TIMMS OUT TO INSPIRE NEXT GENERATION
MICHELE Timms will always remember the year her Opals inspired Lauren Jackson to don the green and gold.
It was 1994 and a young Jackson watched in awe as Australia hosted the World Cup, hoping to one day join her heroes.
Almost two decades on, Timms is aiming to have a similar impact on the next generation of Australian female basketballers.
The Opals legend returned to her junior club, the Bulleen Boomers, last week to launch the Molten Ball Relay ahead of this year’s Women‘s World Cup in Sydney. The relay event involves the World Cup ball going to 20 clubs in Australia.
Timms, a FIBA Hall of Fame member, is helping promote the Molten Ball Relay and World Cup.
“Lauren was a young kid in her loungeroom Oz ’94,” said Timms, who has won two bronze medals and a silver representing the Opals.
“That is when Lauren said she wants to play for Australia one day and that is what we’re hoping will happen on the back of this year’s World Cup.”
In addition to the Molten Ball Relay will be a Female Local Champions program, under which female coaches, referees and administrators from across the country can nominate and showcase their efforts in the community.
The 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will tipoff on September 22 and end on October 1.