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Phoenix Mercury Sign Olympian Leilani Mitchell
PHOENIX – The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury today announced the signing of veteran guard Leilani (lay-LON-ee) Mitchell. After participating in the Rio Olympics with Australia and appearing in 10 games with Washington, Mitchell returns to the Mercury after playing in all 34 games for Phoenix in 2015.
"Leilani is one of the best shooters in our game," said Mercury General Manager Jim Pitman. "She was an important contributor for us as our point guard in a 20-win season in 2015, and we are excited to have her back in a Mercury uniform. She gives us another guard who can create and shoot, and she helps us spread the floor with Brittney Griner down low."
The 5-foot-5 Mitchell is a 39.9-percent career three-point shooter, the fourth-best career mark among active WNBA players and the 13th-best in the history of the league. In 2015 with Phoenix, Mitchell was fourth in the WNBA in three-point percentage (39.9 percent) and seventh in three-pointers made (44). She has finished in the top-three in the league in threes made three times in the last six seasons, and in the top-four in three-point percentage twice in that span. Mitchell averaged 6.7 points and 2.7 assists with the Mercury in 2015.
The daughter of an Australian mother and American father, Mitchell was raised in the U.S. And became an Australian citizen in 2014. In 2016, she played in her first Olympic Games, representing Australia in Rio, and also won a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championships. A longtime member of the WNBL, Australia's professional women's league, Mitchell has twice been named the league's best point guard (2014, 2016) as a member of the All-Star Five. Mitchell missed all but 10 games of the WNBA season in 2016 due to national team commitments, signing with the Washington Mystics after Rio.
Originally selected by the Mercury with the 25th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Mitchell was traded to New York prior to her rookie season. She was the WNBA's Most Improved Player in 2010 when she shot a league-best 48.6-percent from long range, knocking down a career-best 72 three-pointers.
Currently with the WNBL's Sydney Uni Flames, the 31-year-old Mitchell leads her team in scoring (16.2 points, 8th-WNBL), assists (WNBL-best 6.2 assists) and steals (1.8 steals, 2nd-WNBL).
Mitchell, Mystics Beat Sky To Snap 5-game Losing Streak
BRADENTON, FLA. — Leilani Mitchell had 20 points and a career-high 12 assists, Myisha Hines-Allen added 19 points and 10 rebounds and the Washington Mystics snapped a five-game losing streak with a 79-69 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday night.
Mitchell had eight assists in the first quarter and 11 by halftime to tie a WNBA record for a half. On Monday, Chicago point guard Courtney Vandersloot set a WNBA record with 18 assists, and she finished with 11 against the Mystics.
Emma Meesseman scored 15 points and Ariel Atkins had 13 for Washington (5-12), which had lost 12 of its last 13 games. Mitchell made four of the Mystics' 10 3-pointers.
Cheyenne Parker scored 17 points and Vandersloot had 16 points for Chicago (11-8), which clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday when Indiana lost. Allie Quigley was just 4 of 14 from the field for 12 points.
Locks, Bolters, And More: Assessing The Opals' Squad For Paris
Mar 26, 2024, 11:57 PM ETAustralia's greatest ever basketballer, a college star and the best three-point shooter in the country have been included in a bumper Opals squad from which the team for the Paris Olympics will be selected.
After declaring she "was done" in the moments after Australia punched its ticket to Paris in February, Lauren Jackson, 42, has kept the door ajar on a fifth Olympic appearance.
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Jackson was named in the 26-player squad less than two weeks after winning a seventh WNBL championship capping a finals series where she scored 38 points and hauled in 11 rebounds against Melbourne in the semifinal decider.
Virginia Tech star Georgia Amoore, who is leading her side in NCAA March Madness, has earned selection in the senior national team for the first time while Amy Atwell's superb season, and body of finals work, from the three-point line has been rewarded.
Alex Sharp, Lauren Nicholson, Chloe Bibby and Lauren Scherf have been added to the squad on the back of strong form in the WNBL and Europe.
The Opals squad will take part in training camps, international tours and lead-up games before head coach Sandy Brondello settles on the final 12-player team.
Here are some of the Opals' potential locks and bolters.
Lauren Jackson
If willing and able, LJ was always going to be a lock for Paris.
Jackson has spoken in depth about putting her young sons first and now confirmation of parental support from Basketball Australia will allow her children and a carer to travel on tour allowing the GOAT to be part of fifth-Olympic campaign.
In terrific shape and fresh from more success, Jackson offers immeasurable experience, leadership and winning pedigree.
Ezi Magbegor
Magbegor will turn 25 in the weeks after Paris and have two Olympics and two World Cups under her belt.
She's achieved plenty but has so much basketball ahead of her and frighteningly more potential to unearth.
Her display in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament opener was stunning. Magbegor led the way at both ends of the floor but more in a commanding performance where she demanded the ball and wanted to take her team on her back. The finishing touch is now adding consistency.
Marianna Tolo
There are few certainties in life but death, taxes and Marianna Tolo delivering at international level are a couple.
The 33-year-old has not only been a constant but a consistent contributor for the Opals over the past decade at major tournaments and two Olympics.
Her wealth of experience and success throughout Europe comes to the fore on the international stage where she shines as a major key for Australia.
Steph Talbot
An All-Star at the last FIBA World Cup in 2022, Talbot is one of the Opals leading lights.
Her third Olympics will be a triumph after recovering from an ACL injury which sidelined her until January this year.
The 29-year-old guard looked fit, strong and didn't miss a beat in her handful of WNBL games and will continue her comeback with the LA Sparks in the WNBA. Potent scorer, great defender, true leader, Talbot is a humble champion.
Jade Melbourne
It's Jade Melbourne time.
Unlucky not to represent Australia on home soil at the 2022 World Cup, the high-energy 21-year-old guard is ready for an Olympic berth.
She has four WNBL seasons under her belt, honed leadership skills with the struggling Canberra Capitals and this year enters her second WNBA campaign with Seattle Storm.
Melbourne can add instant energy off the bench and blooding her in Paris will be integral to her future role in the Opals program.
Isobel Borlase
The 20-year-old showed her skill set and composure on debut at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in February, debuting in the second game against Germany then earning a start in the final fixture against Serbia.
With two full WNBL campaigns for Adelaide under her belt, the athletic forward is set to be selected in the first round of next month's WNBA draft.
Touted as an Opal for years to come, Borlase has age and time on her side and if selected for Paris would follow in the footsteps of Steph Talbot (Rio) and Rachel Jarry (London) who made Olympics as 21 and 20-year-olds respectively.
Maddy Rocci
Part of the bronze-medal campaign at last year's FIBA Asia Cup, Rocci was overlooked for the February qualifiers in Brazil with Steph Reid getting the nod.
It's what Rocci, as of this month now a three-time WNBL champion, has done since that will strengthen her chances for Paris.
With dual Olympian Leilani Mitchell stepping into the Southside Flyers starting line-up, Rocci's position and role changed and the guard showed selflessness and maturity in sacrificing her scoring game in the quest for team success.
This team-first attitude, integral in the title and part of the Opals ethos, will hold her in good stead.
Amy Atwell
A pure scorer, Atwell forced her way into the squad with the WNBL form that lifted Perth to a Grand Final series appearance.
After debuting at last year's FIBA Asia Cup, Atwell was considered unlucky to miss selection in the squad for the Olympic qualifying tournament in February.
Her offensive prowess was on display in the WNBL Grand Final Series opener where she sunk 9 triples, at 64 per cent, among her game-high 30 points.
With the experience of the likes of Steph Talbot and Bec Allen around her, it will be tough for Atwell to crack the final 12 but her opportunity in the squad will allow her to continue to develop in the national program.
Georgia Amoore
The college star has long been making waves and has been named in her first of many Opals squads to come.
The 22-year-old from Ballarat measures in at 168cm and has a refined point guard's game which is complemented by what's become a signature step-back three ball.
A predicted top 10 WNBA draft pick, Amoore will find tough competition from the squad's more senior guards but one certainty is the huge international career ahead of her.
Extended squad for Paris 2024Rebecca AllenZitina AokusoGeorgia AmooreAmy AtwellChloe BibbyIsobel BorlaseKeely FrolingDarcee GarbinCayla GeorgeShyla HealLauren JacksonAlice KunekTess MadgenEzi MagbegorAnneli MaleyJade MelbourneLauren NicholsonStephanie ReidMaddison RocciLauren ScherfAlex SharpAlanna SmithStephanie TalbotMarianna ToloKristy WallaceSami Whitcomb
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