Months in the making, the Villawood Bendigo Spirit have finally all come together to start their WNBL 2020 season.
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The players arrived in Bendigo on the weekend for a two-week stint before they head north to Queensland for the hub-style season which starts next month.
Spirit head coach Tracy York said the team had a busy training schedule ahead of the departure to Queensland.
"During the next few training sessions our aim is to put in the key processes which focus on what we want to achieve on the court," York said.
"We have four more weeks before matches commence and once it all starts we won't have as much time to train because of the schedule."
The season, which will be played in a hub-style format, starts November 12 with each team playing 14 games as part of a regular 56-game season in addition to a four-game final series.
The 2020 WNBL Spirit team features some existing, but also first-year players who are new to the squad and the league.
"During the past five months we've been doing plenty of zoom training sessions together so it feels natural for us to now be together on the court," York said.
"We had our first on-court session on Monday which went very well and everyone is excited to be here."
One of the players who is thrilled for what's on the cards in the coming months is New Zealander Mary Goulding, who is fresh out of spending two weeks in hotel quarantine upon her arrival to Australia.
Now that she is in the country with her teammates beside her, Goulding is ready to take to the court.
"100 per cent, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am going to grab it and give my best effort," Goulding said.
Goulding comes to the Spirit following a successful stint with NCAA Division 1 team the Fordham Rams, highlighted by an Atlantic 10 Championship as team captain, in addition to being named as MVP.
Goulding's experience in college and also a quick stint in Europe has prepared the small forward for her first year in the WNBL.
"I bring a lot of energy to the court...I get under the ring when it's needed for the team and love rebounding," Goulding said.
"I'm a team player who dives on the ball and takes every opportunity.
"I'm determined to make the most of this season."
The team will train in Bendigo for the next two weeks before flying to Brisbane where they will undertake a 14-day quarantine and then after to far north Queensland to the WNBL hub.
Team Roster
- Cassidy McLean
- Shelby Britten
- Alicia Froling
- Carley Ernst
- Georgia Pineau
- Piper Dunlop
- Amelia Todhunter
- Tessa Lavey
- Jennie Rintala
- Paige Price
- Demi Skinner
- Mary Goulding
- Aneta Bandilovska
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