Australian WNBA players see increased minutes ahead of World Cup

Several Australian players in the WNBA are seeing increased roles as the FIBA Women's World Cup approaches. Rebecca Allen, who recently announced her retirement from the WNBA and the Australian national team, recorded six points and five rebounds in 29 minutes for the New York Liberty in a win against the Connecticut Sun. Teammate Anneli Maley also saw action for the Liberty.

In other matchups, Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith recorded their heaviest minutes of the season. Magbegor played 27 minutes for Seattle in a narrow loss to the Portland Fire, while Smith logged 35 minutes in Dallas. Both players are key components of the Australian Opals' front court as the team prepares for upcoming international competition in Berlin.