The Spirit's two-tine most valuable player award winner was yesterday cut from the Australian Opals squad ahead of a three-game warm-up tour of Japan next month.

Alaskan-born Griffin, who became naturalised during the 2015-16 WNBL season, attended the Opals' first two camps in Canberra and Gosford, despite being sidelined with injury.

She was omitted from the squad that will play three games against the Japanese national team in May.

Coach Brendan Joyce said the 12 selected player would all be in contention for a spot in the final team for the Rio Olympic Games later this year, as would four others currently unavailable due to injury or WNBL commitments.

They are Erin Phillips and Penny Taylor, who are playing with the Los Angeles Spark and Phoenix Mercury respectively, and the injured Marianna Tolo and Abby Bishop.

The squad includes Swan Hill-born and Bendigo-educated Tessa Lavey, who was part of the Spirit's 2013-14 championship team, and Sara Blicavs, who was also part of that squad.

Lavey captained the Perth Lynx during the 2014-15 WNBL season, while Blicavs played for the Dandenong Rangers.

Griffin, who led the Spirit in points and rebounds this season, said her Opals experience had been "amazing" and she was already looking forward to being a part of the squad for future tournaments.

"Becoming an Australian citizen was one of the proudest moments of my life and making a Opals squad has been one of the proudest moments of my basketball career," she said in a statement released this afternoon.

"Unfortunately I have been cut from from the squad and my dream of representing the country I love at the Olympics has been put on hold for four years.

"However, I am determined to play a role with the Opals squads and teams in the interim."

Griffin averaged 17.9 points and 10 rebounds this season for the Spirit, and also had 41 steals and 20 blocked shots.

She was sidelined for all but one of the team's final four games with a hamstring injury.

That did not prevent her from being an emphatic selection in the 2015-16 WNBL All-Star Five.

Griffin is a  two-time WNBL grand final MVP with the Spirit.

She said her passion for the game and to succeed had never been greater after her first Opals experience.

 “I now enter the 2016-17 WNBL season hungrier than I have ever been," she said.

The Opals squad for Japan is: Rebecca Allen, Suzy Batkovic, Sara Blicavs, Natalie Burton, Liz Cambage, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Cayla George, Rachel Jarry, Tessa Lavey, Tess Madgen, Leilani Mitchell and Stephanie Talbot.

"Becoming an Australian citizen was one of the proudest moments of my life, and making an Opals squad has been one of the proudest moments of my basketball career.

"Unfortunately I have been cut from the squad and my dream of representing the country I love at the Olympics has been put on hold for four years.

"However I am determined to play a role with the Opals squads and teams in the interim.

"A big thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey - my family, my friends, the coaches, staff and team mates.

"Big thanks also to the hundreds of fans who have sent me messages of support over the past month. It's humbling to think so many strangers have such huge belief in me.

"The past few weeks training with the Opals have been amazing. I have learnt so much and look forward to improving my game as a result and using that knowledge to help the Bendigo Bank Spirit continue to move forward.

"My passion for the game and passion to succeed has never been greater. I now enter the 2016-17 WNBL season hungrier than I have ever been."