Cambage, Taylor included in Opals' final roster for Rio Olympics

The Australian national basketball team has announced its final roster for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Brendan Joyce-coached squad will again be led by veteran Penny Taylor, who was a bronze medalist and an all-star five member in the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.

Taylor missed the 2012 London Olympics due to injury, but the 35-year-old three-time WNBA champion said per FIBA.com that the absence motivated her to give it another round in the Olympic stage.
"London was always a motivator to make it to Rio but it was also motivation to get healthy and get back playing with the girls. 
Gold is always the goal at an Olympic Games but we know there is a long way to getting the chance to play for that gold medal. 
We have a strong team and a very similar team to what we had at the 2014 World Championships and I think Brendan has done a wonderful job implementing a system that we love being a part of."
Taylor was part of Australia's silver-medal winning teams in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Also comprising the team are Natalie Burton, Elizabeth Cambage, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Cayla George, Laura Hodges, Rachel Jarry, Tessa Lavey, Leilani Mitchell, Erin Phillips, Stephanie Talbot, and Marianna Tolo.

Another name that stands out the Opals' 6-foot-8 center Cambage. Her inclusion will allow Cambage to return to the international stage after missing Australia's last two major tournaments.

Cambage injured her achilles which forced her out of the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women. The year after, Cambage was also left out of Australia's roster for the 2015 FIBA Oceanias Championship for Women.

Australia is set to compete with the United States, France, and China in a four-team tournament from July 27 to 31.

Australia is in Group A of the Olympic Basketball Tournament with France, Japan, Brazil, Belarus, and Turkey.

In Group B are the United States, China, Spain, Serbia, Senegal, and Canada.

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