TOWNSVILLE (FIBA World Championship for Women/WNBL) - Cayla Francis was a revelation at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.

In 2007, the forward played for Australia at the U19 and U21 World Championships for Women and, six years later, she featured for the senior side at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women.

However, it wasn't until Istanbul last autumn that Francis really made her mark on the international game, as she helped the Opals claim a bronze medal in the biggest women's basketball tournament.

In their Quarter-Final triumph over Canada, Francis, a strong inside presence, showed off her three-point shooting talent and helped the Aussies win decisively.

She was also solid in Australia's hard-fought loss to the USA in their Semi-Final showdown, and in the Opals' Third-Place Game romp over Turkey.

Francis has continued to shine in all areas of the game since returning to Australia to play for JCU Townsville Fire.

The 25-year-old has been honored for the second time this season as the WNBL Player of the Week.

She tore apart the Adelaide Lightning with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists on Friday and followed that up with 20 points, nine boards, two assists and two blocks on Sunday against the West Coast Waves.

Francis is fourth in the league in scoring (17.9 points per game), third in rebounding (10.2) and third in blocks (1.3).

She deflected the praise of her latest performances to her teammates.

"Credit to the team," she said. "Any individual awards, I always thank the team because without them, I wouldn't be able to get them anyway."

Townsville are reaping the benefits of her strong play.

The club is first in the WNBL standings with 13 wins and just three defeats.

With Liz Cambage and Lauren Jackson candidates to make this year's squad that takes on New Zealand in the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, Opals coach Brendan Joyce will have plenty of tough decisions to make regarding the make-up of the roster.

If Francis continues to play well, she'll have a good shot at making the team and helping it fight for a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

FIBA