Sleight of hand: The switch that saved Froling's career

Over the past 12 months, no basketballer in Australia has been more successful than Opal Alicia Froling.

During that stretch, the 30-year-old has won two NBL1 South titles and two NBL1 National championships with her Knox Raiders (including being named 2026 Grand Final MVP), as well as the WNBL26 crown with her Townsville Fire.

The five rings, when lined up on her right hand, encapsulate how successful she's been on the court, while also being a reward for all the hard work she's put in during her career.

In particular, the number of wrist surgeries she's overcome, dating back to her time at the Australian Institute of Sport as an 18-year-old.

Eventually, those surgeries took their toll on the Townsville product, as she nearly walked away from the game.

Instead, Froling has decided to change shooting hands to her left, and the rest is history.

"It's definitely very poetic," Froling said to Megan Hustwaite of her scar.

"About five years ago when I made the decision to swap shooting hands, I was genuinely very close to quitting basketball but was like 'Nah, stuff it. I'll try my left hand.'

"It didn't happen overnight; four years of work went into that, and there's still a lot more work that I feel like I need to keep doing, but it's definitely cool it's come to fruition.

"It's very special winning [all those championships]; I've got a taste of it now, and I don't want to stop."

Froling will now turn her attention to claiming back-to-back championships with the Fire, who tip off their title defence in Perth on October 17.

Read the full story here >> Alicia Froling has a hand full of championship rings