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🇦🇺 Australia /Sports

Opals coach Brondello plans positionless offense to challenge US dominance

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Australian Opals coach Sandy Brondello is implementing a new offensive strategy to overcome the dominant U.S. women's basketball team.
  • The team aims for a more positionless style, allowing players like Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith to execute pick-and-rolls and utilize versatility.
  • Brondello balances her coaching roles with the Opals and WNBA teams, relying on a trusted staff to maintain the team's playing style during limited preparation time.

Sandy Brondello, a highly respected coach with two WNBA championships, is leading the Australian Opals in their quest to challenge the United States' long-standing dominance in women's basketball. The U.S. team has not lost an Olympic or World Cup game since 2006.

We want to play a little bit more positionless, where a guard can get a screen but they can also give a screen.

— Sandy BrondelloExplaining the new offensive strategy for the Opals.

Brondello is introducing a "positionless" offensive system designed to enhance the Opals' scoring consistency, a key weakness in past knockout-stage exits. This new approach allows guards to both set and receive screens, enabling dynamic plays like pick-and-rolls involving players such as Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith. Brondello believes this adaptable style complements the current roster's versatility while still valuing inside presence and traditional screening.

We could give a screen to Ezi Magbegor to come in for a pick and roll with Alanna Smith.

— Sandy BrondelloIllustrating the potential plays within the new offensive system.

The coach acknowledges the challenge of limited time together with the national team due to her commitments coaching in the WNBA. However, she emphasizes the value of the "read and react" nature of the new offense and the team's existing chemistry built over years. Brondello relies heavily on her trusted coaching staff, including associate coach Paul Goriss, to ensure continuity and adherence to the team's established style during crucial preparation periods.

I think we've got the versatility there. It depends on how we are playing.

— Sandy BrondelloDescribing the team's adaptability with the new offensive style.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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