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Rachael Sporn

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Rachael Sporn
Personal information
Born (1968-05-26) 26 May 1968 (age 56)
Murrayville, Victoria, Australia
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
WNBA draft1998: 2nd round, 14th overall pick
Selected by the Detroit Shock
Playing career1986–2004
PositionForward
Career history
1986–1989West Adelaide Bearcats
1990–1991North Adelaide Rockets
1992West Adelaide Bearcats
1993–2004Adelaide Lightning
1998–1999,
2001		Detroit Shock
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens National team
Silver medal – second place 2000 Sydney National team
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta National team
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Germany Team Competition

Rachael Pamela Sporn OAM (born 26 May 1968) is an Australian former basketball player and three-time Olympian.

Career

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Born in Murrayville, Victoria,[1] Sporn debuted in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in 1986 with the West Adelaide Bearcats. After four seasons with the Bearcats, she joined the North Adelaide Rockets where she won her first WNBL championship in 1990. After two seasons with the Rockets, she returned for a season with the Bearcats in 1992 before joining the Adelaide Lightning in 1993.[2]

Sporn played 12 seasons for the Adelaide Lightning between 1993 and 2004.[2] She was twice named WNBL MVP and was an eight-time WNBL All-Star Five honouree. She finished her career as the WNBL's all-time points and rebounding leader.[3] She also played three seasons for the Detroit Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[3]

Sporn played 304 games for the Australia women's national basketball team, the Opals, earning three Olympic Games medals – two silver medals (2000 and 2004) and a bronze (1996). She also competed at the World Championships in 1990, 1994 and 1998.[4][1]

Sporn is a member of the Australian Sports Hall of Fame and the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.[3][4][5] She was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Centenary Medal in 2001.[6][7]

In 2007, Sporn's number 14 jersey was retired by the Adelaide Lightning. In September 2023, Sporn and the Lightning agreed to un-retired her jersey.[8]

Personal life

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Sporn's older brother, Kieran, is a former Australian rules footballer.[9]

Sporn and her husband, Maurie Ranger, have two children.[10] As of 2019, they live in Adelaide.[10]

In 2015, Sporn was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rachael Sporn". Olympic Sports. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b Adelaide (24 July 2020). "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? RACHAEL SPORN". wnbl.basketball/adelaide. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Rachael Sporn". Australian Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Rachael Sporn". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  5. ^ "HoF honour 'spoils' Rachael Sporn". Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Search Australian honours". It's an honour. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  7. ^ "Search Australian honurs". It's an Honour. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  8. ^ Minh (11 September 2023). "RACHAEL SPORN'S NO. 14 JERSEY RETURNS WITH ISOBEL BORLASE". wnbl.basketball/adelaide. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Past Player Profiles: SPORN, Kieran". Essendon Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  10. ^ a b Sarahripley (16 November 2019). "WNBL 40TH SEASON SERIES – RACHAEL SPORN". wnbl.basketball. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  11. ^ "SA's Rachael Sporn and Rosemary Crowley honoured for Australia Day". ABC News. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
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