Ashworth adds leadership and experience to Redbacks

The Perth Redbacks strong roster construction for the 2021 NBL1 West continues with the signing of 250-game veteran Del Ashworth (nee Lipscombe).

Ashworth enters her sixth straight year in Perth after averaging 5.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in the 2020 West Coast Classic season.

“It’s the girls here that keep me coming back,” Ashworth said via perthredbacks.asn.au.

“I love them and it’s always fun to play with this group. I guess I just want to keep playing at the highest level I can until I can’t anymore.”

Redbacks coach Craig Allen expressed his excitement about having Ashworth back on board.

“Del’s a really valuable member of our group and I think she flies under the radar in a lot of ways,” Allen said.

“I don’t think her value is appreciated outside of our group as much as we appreciate her inside it. She is long and athletic for a guard and can defend both on the perimeter and inside which gives us huge flexibility.

“She can run the floor well for us, creates well and brings leadership too being a senior member of our group who has 250 plus games now.

“You can’t buy that sort of experience. You want those experienced players leading and growing the younger group and providing senior leadership to direct the younger group coming through.”

Ashworth joins Jess Jakens, Maddie Allen and Mak Dyer on the 2021 roster.