NBL1 North champion and Opal Alanna Smith has signed with her home-town Hobart Chargers for the 2023 NBL1 season.
Joining the Townsville Flames mid-season, she was critical in their win over the then-undefeated Logan Thunder in the NBL1 North Grand Finals series.
She averaged 22 points and eight rebounds last season and walked into the competition as one of the best bigs alongside Mikaela Ruef, Cayla George and more.
Smith was recently awarded the Player of the Month in the women’s EuroCup, averaging 21 points and 10.7 rebounds
She joins men’s NBL1 South champion Ole Angerstein as the first two signings for the Hobart Chargers in the 2023 NBL1 season.
Women’s head coach Dwain Davie spoke to the media in Hobart about the signing and said it was a long time in the making.
“We are very pleased to announce we’ve signed Alanna Smith, an international calibre player," he said.
"[She] really fills out a lot of gaps for us in turns of beginning the height and athleticism we probably haven’t had since Kathleen Scheer departed."
“The ability to score on the inside and outside, you know is obviously very important and I guess at her size and athleticism really brings a presence on the defensive end as well, able to provide some intimidation around the ring.
“Really excited to have her on board… we went pretty close to getting her here last year and it didn’t quite work out. But I think at the end of that conversation I felt it was something we could revisit and I think the club has done a fantastic job of doing that.”
To stay up-to-date with the NBL1, see the 2023 NBL1 Roster Tracker here.
Feature image via B.Rad Sports Photography
