Rohanee Cox facts for kids
Cox at a 2012 Opals training camp
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| Small forward / shooting guard | |||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Born | 23 April 1980 Broome, Western Australia, Australia |
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| High school | Willetton Senior (Perth, Western Australia) |
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| Career information | |||||||||||
| Pro career | 1996–2016 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Australian Institute of Sport | ||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Perth Lynx | ||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Perth Lynx | ||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | Townsville Fire | ||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | West Coast Waves | ||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | Sydney Uni Flames | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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Medals
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Rohanee "Roey" Cox (born 23 April 1980) is an Australian former professional basketball player. She was one of the first Aboriginal Australians to play basketball for her country at the Olympic Games. Rohanee won a silver medal with the Opals at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
She played in Australia's top league, the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Her teams included the Australian Institute of Sport, Perth Lynx, Townsville Fire, West Coast Waves, and Sydney Uni Flames. She also played in other leagues like the State Basketball League and the Queensland Basketball League.
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About Rohanee Cox
Her Early Life and Family
Rohanee Cox, often called Roey, was born on 23 April 1980 in Broome, Western Australia. She is an Indigenous Australian and is well-known in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
When she was 20, Rohanee was living in a remote town called One Arm Point. She had a daughter named Alyriah. Rohanee has always encouraged her daughter to play basketball. She even signed Alyriah up for a local league.
How She Got Back to Basketball
Rohanee took a break from basketball after her daughter was born. But she returned to the sport about a year later. Her daughter inspired her to chase her dreams. Rohanee wanted Alyriah to see what was possible.
She said that having her daughter made her realize she wanted Alyriah to have many opportunities. Getting back into basketball helped both of them. Rohanee was also inspired by Cathy Freeman's amazing performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Rohanee later took another year off from basketball to have her second child.
Rohanee's Basketball Career
Rohanee Cox played as a guard-forward. This means she could play in different positions on the court.
Playing in the WNBL
Rohanee received a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). She played for the AIS team in the WNBL from 1996 to 1998. She then played for the Perth Lynx in 1999–2000 and again in 2002–2003.
From 2005 to 2010, she played for the Townsville Fire. In 2008, she was named to the WNBL's All-Star Five team. In the 2008–2009 season, Rohanee was named the WNBL's Most Valuable Player (MVP). She was also the top scorer in the league that season. She played for the West Coast Waves in 2011–2012. From 2012 to 2016, she played for the Sydney Uni Flames.
Playing for the Australian National Team
Rohanee Cox was one of the first Aboriginal Australians to play basketball for Australia at the Olympics. She played 53 games for Australia's junior national team. In 1995, she first played internationally with Australia's Under 19 team. They won a silver medal at the FIBA World Championships in 1997.
Rohanee made her debut for the Australian Opals when she was a teenager. She left the team and the sport for a while, but returned in 2006. Getting back into the team for the 2008 Olympics was tough because she had a knee injury.
In 2007, Rohanee was chosen for the national team that would prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics. She played in the 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship. She also played in the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Rohanee had both an Aboriginal flag and an Australian flag on her uniform. Her parents and sister watched her play. Her team won seven games in a row, only losing to the United States in the gold medal game. Rohanee won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She was the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic medal in basketball. At that time, her daughter was seven years old.
Rohanee continued to play for the national team. In 2009, her team won a gold medal at the Oceania Championships. She was also a member of the national team in 2011.
Awards and Recognition
Rohanee Cox has received many awards for her basketball achievements:
- 2007: Maher Medal for International Player of the Year
- 2009: Deadly Award for Female Sportsperson of the Year
- 2009: Featured in the WNBL's 2009 league calendar
- NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year
In August 2021, Rohanee Cox was honored by being added to the Basketball WA Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Rohanee Cox para niños
