Versatility and youth: World Cup captains discuss Australia on eve of tournament tip off
Australian captain Tess Madgen discussed the impact of Lauren Jackson's return and Ezi Magbegor's rise.
As the 12 captains gathered around the World Cup trophy in Sydney’s Cathy Freeman Park, the mood was jovial, and the players were all smiles. They swapped tales of jet lag, and good-naturedly ribbed opponents rushing redfaced to the event from training. Breanna Stewart even caught fellow superstar Emma Meesseman in a joking arm lock as the dozen got in place for pictures.
When the throng of photographers asked them to put their ‘game faces’ on, the dozen captains snapped decisively into action. It summed up the mood of the day before the event tips off: fanfare and hoopla are nice, but it’s time to get down to business.
Speaking to The Pick and Roll via a translator, Japanese leader Maki Takada, a veteran of two Olympic campaigns, said her team had no time to see the sights or smell the roses during their time in Sydney. “We just came to get the gold medal,” she explained. “It’s all basketball”.
France’s Sarah Michel was similarly focused.
