Tara Murray
Whittlesea Pacers have secured arguably their biggest ever women’s side for next year’s Big V division 1 season.
Coming back into the competition after two seasons out, the Pacers have signed former WNBL player Tegan Cunningham.
Cunningham played more than 150 WNBL games before turning her attention to AFLW, where she played 40 games.
Pacers coach Shannon Bodley said they were excited to get Cunningham into the side.
“I work with her at Basketball Australia,” he said. “We talked about her playing with me and laughed about it for six years.
“She was playing at the higher level and then a few years playing AFLW.
“I was looking for an import for us and it wasn’t happening. I spoke with Tegan to see what she was doing. She said, ‘give me 48 hours’ and she has now signed on.”
Bodley, who coached the side Pacers to a division 1 championship in 2015, said that he couldn’t recall a signing like this for the Pacers or in the wider division 1 competition.
Cunningham played for the Kilsyth Cobras in the National Basketball League 1 South competition this season with her footy days over.
“She averaged 11 points and seven rebounds,” Bodley said “She is as fit as ever.
“She ticks a lot of boxes and going down two levels, she’ll be in another level in division 1.”
Bodley said Cunningham would also take on a mentoring role within the side and wanted to help the next generation of players coming through.
“She wants to teach players,” he said. “I don’t think they’ve realised what they will get.”
Cunningham is a big piece in the squad, which Bodley said they were getting closer to finalising.
He said he was pretty happy with the group they had put together so far and they looked like they would be a strong side.
Indiana Bodley has returned to the club, while Issy Ryan has been promoted from youth league.
Olivia Sweet, who has been playing at Wallan, returns to the Pacers having played under Bodley in youth league.
Meg Lucas joins the club from Keilor Thunder and Taylah Scott crossed from Coburg.
The squad started training on Thursday night.
