Former Canberra Capitals skipper Abby Bishop hopes an Australian Opals recall can be a fresh start for her international career after being on the outer for the past three years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
New Opals coach Sandy Brondello named Bishop in a 12-strong Australian squad on Friday for the Asia Cup in India at the end of July.
It's a massive step forward for Bishop and a chance to move on from the past after fearing her decision to put daughter Zala ahead of basketball in 2014 would end her Opals career.
Bishop's rollercoaster journey also included doctors discovering 24 centimetres of blood clots in her arm last year, which all but shattered her Rio Olympic Games hopes.
But the 28-year-old is excited to work under Brondello to rebuild her standing in the national team in what looms as a new era for the Opals after Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor retired.
Bishop, a 2012 Olympian, has played only a handful of games for Australia since quitting the world championship squad three years ago to take stance for female athletes with children.
The off-court drama meant Bishop "lost my love of the game" at an international level as she juggled sporting politics, her career and being a mum to Zala.
But Bishop is keen to pick up where she left off and help Brondello reinvigorate Australian women's basketball after the Opals failed to win an Olympic medal last year for the first time since 1992.
"I did fall out of love with the international game for a bit," Bishop said.
"But it's nice to have it back and actually enjoying it. I really enjoyed the camp we just had with Sandy, so for me it's about just taking it one step at a time.
"I didn't do much over that four year period between the London and Rio Olympics.
"It's just nice to be back after so long and I feel like I fit in. It just feels normal and I'm leaving the past in the past.
"I am one of the older girls in this new group so I'm excited by that and Sandy has just said do what you do to be a leader. So that's my goal."
Bishop will be joined by former Capitals teammates Marianna Tolo and Alex Bunton as well as former Canberra players Lauren Mansfield and Tessa Lavey.
Brondello is giving some new faces a chance to impress, with Canberra junior Bunton, point guard Mansfield and Kelsey Griffin all set to make their Opals debut in India.
The squad has just four players from the Opals squad for the Rio Olympics, while Bishop and Belinda Snell are returning to the set up.
Brondello will be unavailable to coach the Opals in India because of her WNBA commitments with the Phoenix Mercury, opening the door for Capitals coach Paul Goriss and Cheryl Chambers to step up as assistants.
Australian champion Taylor and Olaf Lange have been appointed as extra assistants for the tour, with the Opals to play against Korea, the Philippines and Japan in the group stages from July 23.
"I'm really excited to be back in with Tolo and even young girls like Alex Bunton," Bishop said.
"I wasn't sure how it was going to be, I am one of the older ones and even though I haven't done much in recent years, I still have to be a leader."
