Flames sign American forward Amanda Johnson
Brydens Sydney Uni Flames are excited to announce the signing of American forward, Amanda ‘AJ’ Johnson for the upcoming 2018/19 WNBL season.
Standing at 187cm, AJ’s size, athleticism and sharp shooting are an invaluable addition to the Flames roster.
The Californian-born forward says she is excited to make the move to Sydney and join her teammates ahead of the WNBL season beginning in October.
“It is a privilege to be invited to work with and for a club and coach with such an extensive legacy of success,” she said.
“Although I’ve got some business to wrap up here in the stadiums of the QBL, I am very much looking forward to coming down and seeing what we all can achieve together.”
Coach Cheryl Chambers is also excited by the signing of AJ who she considers “a quality player and quality person.”
“I really look forward to working with her. We welcome her to the Flames program,” she said.
AJ is currently playing for the Ipswich Force in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) where she has earned the league’s Player of the Week honours, twice.
Her first POTW performance saw her score an outstanding 42 points in a single game (plus 19 rebounds with a 50.0 FG percentage). The second came off the back of a 25-point performance where she recorded an impressive 28 boards.
Before her time up north, AJ shone at the University of Oregon, a powerhouse member of the women’s basketball team, the Oregon Ducks. She was awarded the Jackson Award in her senior year, given to Oregon’s top female senior student-athlete – a testament to her performance in her sport and classroom – and earned Pac-12 All-Academic first team honours on three occasions.
Following her senior year, she was picked in the third round (22rd overall) by the Connecticut Sun before being traded to Phoenix in the 2012 WNBA draft. Her time with the Mercury was short-lived after suffering a serious concussion, which saw her waived. Snapping back, she spent time in Europe playing professionally in Bulgaria and Switzerland.
AJ says she is excited to debut in the Australia’s women’s national league which she dubs one of the world’s best.
“Year after year, the league is one of the most competitive in the world and boasts so many terrific athletes and I am so keen to be able to compete in it.”
Welcome to the Flames, AJ! Catch her and the Flames in action this upcoming WNBL season by securing your early bird memberships HERE.