The Australian Under-19 Women’s Team – the Gems – have confirmed their final squad of 12 for the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Madrid, Spain between 15-23 July.
After a successful FIBA U18 Asian Championship where the team defeated China to become the first Australian team ever to win the converted U18 Asian Woman’s Championship, the Gems will no doubt be hoping to build on that momentum leading into the event.
Isla Juffermans fights for the ball during the final game against China at the 2022 FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Basketball Championship in Bengaluru.
Stacked with talent, the team features Isla Juffermans, who not only won a gold medal at the Foot Locker Under-20 National Champs in February for New South Wales, but also won the Bob Staunton MVP award for the women’s competition.
Juffermans is joined by Queenslander Jess Petrie, who claimed the Foot Locker defender in the same U20 Champs, as well as WA’s dynamic two-way forward, Ruby Vlahov – whose father is NBL champion Andrew Vlahov.
Jess Petrie is named Women’s Defensive Player of the Foot Locker Under-20 National Championships.
Rising stars Nyadiew Puoch and Isobel Borlase have also been selected for Gems. It has been a busy week for the pair, who were named in the Opals’ extended squad for the first time on Tuesday for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
The team travel to Spain on Tuesday 4th July to play a series of friendlies in a four nations cup ahead of the World Cup which starts on Saturday 15th July. The Gems will face Spain, France and the mighty USA, providing ideal preparation for the FIBA U19 World Cup.
Head coach David Herbert said he was impressed with the athletes at the recent camp and is looking forward to seeing what the team can produce on the international stage.
“I was very pleased with the talent and standard of play at our recent U19 World Cup selection camp,” said Herbert.
“All players competed at high intensity and showed a maturity beyond their years to pick up the Australian style of play that was implemented.
“The team has the potential to come together and challenge for the FIBA U19 World Cup and if they play with an unselfish team-first mentality and come together, which I know they can, they have the ability to really make an impact at this. event,” he added.
The Australian team will take on Spain, Argentina and France in the pool rounds before playing in the round of 16 to decide their fate in this tournament.
Gems’ Australian U19 Women’s Team:
Paige Burrows
Isobel Borlase
Tayla Brazel
Sophie Burrows
Jayda Clark
Ruby Gray
Tess Heal
Isla Juffermans
Jessica Petrie
Nyadiew Puoch
Saffron shields
Ruby Vlahov
Trainer panel
David Herbert – Head Coach
Keegan Crawford – Assistant Coach
Zoe Carr – Assistant Coach
Donna Turner – Team Manager
Vivien Der Tateossian – Physiotherapist
Maja Markovic – Team doctor
