Keely Froling, Lauren Nicholson and Sara Blicavs in Opals 2022 World Cup squad

Basketball Australia named the 24-player squad which will contest the World Cup in Sydney next year.

The squad features current Launceston Tornado Keely Froling and former Tornadoes Lauren Nicholson and Sara Blicavs as part of the team targeting a podium finish next year.

Froling and Nicholson were part of the Opals squad which secured a bronze medal at the Asia Cup while Blicavs was part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics side.

Nicholson featured for the Tornadoes for two years before going on to star with the Adelaide Lightning and Townsville Fire in the WNBL.

Blicavs started the 2021-22 WNBL season in fine form for the Southside Flyers to record 27 points and 11 rebounds in her side's 94-83 victory over Bendigo Spirit over the weekend.

Coach Sandy Brondello said: "I am really excited about the talent we have in Australian basketball and the squad that we as coaches have put together for 2022 is a great mix of experience and youth."

Brondello pointed to the Asia Cup squad as a strong form guide for ahead of the World Cup.

"I was particularly excited by some of the performances from the younger players in the Asia Cup post the Olympics who were given a taste of international basketball and there will be opportunities for those who work hard and make the most of their opportunities throughout the upcoming WNBL competition," she said.

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The squad also features Southside Flyers captain Jenna O'Hea, who alongside teammate Blicavs, and Bendigo Spirit's Leilani Mitchell and Tessa Lavey, will come to Launceston for one of two WNBL games next year.

Despite qualifying as the host nation, the Opals side will head to Belgrade in February to face Serbia, South Korea and Brazil as part of the qualifying tournament.

The 2022 World Cup will be the first women's FIBA World Cup since 1994 to be held in Australia, which Brondello featured in as a player.

"I remember like yesterday how special it was to play in a World Cup on home soil. We look forward to having the same support as we had in 1994 to help us get back on the podium. Our goal over the next 300 days is to continue to grow, develop and be better as individuals and as group so we can achieve this goal," she said.

Launceston shares a special connection to the 1994 World Cup where the Silverdome was a host venue.

Rebecca Allen, Zitina Aokuso, Sara Blicavs, Rebecca Cole, Keely Froling, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Shyla Heal, Tessa Lavey, Eziyoda Magbegor, Tess Madgen, Jade Melbourne, Leilani Mitchell, Lauren Nicholson, Jenna O'Hea, Maddison Rocci, Lauren Scherf, Alex Sharp, Alanna Smith, Stephanie Talbot, Marianna Tolo, Kristy Wallace, Abbey Wehrung, Sami Whitcomb.

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