AUS/USA – Phillips comes through “difficult year” with title

INDIANAPOLIS (WNBA/FIBA World Championship for Women) - The 2011-12 basketball year did not begin well for Australian Erin Phillips, but it certainly ended with plenty of celebrations.

One of the best players who hails from Down Under and a member of the Australia squad that captured a world title in 2006, Phillips helped fire the Indiana Fever to their first WNBA title over the weekend.

Indiana knocked off the defending champions Minnesota Lynx in the Finals, 3-1.

In Game 4, Phillips had 18 points.

She defended, scored and rebounded in her more than 36 minutes of action to help the Fever reach the promised land.

When it was over, Phillips had hit three of six shots from long range and corralled eight rebounds.

Phillips may not have walked into the Olympic Stadium for the second time in a row for an Opening Ceremony after being passed over this summer, but title win has not gone unnoticed back home.

Basketball Australia issued a press release to praise Phillips.

“Erin came to the fore on the biggest stage and played a huge part in helping the Indiana Fever win the WNBA Championship,” said Basketball Australia chief executive officer Kristina Keneally.

“Her performances throughout the WNBA Play-Offs, particularly in the Finals, were exceptional ..."

Several months ago, after battling her way back from ankle surgery, Phillips did not have the best of starts in her pursuit of titles.

The 1.73m guard and her club side in Europe, Wisla Can-Pack Krakow travelled to Istanbul for the EuroLeague Women Final Eight and came in eighth.

Phillips averaged 8.75 points per game at the event and signed off with a 15-point, eight-assist effort against Beretta-Famila Schio in her last outing in Turkey, yet her side lost all four games.

Wisla did bounce back and win the Polish league title.

Phillips then left for the United States to join the Fever.

Though she did not join the Opals for their training camp in May, Phillips still had a chance to make the Olympic squad when the national side gathered in Europe for warm-up games in Italy and the Czech Republic.

Australia decided not to take her to London.

"I was told before I flew out (from Europe): 'We're not selecting you.

"We're looking for more of a quarterback point guard and your shot is not as dynamic as it needs to be to play the shooting guard'."

Instead, Phillips returned to the United States, watched the Olympics on television and waited for the resumption of her WNBA campaign with the Indiana Fever.

Indiana played with blood, sweat and tears, knocking off the Eastern Conference’s best team during the regular season, Connecticut, before overcoming favorites Minnesota.

"We've been through so much as a team, we've lost in crucial times and we've stuck together," After Phillips said after the title-clinching win over the Lynx.

"I'm just so proud right now."

Phillips has received hearty congratulations from friends, family and fans.

She used her Twitter account, @erinphillips13, to say: "Thank u for all the messages! I'm so overwhelmed with joy. It's been a tough year and I am grateful for everyone who believed in me."

The FIBA World Championship for Women will be played in Turkey in two years.

Phillips would appear to have a great shot of returning to the squad.

FIBA