By JARROD POTTER
ONE moment Carley Mijovic is talking to her mother on the phone.
The next she has been drafted into the world’s best women’s basketball league.
Checking her Twitter account on Tuesday, Mijovic, 19, from Narre Warren, found out she had become a Washington Mystic to make her one of a select few Australians drafted.
The Washington Mystics – a franchise in the American Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) – called out Mijovic’s name with pick 30 in the 2014 WNBA Draft, making her part of an exclusive group of Australians to be drafted into the league.
It came as a surprise to the young Canberra Capitals and Basketball Australian Centre of Excellence (BA COE) player in the WNBL and SEABL respectively, as her name was put up for draft consideration after she turned 19.
“I’m quite excited – I was on the phone to my mum then I got off the phone and I was tagged on a tweet on Twitter and that’s how I found out,” Mijovic said.
“I didn’t expect it so there was a bit of shock.”
“I just qualified for it (WNBA Draft) because I’m 19 now and any team can get anyone really.”
Mijovic’s last year has been a whirlwind as she relocated to Canberra and earned her spot in a series of Australian Opals camps.
“Everything is just happening, it’s fairly full on,” Mijovic said.
“Opals camp so that’s what I’m focused on pretty much at the moment.
“I’m loving it and I’m learning heaps off all the older girls here, so I’m really enjoying it.”
The Capitals’ season didn’t pan out the way Mijovic hoped, but learning from the likes of coach Carrie Graf and star player Abby Bishop vindicated her decision to move on from Dandenong.
“I thought it was a bit disappointing with the result, but I think I learnt lots during that season and Carrie Graf, our coach, she was good for me and playing and training with Abby Bishop, I learned a lot off her,” Mijovic said.
Mijovic wanted to thank her family, friends and coaches throughout her basketball journey for their support and encouragement.
