Cayla raring to Fire
Lack of WNBA game time frustrates George
CAYLA George believes the time she’s spent competing around the world has only made her a better player as she prepares for a highly anticipated return to the Townsville Fire.
George was a key figure in the club’s dual championship success, averaging 15.4 points and 11.2 rebounds as she formed a brilliant frontcourt partnership with fivetime MVP Suzy Batkovic.
George left the Fire in 2016 to pursue other opportunities, taking the floor with the Australian Opals at the Rio Olympics before winning the Hungarian title with Sopron earlier this year.
The 28- year- old only wrapped up her commitments with the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA playoffs last week, but George said she already felt comfortable back on the Fire’s training court.
“To be honest, it feels like I never left,” she said.
“It is really exciting to be back with the Fire fam and the Townsville fam. I’m just looking forward to the season starting.
“I jumped straight back into prac- tice – besides the new uniform and a few new faces – I stepped right back into the same spot I warm up in and everything just seemed like I had never left.”
George admitted she was frustrated by her lack of game time with Phoenix in the WNBA, but the 192cm centre said that had only made her more determined to take charge for the Fire.
“I’ve been craving to be that go- to player. It’s what I love to do and bring whatever I can to the team in a positive way,” she said.
“In the WNBA, I’m not a go- to player by any means. I’m a role player and that’s something that I adjust to when I’m there, but I’ve been a go- to player for a lot of my life. I guess the experiences that I had over there, it certainly helps mentally and physically just going up against those big girls week- in, week- out.
“Whatever the team needs from me, I’m more than happy to bring that.
“It’s got me even more fired up to come back here and play a bigger and better role.”
George is among a host of highprofile players returning to the WNBL this season and she was looking forward to the opening round showdown with Opals team mate Liz Cambage, who has joined the Melbourne Boomers.
“There’s a few studs around the place so it’s going to be a pretty tough league,” George said.
“We go head- to- head with Lizzy Cambage first round so that’s going be super exciting.
“She’s a good friend of mine and I’ve played with her in the national team and she’s a competitor as well.
“She’s six- foot- eight so we’re going to have to be right on target to shut her down, but we’ve got the goods to do it. This season’s going to super quick, but I’m super excited for it.”
The Fire open their season on the road against the Melbourne Boomers on October 7 before hosting the UC Capitals at Townsville Stadium on October 13.