Snell and Ebzery Gold Coast Bound

By Susannah Walmsley

Katie-Rae Ebzery and Belinda Snell have been selected in the Australian Opals team to compete at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast starting April 4th.

They will feature alongside Flames Coach, Cheryl Chambers, who was named as an assistant coach of the Opals in May last year.

“It’s fantastic to see both Katie and Belinda selected for the Commonwealth Games team. They have both come off great WNBL seasons and really deserve their selection,” Brydens Sydney Uni Flames General Manager Karen Dalton said.

Snell and Ebzery are no stranger to the green and gold, having both represented Australia on numerous occasions.

Ebzery made her debut representing Australia at the senior level at the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship. She then went on to be selected in the Opals side for the 2016 Rio Olympics and has since been a regular feature in the line-up. Most recently she was a member of the Opals at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in India.

Snell has had a long and decorated career on the international stage. The triple Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012) has also represented Australia at three World Championships (2006, 2010, 2014), winning gold in 2006 and has been a member of the Opals in various Oceania Championships and Asia Cup campaigns. Her most recent representation was alongside Ebzery at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup.

It will be the first time the sport has featured at a Commonwealth Games since debuting in Melbourne 12 years ago. Snell featured in the Opals team in 2006, where they won gold.

The 2018 Opals Commonwealth Games team list:

Stephanie Blicavs

Elizabeth Cambage

Katie-Rae Ebzery

Cayla George

Kelsey Griffin

Alice Kunek

Tessa Lavey

Eziyoda Magbegor

Jenna O’Hea

Nicole Seekamp

Belinda Snell

Stephanie Talbot

Head Coach: Sandy Brondello

Assistant Coach: Cheryl Chambers

Assistant Coach: Paul Gorris

We wish Katie, Snelly, Cheryl and the Opals the best of luck as they compete to win a gold medal on home soil!