Comets add another Sydney Flames to the inaugural squad

The Sydney Comets women’s NBL1 side will have a distinct Sydney Flames flavour in 2023.

The current Flames coach, Shelley Gorman will also coach the inaugural Sydney Comets women’s side in the 2023 NBL1 East season, tipping off on March 11. 

She has brought in many flames, including Vanessa Panousis in recent weeks and now the Comets have added Flames amateur player Jada Crawshaw. 

“As I was at boarding school in the eastern suburbs, I became a Comets junior,” Crawshaw said.

“I decided to stay with Comets because Shelley Gorman became the new NBL1 coach and I thought it was a great opportunity to continue my development with her. 

“While Vanessa has been a wonderful role model for her professionalism and her skills – training with them both has given me an understanding of how they both approach the game.

“Vanessa will be a steadying influence on what looks like will be a young Comets side and that will be a benefit.

“[Further to that] It’s exciting to be part of the inaugural team for Comets, as this side sets the standard for future seasons.”

The 18-year-old believes she’s set for a big campaign on the NBL1 East hardwood, thanks to the Flames and the impact they’ve made on her.

“The Flames have embodied higher training commitments and expectations,” she said.

“The team has also helped me develop faster gameplay and grow my endurance and strength [ It] has helped me understand what it means to play basketball at a professional level. They [the Flames] have also enabled me to learn more strategy, skills and improve my fitness.

“I have had the opportunity to understand how Shelley approaches the game and it has given me the opportunity to watch more professional basketball as well as be a part of it which has allowed me to understand ‘the game’ and improve my versatility.”

When the season tips off in March, the Northern Territory product has set out goals for her 2023 season.

“One of my personal goals is to improve my versatility – learning more positions and the skills that come with those positions,” she said.

“As a team, I would love for us to reach the finals.”

Stay up-to-date with the NBL1 via the Roster Tracker here.