Our very special guest on this episode is Opals and Phoenix Mercury Head Coach Sandy Brondello.

This fiercely competitive Aussie has gone from the sugar cane fields of Mackay in North Queensland to the world stage of women’s basketball leading the mighty Opals towards the Olympics and the Sydney hosted FIBA Women’s World Cup in 2022.

Advocating for and demonstrating the impact of female representation in basketball Sandy is one of only five women coaching in the WNBA.

She shares her dreams for all Aussie girls who look up to their Opal role models. Relishing the opportunity the Olympics represents and how the Women’s World Cup addresses ‘the need for more games on home soil’ to showcase the game and the depth of unbelievable Australian talent.

She also dishes on what makes our Aussie players so special on the world stage and prepared for any league in the world.

On the eve of the 25th WNBA season Sandy talks about the roles and responsibilities of Head Coaches and how she balances that reality at the Phoenix Mercury with her own family. Giving us a great insight into last season’s Florida bubble experience and her strong sense of family culture within her teams by acknowledging that “we’re not just players or coaches we’re also mothers and wives.”

An open and enlightening conversation into the evolution and thoughts of an inspiring Australian player, brilliant Coach and mum of two, Sandy is a fantastic role model with a true-blue nickname... listen out for that gem!

Follow Sandy Brondello on twitter: @SBrondello

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