George to shine as Connecticut Sun in WNBA

WNBA club the Connecticut Sun announced over the weekend it had acquired former Cairns Dolphin Cayla George from the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft.

“We are excited about the opportunity to obtain Cayla,” Sun general manager and head coach Curt Miller said of the 193cm centre.

Originally signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Mercury on February 4, 2015, George, who last month won another WNBL championship with Townsville, appeared in 66 of the 68 regular season games she was available for in 2015 and 2017.

She missed the 2016 season while representing Australia in the Rio Olympics.

■ FORMER Cairns Marlins skipper James Mitchell scored his first points from open play for the Sheffield Sharks in their win over the Cheshire Phoenix on Saturday.

The athletic forward has been used sparingly in the British Basketball League since signing late last year but found just over 10 minutes on court in the victory and played his best game for the club so far.

Mitchell hit two of his three shots as well as grabbing a rebound and an assist in the victory.

The Sharks are fifth on the 12-club BBL table.

■ FAR North basketball coach Joel Khalu was on hand at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra last week to take part in the World Association Of Basketball Coaches (WABC) Instructor Course.

The International Basketball Federation, through the WABC, has recently redesigned its Global Education Program for coaching with the completion of the instructor accreditation course for Khalu allowing him to deliver coaching courses on behalf of FIBA and the WABC internationally.