Posted on 24 March, 2011

Bishop will bring a winning culture to the Swinburne Lady Cobras after winning 3 WNBL National Championships with the Canberra Capitals in 2006/2007, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 as well as helping Australia to win a Silver Medal in the 2007 FIBA Under 21 World Championships. Most recently she was part of WNBA Seattle Storms 2010 championship with Opal’s teammate Lauren Jackson.

Bishop, a long time WNBL player, debuted with the AIS in 2005/2006 and was named the Betty Watson Rookie of the year after averaging 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 12 games. Abby then moved to the Canberra Capitals where in addition to three national championships was named in the 2008/2009 WNBL All-Star 5 as one of the top five scorers and top ten in steals. Abby played for the Dandenong Rangers in the 2010/2011 WNBL Season.

The decision to come play at Kilsyth for the 2011 SEABL season was an easy one for Abby due to her strong relationship with Head Coach Cheryl Chambers, “My main reason for playing at Kilsyth this year is because of the strong bond I have with Cheryl, I have a great respect for her as a coach and really enjoy playing under her”.

“I spent my time in the Australian Gems with Cheryl as the Assistant coach and most recently the 2010/2011 WNBL season with Cheryl at the Dandenong Rangers; I’m hoping that the 2011 SEABL season with Cheryl and the Swinburne Lady Cobras will allow me to get my game back and really enjoy my basketball”.

Despite multiple off-season changes the Swinburne Lady Cobras have put together a team which should challenge for a finals position; Abby expects nothing less from her new team. “This is the first time I have played in the SEABL competition and I have heard nothing but great things about Kilsyth as an Organisation and the girls I will be playing with, I know a few of the girls playing at Kilsyth this year and I’m hoping to use my WNBA and WNBL experience to add to the 2011 Squad, I think that my size will enable me to bring scoring and rebounding power to the team and in short I’m really looking forward to playing with them”, concluded Abby.

Swinburne Lady Cobras Head Coach Cheryl Chambers is delighted to have acquired the skills of Bishop for the 2011 SEABL Season. “Abby will bring scoring power, flexibility as well as an inside presence to our team in 2011. She is a player that will bring experience and much needed size to the squad.”

Chambers believes that their history and strong relationship will really help Bishop to settle in with the Swinburne Lady Cobras “Abby and I have a really good honest relationship and I feel that will not only help her to grow as a player but will make it easier for her to cement herself in the squad”.

Looking a week forward to the Swinburne Lady Cobras 2011 SEABL opening game against arch rivals the Knox Raiders on Saturday 2 April, Chambers is certainly not looking at just making up the numbers “We are definitely going out there to win, Knox have added a few members but their core playing group is steady, I think that we have the personal that will cause them trouble and make it difficult to guard against”, Cheryl concluded.

The Swinburne Kilsyth Lady Cobras tip off their 2011 SEABL Campaign on Saturday 2 April against arch rivals the Knox Raiders before playing their home opener on Sunday 10 April against Albury Wodonga.

Season Membership and Player Sponsorship packages are now available visit www.cobras.net.au for further information on the Swinburne Kilsyth Cobras.