Erin's Story
Dual Olympian Erin Phillips began her professional career at WNBL club Adelaide Lightning in 2002 and after playing for junior national teams she got made her senior Australian debut. Soon after she was a part of the World Championship and Commonwealth Games gold medal winning sides in what was an extremely successful 2006. She went on to make her Olympic debut at the Beijing 2008 Games where the side fell to the USA in the final to finish with the silver medal. She had stints in the WNBA, Israel and Poland but missed the cut for the London 2012 Olympic Games. After a strong World Cup in 2014, where she was the side’s top-scorer, she re-established herself as a regular national team player and got her chance at her second Olympic Games in Rio.
Australia opened their Rio campaign against hosts Brazil and after trailing by ten at the first break, the side fought back to secure a 84-66 win. A close victory over Turkey was followed up with another dominant 18 point victory over France as Phillips scored 9 points. Facing Japan in their fourth match, the side was down by 16 early in the fourth quarter fighting back to claim a 92-86 win. Another comeback win, this time against Belarus, the Aussies finished the group undefeated to set up a quarter-final clash with Serbia. The match was back and forth the whole way with Serbia claiming a two point lead with just 10 seconds to go. The Aussies had the chance to level the match but couldn’t score as the side's run of five straight women’s Olympic basketball medals came to an end.
Phillips was one of the side’s best in the defeat finishing with 10 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. She averaged 4.7 points 2 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game throughout the tournament.
