,” he mentioned.
“It is not that she’s solely a shooter, she’s comfy being on the ground in huge conditions, she recognises when she’s open, when she’s not.”
Being chosen to the Sparks’ pre-season camp is simply step one to gaining courtroom within the WNBA.
A roster of 20 gamers are combating it out to make the ultimate squad, which begins its common season marketing campaign on Might 17 in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx.
Fisher is assured Atwell’s time will come however wasn’t clear if that will probably be this 12 months with the Sparks.
“Will probably be nice if there’s a chance there for us… whether or not it is right here or elsewhere she’s a WNBA participant, that is for certain,” he mentioned.
If Atwell makes her debut, she’ll be in esteemed firm. Fewer than 50 Australian ladies have performed within the prestigious American league since its inception in 1996, together with her Sparks teammate Cambage.
