Welcome to STB PlayBack in our second instalment of our playback series highlighting choice bits from podcasts Episodes 7 through to 11.

From Ep 7 we get an inside with BNSW CEO Maria Nordstrom into the successful bid for Australia to host the FIBA WWC 2022 in Sydney.
From Ep 8 get to know BNSW up and comers, 2020 Flames Development Players Alana Goodchild and from Ep10 Kitty Henderson.
In Ep9 we delve into the unique perspective of a sports sponsor with longstanding Flames sponsor Lee Hagipentalis from Brydens Lawyers.
Finally from Ep11 we check in with Coach Frog as the Flames team takes shape and a no import season provides an unbelievable opportunity for emerging talent.
Tune in and enjoy!

Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger is one hard working veteran and she's coming to Sydney!

A competitive hard-working baller from Illinois, she's formed her game in tough leagues around Europe, and has landed Down Under.

'Swags' brings an amazing work ethic and steely determination, she loves to train and it shows - picking up Sixth Woman of the Year accolades in WNBL20. She has bagged many MVP awards in the W.A State Basketball League.

Now a permanent Aussie resident, Swags averaged 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2 assists per game last season in W.A and wants to help develop a Flames super team culture on and off the court.

She definitely got her swag on this podcast with that US mid-western charm, and her love of Australia will boomerang back!

Tune in and Enjoy!

Funda Nakkasoglu joins the podcast this week in her return to the WNBL after a long overseas stint. Suiting up for the Sydney Flames after her first pro-ball stint playing for Galatasaray S.K. in the Turkish Women’s Basketball League – where her father also played professionally. She was also a member of the Turkish National squad.

A Florida Gators graduate, Nakkasoglu began her college career with Utah State transferring to Florida SEC for her final two years of eligibility where she led the Gators in scoring in each of her two seasons there, departing the NCAA ranks with 2,047 career points!

An amazing long-range shooter, Nakkasoglu averaged 15.8 points per game, the sixth-highest in program history, setting the record for the highest three-point percentage in program history at 39.6%!

Tune in and enjoy!

On episode 19 of Shooting the Breeze it’s Shelley Gorman, three time Olympian, five times WNBL champion, seven times WNBL All-Star and Hall of Famer. Part of the legendary Opals team that brought back our first Olympic medal from the 1996 Atlanta games.

She is one of the all-time greats of Aussie basketball.

After basketball Shelley co-founded Urban Warriors www.theurbanwarriors.com and is leading the charge as a personal trainer and health coach in Sydney!

Legend. Enjoy!

It’s time to introduce the new owner of the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Uni Flames, Paul Smith as he lays out his vision for Hoops in the Harbour City.

Paul keeps it real on the new world reality but 'let 'em shout from the rooftops...' and dream big for Sydney hoops.

Get to know Paul - as owner of both Sydney pro-basketball teams he wants our city to stand tall in the basketball world.

Buy the ticket, take the ride... tune in and enjoy!

A Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Maddie O'Hehir was part of the inaugural Sydney Sparks team within the SEABL (now defunct) that earned her a spot as a development player with the Flames in 2018.

As a junior she represented Norths Bears and is currently hooping with Hornsby Spiders within the Waratah League. Nominated as one of the Flames' Most Improved Players in 2020 her fearlessness, energy and team spirit has earned her a call back with the Flames for #WNBL21!

A Sydney Uni Commerce student Maddie gives us an insight into how she ticks and the pathways for NSW basketball players. Tune in and Enjoy!

Episode 16 is a PLAYback of choice soundbites from some of our first podcasts including:
🏀 Flames Head Coach Katrina 'Frog' Hibbert (Episodes 1/2)
🏀 Young Gun Lauren Scherf (Episode 3)
🏀 Retired Flames Captain Sarah Graham (Episode 4) and
🏀 Behind the scenes with acclaimed basketball photographer Geoff Tripp (Episode 5)

We chat with Flames #WNBL20 MVP Alice Kunek as she prepares for her upcoming EuroLeague season with Polish club Arka Gdynia.

In a standout WNBL season at the Flames Alice averaged 18.9ppg - the leagues 3rd highest trailing only imports Kia Nurse and Crystal Langhorne, before a season ending injury to her elbow.

Alice shares the joy she has rediscovered playing basketball in her time in Sydney balancing basketball with living life - elevating her game in the FIBA 3x3 accomplishing FIBA 3x3 World Cup Champs repping the Green and Gold in 2019 and developing resilience on the road in the Euroleague - one of the toughest.

A seasoned professional her work ethic and generosity of her time has inspired many younger players. Discovering a fulfilling role as a mentor on the court, as well as off the court with youth in her involvement as an ambassador with LifeChanger Foundation.

Grateful for the opportunities basketball has provided Alice rarely takes her foot off the pedal - as she eyes the Tokyo Olympics for 3x3 Basketball! Be inspired and enjoy!

Shanae Greaves has signed up ✍️ for her 5th season at Brydens Sydney Uni Flames!

She landed in Sydney town in 2016 and became part of Flames history when the team won our 4th title!🏆 A mainstay within the Flames team, Nae also led our local SEABL Sydney Sparks as it’s Captain in its inaugural year.

Settled in Sydney now Nae shares on the life she has made here, juggling a full time career at NSW Health in a role she loves whilst fitting in training and putting her body on the line, literally, for the 🔥 team! Get your ‘Instant Culture’ fix 😝 as we welcome Nae back for her 5th season in the Harbour City!👌🏼

Annie La Fleur is an Aussie basketball treasure. A Basketball NSW Hall of Fame Inductee she played her entire basketball career at Sydney Uni Flames during the hey day of Basketball in Australia as well as a few years in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics & Minnesota Lynx.

With 3 WNBL Championship titles in her time at the Flames including representing Australia as an Opal in her hometown at the iconic Sydney 2000 Olympics, Annie has enjoyed tremendous success on the basketball court. She is making waves off the court through her passion for basketball in creating transformative change back in her birth country Papua New Guinea and the Oceania region.

In her role as FIBA Oceania Development Manager Annie has her eye on a much bigger picture of what basketball brings to the world. Tune in and enjoy!