Career: Adelaide Lightning (Australia-WNBL, 2003-05, 2007-08), Connecticut Sun (USA-WNBA, 2006)

International career: 43 games for Australia, FIBA Oceania Championship (2005), Commonwealth Games (2006), FIBA World Championship (2006)

Back-up point guard Erin Phillips played on the FIBA World Championship team, averaging eight minutes per game. Having overcome a serious knee injury, Phillips is thrilled to not only be playing the sport but also overjoyed by the opportunities she has with Australia. “It’s so much fun when we go on tours and we’re just trying to build on a successful 2006. We were a group of girls who went away and became so close, that we became like a family,” Phillips said. The 23-year-old’s responsibility will be to provide a spark on defense but also be cool under pressure when teams attempt to press the Opals. Phillips has a nice stroke and will punish opponents that leave her open when they double-team Lauren Jackson or Penny Taylor.