Talented amateur Opal Bird signs with Bendigo Spirit
6 September 2024 | Bendigo Spirit news
Bendigo Spirit are proud to announce the signing of amateur player Opal Bird for the upcoming WNBL season. Opal is a NSW junior, who has most recently represented Australia at the Under 19 World Championships. After spending time at the Centre of excellence in Canberra, Opal will join the team after the beginning of preseason and when Opal has concluded some collegiate visits in the USA.
Head Coach Kennedy Kereama is thrilled at securing someone as talented as Opal:
“Opal is an exceptionally talented young athlete. Despite her age, she exudes a wealth of experience, leadership, and skill that will be a great asset to our program. Her remarkable versatility on both offence and defence, coupled with her impressive length and sharpshooting abilities from beyond the arc, make her a valuable member of our roster. Moreover, Opal’s strong work ethic, outstanding leadership qualities, and past experience as captain of the CoE further highlight her potential for success. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with her and witness the continued growth of her talents within our WNBL program.”
General Manager Dan Jackson is also excited to secure a young talented Australian.
“Opal was somebody who Kennedy mentioned very early on in my time with the Spirit so to see that come to fruition is very exciting to the program. It shows that the Spirit is one of the premier places for young Australian players to come and continue to develop. Kennedy has a great track record of getting the best out of players and for Opal to see every day the training habits of people like Kelsey, Tolo and Kelly, will have a lasting impression on her as she prepares for the next step in her journey.”
Opal can’t wait to join the team and begin learning the systems ahead of the season start date.
“I am really excited to play with and learn from such an experienced roster. Having previously had an opportunity to meet and train with Marianna Tolo at the CoE, I’m thrilled to be on the same team, especially after her incredible bronze medal campaign at the Olympics. I’m eager to learn from her about what it takes to be a pro and the habits that have made her so successful.
The Bendigo Spirit is the perfect next step for me to achieve my goal of becoming the best player I can be!”