By Nick Creely
The Dandenong Rangers have announced four signings for their WNBL Development Squad, with Maddi Puli, Georgia Amoore, Leia Hanifan and Last-Tear Poa all putting pen to paper for the 2018/19 season.
All four of the budding young basketball stars will train with the WNBL squad each week, and work closely with the coaching staff, which is again being led by Larissa Anderson.
Puli, Hanifan and Poa are all Dandenong juniors who have also played senior basketball with Dandenong Basketball, while Amoore joins the Rangers after claiming a bronze-medal in the FIBA U17 World Cup with the Australian Sapphires.
“These four girls are superb talents and wonderful young women that will no doubt become elite senior players in this country,” Anderson told the Dandenong Basketball website.
“They already have impressive basketball resumes and we are thrilled to have them on board with the Jayco Rangers for WNBL 19. They have settled in beautifully and are already making great contributions.
“We are excited to see them flourish over the coming months.”
In other news ahead of the opening round clash on 14 October against Townsville Fire, the Rangers have also been busy recruiting and looking to improve its list.
WNBA star Betnijah Laney – who plays with Connecticut Sun – will be the Rangers’ second import alongside Kayla Pedersen, and returns to the WNBL for the third time after previous stints with Perth Lynx and Bendigo Spirit.
The 24-year-old will add significant talent and scoring fire power to the roster, and will be hoping for a massive season in green.
Other majors signings also include Stephanie Reid – who has been in the collage system with the Buffalo Bulls – and she returns to Australia to begin her pro-career in a major boost for the Rangers.
Brett Whatman, Taylah Gilliam and Saraid Taylor and Amelia Todhunter are others that have also recently put pen to paper on new deals after playing with the club last season, while star Ranger Sara Blicavs is expected to suit up for significant game time in WNBL 19 after overcoming an ACL injury which derailed her season last year.
The star playmaker was a key loss for the Rangers last year, and will be a welcome addition to Anderson’s side, who are hoping to improve on their seventh placed finish.
