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Every week, ESPN's Megan Hustwaite brings together news stories that have caught her eye across the WNBL.
DAD'S THE WORD AHEAD OF HARROWER COACHING DEBUT Always destined to coach, four-time Olympic medallist Kristi Harrower makes her head coaching debut in Perth this weekend when she takes the reins of the Southside Flyers. The 49-year-old champion point guard played for the Adelaide and the Melbourne Tigers before carving out a successful career in Europe then returning to Australia in 2007 when her hometown Bendigo was granted a WNBL licence. With father Bernie as head coach and Kristi the on-court general, the Harrowers led the Spirit to their first championship in 2012-13 and back-to-back titles in 2013-14.  The proud Dad, who says Kristi made him a better coach, will be tuned in as his daughter takes the helm of the reigning WNBL champs. "I think everyone in the country knows Kristi has such a great basketball brain and her IQ is second to none," Harrower told ESPN. "Kristi coached a bit at Melbourne Tigers a few years ago and this year at Keilor but she's been a coach on court all her life. She might be in her rookie year as a WNBL coach but she's already a 10-12-year veteran coach just by what she knows, how she teaches and the respect she has. "She's just destined to coach, and I think she's destined for great things - she's certainly got the IQ, the temperament and she just sees the game so well." Bernie was his daughter's assistant coach at Keilor last season where she was crowned NBL1 South Coach of the Year. A TWIN THING There's no rivalry like that of the Froling twins Keely and Alicia who will go head-to-head in Wednesday's season opener between Geelong United and Townsville Fire on ESPN. The eldest children of one of Australia's top basketball families swapped clubs over the off-season with Keely moving to United, after Melbourne Boomers transferred their licence, and Alicia heading home to north Queensland where she will play for the Fire for the first time in 13 years.  For the record, Alicia is older by 7 minutes and holds an eight win to three loss WNBL record over Keely. "I am definitely winning, I know that," Alicia laughed With neither taking a backward step, their tough, physical play and penchant for a cheeky word or two, the latest chapter of this family showdown promises plenty. TRIO OF FIRE Townsville have opted for a leadership group rather than a sole captain for the new season. Mainstay Courtney Woods and recruits Paris Olympian Lauren Mansfield and Alicia Froling form the three-player group that will lead the new-look Fire roster. Bendigo unveiled Kelsey Griffin as their captain last week while Keely Froling will guide Geelong in their inaugural campaign. TAYLOR MADE Taylor Mole will be spending a lot of time in the water over the next few weeks and it's not just because she's moved to the regional waterfront city to play for Geelong. The 25-year-old forward, who played for Adelaide last season, is swimming 18km in the month of November to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation in a tribute to her grandmother Glenda who has overcome the disease. Mole is yet to dive in and has already hit half of her $5000 fundraising target. Donate here
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