By JARROD POTTER
EXCITEMENT is overflowing at Dandenong Basketball Stadium with the Rangers about to tip off their 2013/14 WNBL season.
A new-look side will take the court for the Rangers this season, with seven additions to the squad that fell to Townsville in last season’s preliminary final.
A recruiting masterpiece was executed by the Rangers – securing WNBA point guard Leilani Mitchell as a domestic player, with the New York Liberty point guard able to qualify as an Australian as her mother was born on Thursday Island.
The opportunity for Mitchell arose from Rangers guard Kath Macleod sitting out the current season – with the Australian representative and All-Star taking the year off to rehabilitate a knee injury and give birth to her first child.
“Pretty simple – once Kathleen told me she was pregnant and we knew she wasn’t playing – I revisited an old offer – had Mitchell offered to me by her agent,” Rangers coach Mark Wright said.
“Asked the agent again if she was interested and she was.”
On the one hand Wright admits the club will miss their ultra-consistent star, but was thrilled for Macleod and her partner Brad, Wright’s son, on the upcoming birth.
“We’ve improved every single year and we’re hoping we’ve improved again this year – I think this group we’re going to miss Kathleen Macleod incredibly,” Wright said.
“Mitchell and Macleod are chalk and cheese.
“It’s my grandchild so I’m absolutely rapt, but when I’m thinking about the team we were rudderless.
“Mitchell is going to offer something else and it will be interesting to see how that works.
“With Kath I knew what I was going to get every game – with Mitchell she’ll offer stability, but it’s still an unknown quantity, so it’s an exciting time.
“I’m going to miss her greatly but, hopefully, she has a healthy pregnancy and a great birth and she wants to come back next season as we’d take her back with open arms.”
The Rangers list has turned almost completely over in the off-season while Sara Blicavs, Carley Mijovic, Steph Cumming, Tegan Cunningham and Rosie Fadljevic have pursued WNBL careers elsewhere.
Krista Phillips and Monica Wright won’t return this season, with the import spots secured by WNBA players – Washington guard Natalie Novosel and Connecticut forward Kayla Pedersen.
Also adding to the supreme depth of the squad are Alice Kunek (Melbourne), Brigitte Ardossi (Canberra) and the return of Clare Papavs from a season off in 2012/13 – with Kunek dominating the pre-season WNBL Spring Shield to help Dandenong defeat Logan 70-58 in the grand final.
“Watch this space – I think they’re going to be an exciting team to watch,” Wright said.
“Last year was very athletic – Monica was terribly exciting – but this group will give a difficult challenge to anyone they face.
“I think it’s good (the new recruits) – it refreshes everything and I’m excited about the group I’ve got and it’s definitely an exciting time down at Dandenong.”
Wright’s Rangers will square off in their final pre-season hit-out against the touring Chinese national team on Sunday at 5pm.
Dandenong’s season opener is against Logan on 5 October.
