Over the next two weeks, the Southern Design Sydney Uni Flames, New South Wales’ only women’s basketball team in the WNBL, will take on the Auburn University ‘Tigers’ and the Oklahoma University ‘Sooners’.
The Tigers and the Sooners are undoubtedly two of America’s finest women’s college basketball teams.
The games will be:
- vs Tigers at Hornsby Brickpit Sports Stadium, 1A Dartford Rd (off Pennant Hill Rd), Thornleigh, NSW, 2120 at 1pm on Sunday, 12 August 2012; and
- vs Sooners at Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre (Cnr Codrington St and Darlington Rd, beside the Wentworth Building, the University of Sydney, NSW 2006) at 6pm on Friday, 17 August 2012.
Entry fees for these games is just a gold coin donation.
The colleges
Auburn University ‘Tigers’
The Tigers from Alabama are a NCAA Division 1 basketball team and a powerhouse in the SEC conference. The Tigers have a proud history of producing quality basketballers with 10 women having been drafted by WNBA clubs, including 3 drafted in the 2009 WNBA draft.
Whilst the 2011/2012 season was an inconsistent one with more losses than victories, they still had two players ranked in the top 35 in their respective positions. Coming to Australia under new head coach, Terri Williams-Flournoy, the Tigers will be looking to improve on that inconsistent season with a strong showing against the Southern Design Sydney Uni Flames.
Oklahoma University ‘Sooners’
The Sooners are also a NCAA Division 1 basketball team and a powerhouse in the Big 12 conference. The Sooners have a fantastic basketball production line having had 13 women drafted by WNBA clubs including the daughter of Houston Rockets and NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, Abi Olajuwon.
In the 2011/2012 season, the Sooners were ranked in the top 40 women’s college basketball teams. Led by their illustrious head coach Sherri Coale (16 seasons and counting), they made the NCAA championship for the 13th consecutive season – a record for their conference – and secured Coach Coale’s 500th career victory. The Sooners will also put the Southern Design Sydney Uni Flames to a severe test before the WNBL season commences in October.
Both of these colleges have publicised their respective pre-season down under tours on their websites (http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/w-baskbl/australia/index.html and http://www.soonersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/okla-w-baskbl-body.html).
The Flames will be updating social media throughout the games with posts, tweets and photos and expect the colleges to do the same. The Flames look forward to seeing you at one of the games.
These pre-season games against the Tigers and the Sooners will put the Southern Design Sydney Uni Flames in a great position to deliver a very competitive 2012/2013 WNBL season.
2012/2013 WNBL Season
The 2012/2013 WNBL season kicks off with the 1st home game against the Canberra Capitals at 7pm on Saturday, 6 October 2012 at the Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Flames 2012/2013 Season Membership Packages
‘Fever Membership’ (Family = $199, Adult = $99)
Entry to all 12 regular season home games
Subscription to weekly “Ignite” enewsletter
Season pass & lanyard
Member’s game day draw
‘Junior Sparks Club Membership’ (Under 15s = $25)
Entry to all 12 regular season home games
Subscription to weekly “Ignite” enewsletter
Season pass & lanyard
Personalised birthday card signed by the team
