Injury Strikes Lightning star’s Opals return

MAC Adelaide Lightning’s Abby Bishop will miss the Australian Opals FIBA Asia Cup in India after injuring her ankle.

The 28-year-old has undergone MRI scans and will meet with a surgeon on Friday.

Alex Bunton has also been sidelined with a knee injury, forcing Basketball Australia to make two changes to the Opals squad.

Bishop and Bunton will be replaced by former FIBA Oceania gold medallist Alice Kunek and Alanna Smith, who is set to make her Opals debut.

Kunek adds experience to the side, having competed in the WNBL since 2007 and winning bronze in the World University Games Emerging Opals team in 2013.

Smith is an up and coming talent, playing for Stanford in the USA since 2015 and playing for the Australian Under-19 Gems team that won bronze in 2015 in Russia.

The Opals will depart for India on July 17 before their first game of the FIBA Asia Cup on July 23.

MAC Adelaide Lightning wish Bishop and Bunton a speedy recovery.

The Australian Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Schedule (all times AEST):
July 23: Australia vs. Korea at 3.30pm
July 24: Australia vs. Philippines at 5.45pm
July 25: Australia vs. Japan at 5.45pm
July 27: Quarter-Finals
July 28: Semi-Finals
July 29: Bronze and Gold medal games

The Australian Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Team:
Lavey Tessa
Smith Alanna
Mansfield Lauren
Garrick Madeleine
Blicavs Stephanie
Griffin Kelsey
Ebzery Katie
Hodges Laura
Snell Belinda
Kunek Alice
Tolo Marianna
Blicavs Sara