EuroBasket Women 2013

Standard Life GB Women’s Press Pack

Key Contacts - GB

For interviews with the Standard Life GB team during EuroBasket Women 2013 please contact:

Sinead Gordon : sineadgordon@basketballgb.com / +44 (0)7747 817 363

Before or after the tournament:

Lauren Foster: lauren.foster@fasttrackagency.com / +44 (0)7920 470 498

Media Information

Photographers: Please DO NOT USE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY during the games.

Post Game: All players will go through the mixed zone area. If you have specific player requests pleaseadvise Sinead Gordon.

Round 1 GB Fixtures

Great Britain’s Games – Group C

First up on the menu for Great Britain is Serbia. Since becoming anindependent nation, Serbia first qualified for the tournament inItaly six years ago, when they finished 11th and then 13th place in2009 in Latvia. They failed to make it to EuroBasket Women 2011but have a strong roster coming into this year’s tournament.

Day two will see a duel with Latvia who are searching for a fifthsuccessive quarter-final place, their best performance coming sixyears ago in Italy when they reached the last four of the competition,but just missed out on a first medal. GB and Latvia last met in 2011during some preparation games where they each claimed a win.

Last up in the first round of games are the hosts, France. Francefinished with a bronze medal at EuroBasket Women 2011 and thenbettered their medal haul with a silver last summer at the LondonOlympics. The GB women met the side twice last year, once inSheffield where they defeated the French side 74-67 and again at theOlympics where France narrowly defeated GB 77-80 in an overtimeperiod. The history between these sides bodes well for a closelyfought game at EuroBasket.

Game Venue Tip-Off(Local Time)

Saturday 15 June 2013

Standard Life GB Women V SerbiaTrelaze, FRA

Arena Loire12:30

Sunday 16 June 2013

Standard Life GB Women V LatviaTrelaze, FRA

Arena Loire15:00

Monday 17 June 2013

Standard Life GB Women V FranceTrelaze, FRA

Arena Loire21:00

The Standard Life GB Women’sTeam

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Dominique Allen @Dom_Allen12

Position: Centre Height: 1.92m / 6-2 DOB: 10 September 1989

From: Dudley, West Midlands, England

Caps: 28 Debut: 2012 v Croatia

Current Club: Bologna, Italy

Club career: Bologna, Italy (2013- ), Oral Roberts University,USA (2008-12), Northumbria University, England (2006-8)

International Career:Allen made her senior international debut in 2012 against Croatia before earning a spot in Great Britain’sOlympic team, featuring in one game in London. She represented GB at Under-20 level in the 2008 and2009 European Championships, averaging 5.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in the latter year. She also playedfor the GB Futures team in the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China.

Allen started her career in Birmingham before spending two seasons playing in the English BasketballLeague and BUSA competition for Northumbria University, earning Most Valuable Player honours in2006-7. She then transferred to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, playing 10 games in her firstseason and 33 in her second (sophomore) year. In 2010-11, she averaged 5.7 points and 6.0 reboundsper game, including a career-best 15-point effort against Western Illinois University. Her team-matesthere included fellow GB international, Georgia Jones. She made her professional debut in the 2012-13season with Italian side Bologna, becoming a regular starter.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2008-9 Oral Roberts 1.1 1.6 0.12009-10 Oral Roberts 0.9 1.6 0.92010-11 Oral Roberts 5.7 6.0 1.92011-12 Oral Roberts 4.4 4.2 0.62012-13 Bologna 10.9 7.5 0.5

Personal:The daughter of Clive and Jayne, Allen grew up in Dudley in the West Midlands. Her father Clive played15 seasons in the British Basketball League, primarily with Birmingham Bullets, and was an Englandinternational (3 caps). Allen has a younger sister, Whitney. If she could meet anyone, it would be herfavourite actor Will Smith.

Rose Anderson @Rose_Anderson15

Position: Guard Height: 1.78m / 5-10 DOB: 23 March 1988

From: Edinburgh, Scotland

Caps: 56 Debut: 2010 v Bulgaria

Current Club: St. Paule-Reze, France

Club career: Reze (2012- ), UWIC Cardiff (2011-12), Universityof Central Oklahoma, USA (2008-10), Northern OklahomaCollege, USA (2006-08), Edinburgh Kool Kats (2000-6)

International Career:Representing Scotland at every age-group level from cadette to senior, Anderson made hercompetitive international debut at the 2006 European Promotion Cup where she averaged12.4 points per game. Captaining Great Britain at Under-20 level in 2008, she earned a firstsenior cap against Bulgaria in 2010 and was an integral back-up in GB’s qualifying campaignbefore taking a similar role in the 2011 EuroBasket finals in Poland and again for the Olympicteam in London in 2012. Rose also played for Britain in the World University Games in 2009and 2011.

Rose began her career with Scottish League club, Edinburgh Kool Kats, securing severalhonours at junior level before winning the Scottish League and Cup as a senior in 2006. Shethen spent two years at Northern Oklahoma (Junior) College in the USA before transferring toCentral Oklahoma University. She returned to the UK to join UWIC Archers in Cardiff for the2011-12 season, helping them to the final of the EBL National Cup and to the EBL Division Onetitle. In 2013, she moved to France with St. Paule-Reze in the NF1 division.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2008-9 Central Oklahoma 9.8 2.9 3.02009-10 Central Oklahoma 9.5 3.0 3.22012-13 Reze 15 3 3

Personal:Anderson attended Portobello High School in Edinburgh where she was first introduced to thesport. Cites Donna Finnie, her Scotland coach at Under-18 level, and former Edinburgh coachBrian Findlay, as huge influences. She is the youngest of four children. Her elder brother Kennyis a boxer who won a gold medal at light-heavyweight at the 2006 Commonwealth Gamesbefore turning professional. Father was an amateur boxer. Favourite musicians are Beyoncéand Zac Brown band. Would love to be a food critic.

Kim Butler

Position: Forward Height: 1.86m / 6-1 DOB: 7 September 1982

From: Tacoma, USA

Caps: 68 Debut: 2007 v Netherlands

Current Club: SK Cesis, Latvia

Club career: Cesis (2012- ), Comense, Italy (2011-12), Ibiza,Spain (2011), Riga, Latvia (2010-11), Panionios, Greece, (2009-10), San Jose Leon, Spain (2008-09), Kosice, Slovakia (2007-08),Anda Ramat Hasharon, Israel (2007), Panathinaikos, Greece,(2006), Oregon State University, USA (2004-06), Santa ClaraUniversity, USA (2001-3)

International Career:Butler has been a vital player on the GB team since making her debut in the summer of 2007. She was part ofthe team that won promotion into European Division A, scoring a career-best 28 points in a victory overUkraine in 2008, and ranking in the top ten categories including second in made 2-point field goals and fifthin defensive rebounds. At EuroBasket Women 2011, she hit 15 points as GB came close to upsetting eventualchampions Russia. She was part of Great Britain’s Olympic team in London in 2012 and enters 2013 as theteam’s all-time leading scorer in competitive fixtures.

Splitting her American university career between Santa Clara and Oregon State (where she was the secondleading scorer of the Pac-10 Conference in her final year), Butler earned a training camp invite from theWNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks but has since established herself in European club basketball.In 2006-07, Butler made the move Panathinaikos in Athens before completing the season with leading Israeliside Anda Ramat Hasharon, for whom she also played in the EuroCup. She spent the following period withKosice in the strong Slovakian league, making her debut in Euroleague Women.

Butler divided the 2011-12 season between Italian side Comense and Cesis of Latvia, where she was namedMVP of the Latvian League play-offs as her side took the title, before returning to Latvia in 2013.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010-11 Riga 14.5 9.5 32011 Ibiza 8.6 4.4 0.82011-12 Comense 5.2 4.6 1.72012 Cesis 15.5 8.1 2.02012-13 Cesis 12.3 7.5 2.8

Personal:Buter’s sister Julie also played basketball at Santa Clara. Growing up, she competed in athletics, primarily inshot putt and 400 metres, and soccor. She lists former USA basketball internationals Michael Jordan and TimDuncan and footballers Michelle Akers, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres as her sporting idols. Would like to“shoot around with Jordan, have lunch with Jamie Oliver, hang out with Jim Carrey, have dinner with JohnLennon, and tea with the Queen.”

Ella Clark @EllaClark_

Position: Forward Height: 1.90m / 6-3 DOB: 8 February 1992

From: London, England

Caps: 6 Debut: 2013 v Belarus

Current Club: Long Beach State University, USA

Club career: Long Beach State (2010- ), Haringey Angels (2007-10)

International Career:A graduate from the national junior programmes, Clark first played internationally for England at Under-16 level from 2006-8, and then at Under-18 in 2009. She was part of the Great Britain Under-20 squadthat finished eighth at the 2011 Division A European Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia after winningDivision B in 2010. 2013 is her first involvement at senior level.

The winner of the England Basketball’s Under-18 Player of the Year award in 2009, Clark led HaringeyAngels to three national championships. She took up a scholarship at Long Beach State University inCalifornia in 2010, playing in every game in her freshman year. She missed part of her second seasonthrough injury but returned in 2012-13, averaging 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per outing.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010-11 Long Beach State 6.7 4.1 1.32011-12 Long Beach State 9.3 6.0 1.92012-13 Long Beach State 7.6 4.3 1.6

Personal:Clark comes from a well-known British basketball family. Elder brother Dan represented Great Britain atthe 2012 Olympic Games and currently plays in Spain. Her father Mark coached the GB senior women’steam from 2006-09, as well as acting as an assistant for the 1988 Olympic qualification tournament. Hermother Claire also competed for GB and England in the sport. Her college major is in communications.She attended the Regional Institute of Basketball at Barking Abbey School in East London. Her favouritemusician is John Mayer and favourite actress Sandra Bullock. She would love to meet the late Applefounder Steve Jobs.

Stef Collins @StefCollins6

Position: Guard Height: 1.68m / 5-6 DOB: 30 December 1982

From: Upper Heyford, England

Caps: 102 Debut: 2006 v Norway

Current Club: Cardiff Archers, Wales

Club career: Cardiff/UWIC Archers, Wales (2007-), RhonddaRebels, Wales (2006-7), St Bonaventure University, USA (2002-06)

International Career:Collins is still factoring in the Great Britain set-up which played in 2006 when the very first Great Britainteam of the modern era took to the floor in a friendly against Norway in Sheffield. Entering 2013, shehad accumulated 96 caps, a record for any GB player (male or female). She scored an internationalcareer-high 25 points against Ukraine in 2007 as the national side won promotion to Division A, andfeatured in the 2011 EuroBasket Women Finals in Poland. She was part of Great Britain’s Olympic teamin London in 2012.

Collins’ collegiate career was spent at St Bonaventure University in New York where she was named tothe Atlantic-10 All-Conference teams in three separate seasons. She sat out one year following surgeryto repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. Prior to college, she won a New York StateHigh School championship, citing her coach there Frank 'Butch' Gavich as her biggest career influence.

Her professional career has been entirely in the UK, playing for the two Welsh clubs in the EnglishBasketball League. It began in 2006 with Rhondda Rebels where she also averaged 5.3ppg in theEuroCup. Since then, she has played for UWIC Archers in Cardiff, spending three years under GB headcoach Damian Jennings before becoming player-coach on his departure in 2012. The club won the EBLDivision One title in 2012.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010-11 UWIC Archers 14.2 5.8 3.52011-12 UWIC Archers 12.2 4.6 3.42012-13 Cardiff Archers 18.9 9.7 4.3

Personal:Collins was born in Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire but spent large parts of her childhood in Italy and theUnited States, attending high school in Montour Falls, New York. She is the daughter of Steve and JanetCollins. Her elder sister Samantha was a track athlete at the collegiate level. Her sporting heroes areformer tennis player Steffi Graf and ex-Chicago Bulls guard Steve Kerr. Favourite musicians are Florenceand the Machine and Pink. Would most like to meet Oprah Winfrey.

Note: Stef Collins will mark her 100th GB cap in Surrey on Sunday 26 May.

Steph Gandy

Position: Forward Height: 1.77m / 5-10 DOB: 10 May 1982

From: Detroit, USA

Caps: 20 Debut: 2010 v Bulgaria

Current Club: Sheffield Hatters, England

Club career: Sheffield Hatters, England (2010- ), Olesa Spain(2010), Biella, Italy (2009-10), Bundaberg Bears, Australia(2009), Sheffield Hatters, England (2005-9), Lieshout,Netherlands (2004-5), University of Michigan, USA (2000-4)

International Career:Gandy made her international debut in a friendly against Bulgaria in 2010.

Gandy attended high school in Detroit and earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan whereaveraged 11.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in her senior season. She was twice named to the Big TenConference All Star team.

Her professional career began with Dutch club Lieshout before she came to the UK in 2005, beginningthe first of two stints with Sheffield Hatters (2005-9) before returning in 2011. During her spells inYorkshire, she has helped the club to four English Basketball League titles and was MVP for their 2009and 2012 National Cup final victories, as well as featuring in the side which won the 2013 EBL DivisionOne play-off title.

She has also has spells in Australia, Spain and Italy, where she led Biella to the 2010 Lega B title, winningthe league’s MVP award.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2008-9 Sheffield Hatters 19.7 10.2 1.72010-11 Sheffield Hatters 22.1 8.3 1.52011-12 Sheffield Hatters 23.4 8.0 2.42012-13 Sheffield Hatters 18.1 7.5 2.3

Personal:Gandy is the second youngest of eight siblings (four boys and four girls). Her brother Chris playedAmerican football on a semi-professional level for the Detroit Dawgs while three of her other siblingscompeted in track and field at university. She cites her favourite sporting memory as watching swimmerMichael Phelps at the 2004 Olympics Games in Athens – he also attended the University of Michigan.Gandy began playing basketball at the age of 15 after being inspired by watching Michael Jordan. Wouldmost like to meet chef Gordon Ramsay. Favourite performers are Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson.

Chantelle Handy @chan2211

Position: Forward Height: 1.91m / 6-3 DOB: 16 June 1987

From: Consett, Durham, England

Caps: 84 Debut: 2007 v Norway

Current Club: Mersin, Turkey

Club career: Mersin, Turkey (2012- ), Athinaikos, Greece (2011-12), Ruzomberok, Slovakia (2011), Aris Thessaloniki, Greece(2010-11), Marshall University, USA, (2006-10), Mount deChantal Academy, USA (2004-6)

International Career:Having represented England at Cadette and Under-18 level, Handy made her Great Britain senior debut in2007, contributing to the successful promotion push into Division A. Handy was part of the Great Britainteam at the 2009 World University Games, where she averaged 11 points and 7.6 rebounds . She also ledthe team in scoring at the 2011 World University Games in China. A starter at the 2011 EuroBasket WomenFinals in Lithuania, she grabbed 10 points and five rebounds in the team’s win against Israel. She was partof Great Britain’s Olympic team in London in 2012.

Earning a scholarship to Marshall University, in Huntington, West Virginia after attending prep school in thesame State, Handy established herself as an all-round contributor in NCAA basketball, averaging 11.1ppgand 6.5rpg in her senior season when she was third overall in Conference USA in field-goal percentage.

She began an impressive rookie professional season in Greece with Aris in 2010-11, where she also playedin EuroCup Women. She completed the season with Slovak team Ruzomberok, helping them to theleague’s Final. She moved back to Greece to play for Athinaikos in 2011 and joined Turkish side Mersin in2012 and was one of the most impressive players in their domestic league.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010 Aris 12 6 22010-11 Ruzomberok 2.8 3.1 1.12011-12 Athinaikos 13.2 5.1 2.22012-13 Mersin 13.6 5.6 1.3

Personal:Handy attended Prudhoe Community High School in Northumbria until the age of 16, playing football at anaccomplished level before deciding to move to the USA to pursue a basketball career. She is the daughterof Raymond and Jacqueline Handy and has one sister Chearlise. Her sporting idol is 2000 Olympicheptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis. Favourite actress is Sandra Bullock. Would most like to meet NBAstar Dwight Howard. Having completed a degree in adult fitness, Handy intends to become aphysiotherapist after her basketball career.

Georgia Jones @gljones4

Position: Guard Height: 1.72m / 5-9 DOB: 3 April 1990

From: Manchester, England

Caps: 37 Debut: 2006 v Norway

Current Club: Cluj Napoca, Romania

Club career: Cluj Napoca, Romania (2012- ), Barking Abbey,England (2012), Oral Roberts University, USA (2008-12),Manchester Mystics, England (2004-8)

International Career:A prolific scorer at Under-16 and Under-18 level for England, Jones made her senior Great Britain debut in2006 against Norway and featured in the Division B campaign that year. She returned to the team in 2009,averaging 5.9ppg in Division A but missed out on a place on the 2012 Olympic roster. However, she didfeature at the 2011 World University Games in China.

Jones began playing with Manchester Mystics in the England Basketball League and helped the club to theEBL Under-16 Championship in 2006, and was named as England Basketball’s Under-16 Player of the Year in2006 and 2007, repeating the award at Under-18 level in 2008.

At Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she was named as Summit League Newcomer of the Year in2008-9, ranking third in the Conference in assists and 11th in scoring. Her sophomore season was endedafter 16 games by injury but she returned for a successful junior year before completing her college stint in2012, starting 24 of the Golden Eagles 30 regular season games, playing alongside fellow GB internationalDominique Allen. She spent part of the 2012-13 season with EBL side Barking Abbey but ended it withRomanian League club, Club Napoca.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2008-9 Oral Roberts 12.4 3.4 2.42009-10 Oral Roberts 8.1 2.3 3.52010-11 Oral Roberts 7.9 2.2 3.32011-12 Oral Roberts 9.2 2.8 4.52012 Barking Abbey 12.3 4.7 3.32012-13 Cluj Napoca 10.3 4.5 3.5

Personal:Daughter of Jeff and Freda. Father, Jeff, spent much of his playing career in the British Basketball League,appearing for England, and is currently the head coach of Manchester Giants in the British Basketball Leaguewhose team also features her brothers James and Callum. Jones played football and netball growing upbefore entering the family business full-time and she would like to be a coach in the future. She attendedLoreto Grammar School in Altrincham, Cheshire. Her favourite musicians are Chris Brown and Emeli Sandéand her favourite actor is Vince Vaughn.

Jo Leedham @joey_leedham13

Position: Guard Height: 1.80m / 5-11 DOB: 5 December 1987

From: Chester, England

Caps: 59 Debut: 2006 v Norway

Current Club: Bourges, France

Club career: Bourges (2012-13), Bulleen Boomers (2011-12),AZS Gorzow, Poland (2010-11), Franklin Pierce University, USA(2006-10), Ellesmere Port Panthers, UK (2002-6)

International Career:Leedham represented England at Cadette and Under-16 level before spending two summers in the GBUnder-20 ranks. Her senior debut arrived in 2006 but it was in 2008 that she established herself, hitting thebuzzer-beating jump shot against Germany that gave the national side its first ever Division A victory. In2010, she averaged a team-high 18 ppg to lead the team to the EuroBasket Women Finals. In that 2011tournament, she ranked 6th overall in three-point percentage (40.9%), scoring 11 points in games againsteventual finalists Russia and Turkey. She was part of the GB Olympic team in London in 2012, averaging ateam-high 16.2 points per game.

Beginning her career with her local club, Ellesmere Port Panthers, Jo then attended Franklin PierceUniversity in New Hampshire where she became one of the most stellar offensive threats ever in collegebasketball. She is leading all-time scorer in NCAA Division II with 3050 points, ranking fifth against all levelsof the college game. In her senior year, she averaged a division-best 26.9 points per game, leading heruniversity to the Final Four. She was named as the (USA) National Player of the Year.

Chosen in the third round (27th overall) in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun, she made herprofessional bow with Polish club Gorzow. In her debut Euroleague campaign with Gorzow, she averaged9.7ppg and hit 19 against powerhouse Ros Casares. She spent the 2011-12 campaign in Australia, playing inthe WNBL, where she helped Bulleen Boomers reach the league’s Grand Final. Joining French club Bourges,Leedham became only the second British player ever to play in the semi-finals of Euroleague Women in2013, averaging 8.4 points in the competition. She also helped the team to the French LFB play-offchampionship. Earlier this year Leedham spent some time in try-outs for the WNBA side, Connecticut Sun.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010-11 Gorzow 10.8 3.1 1.22011-12 Bulleen 9.6 4.8 1.92012-13 Bourges 8.7 4.5 1.7.Personal:Jo has two sisters, Jennifer and Kirsty. Jen is a former Great Britain senior international who playedalongside Jo at Franklin Pierce before becoming assistant coach at the university..

Azania Stewart @azania13

Position: Centre Height: 1.95m / 6-5 DOB: 13 March 1989

From: London, England

Caps: 61 Debut: 2009 v Croatia

Current Club: Pesci, Hungary

Club career: Pesci, Hungary (2013 -), Zamarat, Spain (2012-13),University of Florida, USA (2008-12), Notre Dame Academy,USA (2005-8), Haringey Angels, England (2003-5)

International Career:Stewart played for England at Under-16 Level in 2004-2005 and was subsequently called up every year whilestudying in the USA. In 2009, she was a member of the Great Britain team at the World University Games.

Her senior GB debut came in 2009 with her career-high of 23 points arriving in a tie against Romania. Sheappeared in all six games during the EuroBasket Women Finals in Lithuania in 2011, averaging 4.2 points and4.5 rebounds in 20 minutes per game, while connecting on 47.6 percent from the floor. She was part ofGreat Britain’s Olympic team in London in 2012.

Stewart began playing basketball when she was 13 years old with Haringey Angels and after attending highschool in Middleburg, Virginia, USA, she won a scholarship to the University of Florida in 2008.

In her freshman year, she played in 28 of 32 games while in her sophomore season, she led theSoutheastern Conference in field goal percentage (61.9%). By the end of the 2010-11 season, she toppedthe Gators all-time lists for career field goal percentage (56.2%). In her senior season in 2011-12, she againhelped the Gators into the Tournament after starting 26 of 31 regular season games. Turning professionalafter the Olympics, she began the 2012-13 season in Spain’s Liga Femenina with Caja Rural Zamarat before abrief stint in the EBL with Barking Abbey prior to switching to Hungarian club Pesci.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010-11 Florida 6.6 6.1 1.12011-12 Florida 6.2 5.6 12012-13 Zamarat 5.7 1.9 0.62013 Barking Abbey 15.3 6.6 1.02013 Pesci 10.3 5.5 0.9

Personal:Stewart grew up in Wood Green, London, and attended Alexandra Park School. Her father, Dexter, cyclesthe longest stage of the Tour de France each year with a local club. She has one elder sister and one youngerbrother. Her college degree was in sociology. Cites playing the USA women in a friendly in Manchester in2012 and the Olympic Games as her best sporting memories.

Lauren Thomas-Johnson @ItsLoloJane

Position: Guard Height: 1.80m / 5-11 DOB: 25 May 1988

From: Stockport, England

Caps: 29 Debut: 2006 v Norway

Current Club: Sheffield Hatters, England

Club career: Sheffield Hatters, England (2011- ), Gran Canaria,Spain (2011), Haukar, Iceland (2010-11), Marquette University,USA (2008-10), Kirkwood, USA (2006-08), Notre Dame Academy,USA (2004-05), Stockport/Manchester Mystics, England (1998-4)

International Career:An accomplished England international at cadette, Under-16 and Under-18 levels, Thomas-Johnson steppedup to Under-20 level with Great Britain in the 2007 European Championship, averaging an impressive 17ppg. By then, she had already made her senior GB debut, in the team’s debut friendly against Norway in2006, but it took until 2011 before she earned a competitive bow as a reserve at EuroBasket Women inLithuania. She also played for GB at the World University Games in China later that summer but narrowlymissed out on a place on the final roster for the 2012 Olympics.

Beginning her career with Stockport/Manchester Mystics, Thomas-Johnson moved to the USA to progressher basketball career. She led Kirkwood to back-to-back NJCAA Tournament championships in 2007 and2008 and was MVP in 2008 before moving to Marquette University in Milwaukee. She began herprofessional career with a brief stint in Iceland, and finished the year with in Spain's Liga Femenina withGran Canaria. Joining Sheffield Hatters in 2011, she helped the Yorkshire club to a fourth consecutiveNational Cup and the 2013 EBL Division One play-off title.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010 Haukar 6.5 3.5 0.52010-11 Gran Canaria 2.8 0.7 1.12011-12 Sheffield 12.1 4.1 2.02012-13 Sheffield 12.6 4.1 3.7

Personal:Thomas-Johnson is an only child. Her father, Donald Johnson, is a drummer and guitarist in the post-punkband, A Certain Ratio, who supported Madonna early in her career. He also performed with James Brown.She played football as a child and was a goalkeeper. Cites playing for Great Britain in 2011 as her careerhighlight to date. Attended the Beijing Olympics in 2008 as part of the BOA’s Ambassador Programme.

Note: Lauren Thomas-Johnson will celebrate her birthday in Surrey this weekend.

Rachael Vanderwal @rachvenderwal

Position: Guard Height: 1.76m / 5-9 DOB: 27 June 1983

From: Burlington, Canada

Caps: 57 Debut: 2010 v Portugal

Current Club: University of Limerick, Ireland

Club career: University of Limerick, Ireland (2009- ),Donoughmore Iona Cork, Ireland (2007-9), Boston University,USA (2005-06), Hamilton Celtics, Canada (2002-5)

International Career:Vanderwal made her Great Britain debut in 2010 against Portugal and was the team’s primary back-upguard at EuroBasket Women 2011. She was part of Great Britain’s Olympic team in London in 2012, winningher 50th cap in the group game against Brazil.

After a collegiate spell at Boston University in the USA, Vanderwal ventured overseas play in Ireland’sWomen’s Super League where she still remains. Her first two years were spent with Donoughmore Corkbefore she transferred to the University of Limerick in 2009 when she led the league in scoring. In 2011,2012 and 2013, she was named as Super League Player of the Year. She helped her current side lift the IrishCup in 2012 and 2013 and was MVP as they claimed the league title again in 2013.

Year Team PPG RPG APG2010-11 Limerick 16.5 - 2.12011-12 Limerick 19.7 3.1 3.92012-13 Limerick 19.2 4.5 3.2

Personal:Vanderwal has one older brother, Andy. Growing up, she was a competitive figure skater until the age of 12when she switched to basketball and ice hockey. Her sporting idol is Canadian basketballer Steve Nash butcites her family as her heroes. Her brother used to shoot ice hockey pucks at her “to toughen her up.”Would most like to meet Graham Norton. Favourite actors are Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt.

Vanderwal teaches Physical Education at North Presentation Secondary School in Cork, Ireland, working withkids from ages 12-17.

The Standard Life GB Women’sDelegation at EuroBasket

Damian Jennings Vanessa Ellis Lucy Power Jake EddyHead Coach Assistant Coach Team Manager Assistant Team Manager

Jamie Smith Chris Barnes Charles Cullen Bill BeswickPerformance Analyst Lead Sports Scientist Sports Scientist Performance Psychologist

Peter Buckle Nick Grantham Michelle Angus Abosede O AjayiAssistant Coach Lead Strength and Lead Physiotherapist Team Doctor

Conditioning Coach

Warwick Cann Sinéad GordonHead of Delegation & Media DelegateNational Teams Director

Competition Format