ABBY TO FIRE UP TOWNSVILLE
AUSTRALIAN Opals star Abby Bishop says the chance to make a home in Townsville with her young daughter was the key factor in signing with the Fire for the next two WNBL seasons.
Bishop is one of the biggest recruits in the Fire’s history with a decorated career which includes a WNBA championship, bronze medal at the London Olympics, and the 2015 WNBL MVP award.
The forward/centre has based herself in Townsville to train ahead of an Opals selection camp in Phoenix, Arizona later this month after spending a season playing in Hungary.
Bishop has also been playing for the Townsville Flames in the QBL while she had best friend and Fire legend Suzy Batkovic in her ear about extending her stay for the WNBL season.
The 30-year-old is the perfect marquee replacement for the recently retired Batkovic, but Bishop said it was the lifestyle in Townsville with her daughter Zala, 5, which swayed her final decision.
“Suz has always spoken really highly about this club. It was her home for so long and she did so great here and was so successful and all of that,” Bishop said.
“When I did move up here not long ago she was in my pocket about it all, but at the end of the day I made the decision based on Zala and I.
“It’s a great fit, a great community, and we feel right at home up here which is really great considering we’ve only been here for a couple of weeks.
“I’ll find a house and make that a home and Zala’s settled at school. It’s exciting I think for us to not have to live out of a suitcase and be moving every six months.”
The 2019-20 WNBL season marks the dawn of a new era for the Fire without six-time league MVP Batkovic while Shannon Seebohm has taken over from Claudia Brassard as head coach.
The Fire also missed the finals last season for the first time since 2010-11 and Bishop said it was a privilege to help the club restore its reputation as a WNBL powerhouse.
“I have no doubt that we’re going to do great things,” she said. “Shannon’s a great coach, I’ve known him for many, many years from South Australia Country so I’m excited to work with him and see what we can do as a team.
“I just come in and do whatever I can to help the team. Hopefully that leads us to winning games and having a good culture and being happy. When you’re having fun you’re playing good basketball.”
Bishop takes the Fire’s roster to eight players for next season with Tess Madgen, Zitina Aokuso, Darcee Garbin, Micaela Cocks, Kate Gaze, and imports Julie Vanloo and Bridget Carleton. Fire general manager Sam Pascoe said the club was close to filling the last two spots.