Gliders announce squad ahead of Italy Tour

The Australian Gliders have announced a 10-player squad to travel to Italy later this month for a series against the Netherlands and France at the Australian Institute of Sport’s European Training Centre.

The squad includes WNWBL leading scorer, All Star 5 selection and Grand Final MVP Georgia Munro-Cook, along with WNWBL League MVP runner-up Hannah Dodd, who will head to Germany for a European season at the conclusion of the tour. Isabel Martin (University of Alabama) and Laura Davoli (University of Texas at Arlington) are also set for their first Gliders campaign since beginning their U.S. college programs, while 3x3 World Championship bronze medallists Taishar Ovens and Ebony Stevenson add further international experience. The squad is rounded out by Katelin Gunn, Maryanne Latu, Shelley Matheson and Jessica Cronje.

Head Coach Craig Campbell said the selection rewards form across national leagues and ensures healthy competition for places in the final championship squad.

“We’re excited by this group and the opportunity to play at a high standard in Italy.

“The group is connected and focused after our training camp in Melbourne in July, and the confidence from four of our Gliders winning bronze at the 3x3 World Championships in South Africa last month has added to that momentum.”

The Gliders will land in Milan on Monday 22 September before playing seven games across seven days. Their schedule begins with four matches against France from 23 to 26 September, followed by three games against the Netherlands on 27 and 28 September.

France will offer valuable matchups to help the Gliders finetune their style of play. Their team features Loeiza Vari Le Roux, University of Alabama teammate of Glider Isabel Martin, and they will be guided by a newly appointed head coach.

The Netherlands will present the ultimate test as back-to-back Paralympic gold medallists in Tokyo and Paris and world champions in Dubai in 2022 and Hamburg in 2018. Widely regarded as the world’s benchmark, they will challenge Australia to measure themselves against the very best.

With the AOZ Championships looming in November, the series in Italy will play a key role in the Gliders’ push for World Championship qualification. The top two finishers at AOZ will qualify directly for the 2026 World Championships in Ottawa, while the third and fourth placed teams must navigate the repechage route.

“Facing France and the Netherlands gives us exactly the type of games we need before AOZs,” Campbell said.

“We know China and Japan will be tough opponents, so this tour is about sharpening our combinations and testing ourselves against elite competition.”

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