EBZERY FEELING REFRESHED IN PERTH
By Megan Hustwaite
Katie-Rae Ebzery was ready for a change and is loving her new home in #WNBL19.
The 28-year-old Opals guard, fresh from winning a silver medal at the FIBA World Cup, crossed from Sydney Uni Flames to Perth Lynx for this season’s Chemist Warehouse championship.
“I needed something new,’’ she told The WNBL Show.
“I had seven seasons with Sydney, was very grateful, I love Sydney, it’s close to my family and is home. But it was time for something different, to get out of my bubble and challenge myself a little bit, in a new environment, a new system and around new team mates.
“I got the opportunity with Perth and Andy (coach Andy Stewart) approaching me and I really jumped at it.”
The Lynx experienced wholesale changes during the off-season, namely the departure of star Sami Whitcomb to Europe, but Ebzery arrived in the West with a familiar face. Flames championship team mate Asia Taylor who’s lit up the league since her arrival two years ago.
Ebzery laughs when saying she would much prefer playing with Taylor than against her.
“It is very handy having Asia as your team mate. She’s a lovely girl and obviously a very talented player so to have her on my team is always something I’m grateful for her and it’s great to have her here in Perth as well.”
Another new face in red is import Brittny McPhee who announced herself in Round 2 with a game-high 32 points against reigning champs Townsville Fire in Perth.
“She’s obviously a very talented player and showcased that on the weekend,’’ Ebzery says.
“As she gets more comfortable in our team and our system she’s just going to continue in leaps and bounds as well. She’s a great talent, she can shoot the ball, is very athletic and a great defender, we’re very lucky to have her.”
Perth got on the board with a 98-88 win over the Fire, an emphatic response after a disappointing opening-round showing against the Adelaide Lightning.
“It was really important for us to bounce back, we didn’t play too well in Round 1. It’s a pretty new group coming together, so we knew there was going to be some growing pains but we definitely came through in leaps and bounds in Round 2 and we can definitely get better from here,’’ Ebzery said.
“We clicked a bit better offensively, definitely, that was a big factor for us. We were out on our timing and just a bit disjoined against Adelaide so things started to click a little better, we shot a bit better and were able to play some decent defence, run out and get some transition baskets as well, there were some very pleasing signs for us.
“We just want to keep that momentum going and turn it into a couple of wins this weekend.”
Ebzery and the Lynx have a big Round 4 ahead hosting Bendigo Spirit on Friday night then travelling to Melbourne to play the Dandenong Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
Listen to Katie-Rae Ebzery on The WNBL Show here
The WNBL Show airs every Tuesday during the Chemist Warehouse WNBL season.