Canberra TransACT Capitals stars Kristen Veal & Lauren Jackson have again made the grade in the Opals Australian Senior Women's basketball squad that was announced today by Basketball Australia.

Whilst Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor and all of the other players who helped drive the Opals to an historic bronze-medal at the 2002 World Championships in China were selected in the 26-player squad, there were also a number of first-time selections.

Dandenong Rangers guard Carly Wilson was rewarded with selection after an outstanding Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) season in which she was named to the All-Star Five.

Townsville Fire star Jodie Datson, who helped drive her team to within a single game of the WNBL Grand Final, was also selected to the Opals squad for the first time. Datson's Fire team-mates Gina Stevens and Natalie Porter also got the call-up for national duties.

Selected as well were a trio of teenage stars from the Sapphires Young Women's team, Hollie Grima, Laura Summerton and Shelley Hammonds.

Opals head coach Jan Stirling said she was happy with the mix of old and new faces in the squad and believes it should provide a boost in the lead-up to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

"The new faces in the squad reflect our focus on acknowledging WNBL form and at the same time we have some old faces returning such as Rachael Sporn and Gina Stevens after previously being unavailable due to pregnancy and illness," said Stirling. "It's very encouraging in the lead-up to Athens and we can be a definite medal contender in 2004. In order to do this we will work with the athletes to co-ordinate our preparation in the lead-up to Athens."

A team of 12 will be selected from the 26-player squad to participate in an international four-team tournament during a tour of China from 10-21 July.

The Opals 2003 schedule will also include a tour of Europe, which is currently scheduled for 21 August to 6 September. The tour will include tournaments in Belgium, France and Greece.

The Opals will complete their 2003 competition schedule by participating in the Oceania Olympic Qualification Series in early September. Details on venues and dates for the series will be announced shortly.

2003 Opals Squad (Player's name, current team/s & home suburb)

Suzy Batkovic (Valenciennes, France/Newcastle, NSW)
Tully Bevilaqua (Gysev-Orsi, Hungary/Bateman, WA)
Carla Boyd (Cheltenham, SA)
Michelle Brogan (Doncaster/VIC)
Sandy Brondello (Mackay, QLD)
Jodie Datson (Townsville Fire/Greensborough, VIC)
Allie Douglas (Dandenong Rangers/Reims, France/Balwyn, VIC)
Trisha Fallon (Ros Casares, Spain/Pennant Hills, NSW)
Hollie Grima (AIS/Evansdale, TAS)
Kristi Harrower (Aix-en-Provence, France/Minnesota Lynx, USA/Maribyrnong, VIC)
Shelley Hammonds (Sydney Flames/Balgownie, NSW)
Joanne Hill (Tarbes, France/Oakden SA)
Natalie Hughes (Sydney Flames/Parramatta, NSW)
Lauren Jackson (Canberra Capitals/Seattle Storm, USA/Lyneham, ACT)
Jae Kingi (Adelaide Lightning/Kilkenny, SA)
Natalie Porter (Townsville Fire/Camberwell, VIC)
Alicia Poto (Bourges, France/Kearns, NSW)
Belinda Snell (Sydney Flames/Kogarah, NSW)
Gina Stevens (Townsville Fire/ Tenerife, Spain/Leederville, WA)
Rachael Sporn (Adelaide Lightning/Parkside, SA)
Laura Summerton (Adelaide Lightning/Clapham, SA)
Penny Taylor (La Speczia, Italy/Cleveland Rockers, USA/Noble Park, VIC)
Allison Tranquilli (PVSK Pecsi, Hungary/Carnegie, VIC)
Kristen Veal (Canberra Capitals/Phoenix Mercury, USA/Charnwood, ACT)
Jennifer Whittle (Burgos, Spain/Southport, QLD)
Carly Wilson (Dandenong Rangers/Vermont, VIC)