The Bendigo Spirit's 2019/20 roster is taking shape with the latest addition of Alicia Froling.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Froling - a Townsville native - has been surrounded by basketball her entire life and was born into a family with hoops in their blood.
"Basketball is very significant to me. I've literally grown up around it from the day I was born," she said.
Froling said a return to the WNBL was the "next step" in her career.
"The league has really grown over the years and it's a great competition to be a part of," Froling said.
"It's an opportunity to play against some great women...the league has some of the most amazing imports."
Froling comes to the Spirit with years of experience on the court as an Australian national representative, development player with the Townsville Fire and most recently as a college player with Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas.
During her time at SMU, Froling averaged 10.3 points, 9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting 51 per cent from the floor.
Froling is more than keen to translate all that was learnt on the court in the US back into the WNBL.
"I'm super excited to be joining the Bendigo Spirit," she said.
"Townsville and Bendigo are a similar size and I feel comfortable with what the club brings and what I can bring to the club - it's a really good fit for me.
"The decision was an easy one to make as Tracy York has recruited a great team and I have only heard great things about her as a coach."
York said Froling was a "great addition" to the list of players that had been signed to the Spirit for the 2019/season.
"It is such an exciting group, there's a mixture of experienced players but also with some great young talent coming through." York said.
"Alicia is a great re-bounder and defender, it was crucial for the team to sign her."
York and Froling haven't worked together before, however, the pair share several mutual connections.
While York was assistant coach for the Adelaide 36ers she coached Froling's brother Harry.
Froling is currently playing in the Queensland Basketball League with the Townsville Flames and will head off to Italy in the coming weeks to compete with the Opals in the World University Games, alongside her sister Keely and fellow Spirit player Abbey Wehrung.
WNBL preparations will then be next on her list, with pre-season set to commence in early September.
York said the team was a "work in progress" and that plenty of time and effort would be put into the squad.
"It might not necessarily be all guns blazing come first game," York said.
"But certainly we will have things put in place to work on during the season to become the team we want to be."
RELATED:
- Abbey Wehrung re-signs with Bendigo Spirit for 2019-20 WNBL season
- WNBL: Superstar Carley Ernst signs two-year contract with Bendigo Spirit
- WNBL: Bendigo Spirit signs stalwart Gabe Richards for 2019/20 season
- Bendigo Spirit lock in Tessa Lavey for the 2019/20 WNBL season
- Star import Becca Tobin to return to Bendigo Spirit in 2019-20
- Bendigo Spirit secures young gun Shyla Heal for 2019/20 WNBL season
- Kelly Wilson returning after three seasons away in a major boost for Bendigo Spirit
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.