10 NBL1 stars set for U19 World Cup

The Australian Under-19 Women’s team – the Gems – has confirmed its final squad of 12 for the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, which takes place in Madrid, Spain between 15 – 23 July.

10 out of the 12 players are currently competing in the NBL1, with Tess Heal a former NBL1 player with the Melbourne Tigers -- who is dominating college. 

Stacked with talent, the squad features, NBL1 East Centre of Excellence centre Isla Juffermans, who not only took home a gold medal at the Foot Locker Under-20 National Champs in February for New South Wales, but also won the Bob Staunton MVP accolade for the women’s competition.

Dandenong's Nyadiew Puoch and Forestville's Isobel Borlase have also been selected for the Gems. It’s been a busy week for the pair who were named in the Opals extended squad for the first time on Tuesday for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.

The team will head to Spain on Tuesday 4 July to play in a series of friendly games in a four nations cup prior to the World Cup commencing Saturday 15 July. The Gems will face Spain, France and the mighty USA, providing an ideal preparation for the FIBA U19 World Cup.

The Australian team takes on Spain, Argentina and France in the pool rounds before playing in the round of 16 to determine their fate in this tournament.

The Gems’ Australian U19s Women’s Team:

Paige Burrows (Knox Raiders)

Isobel Borlase (Forestville Eagles)

Tayla Brazel (Sturt Sabres) 

Sophie Burrows (Diamond Valley Eagles) 

Jayda Clark (BA Centre of Excellence) 

Rubi Gray (BA Centre of Excellence) 

Tess Heal

Isla Juffermans (BA Centre of Excellence) 

Jessica Petrie (BA Centre of Excellence) 

Nyadiew Puoch (Dandenong Rangers) 

Saffron Shiels (BA Centre of Excellence) 

Ruby Vlahov

Feature image via: Discovery One Photography