Australia's women's basketball team have suffered a major blow ahead of their 2014 world championship campaign, with Opals stalwart Suzy Batkovic and WNBA star Jenna O'Hea both withdrawing from the tournament.
Basketball Australia (BA) on Thursday said Batkovic would not be available for selection for the tournament in Turkey from September 27 after deciding to take a break from international competition in a bid to prolong her playing career.
She has made it clear, however, that she is not retiring from national duties.
Batkovic recently became the first WNBL player to win three consecutive MVP honours and only this week re-signed with the Townsville Fire until the end of the 2015/2016 season, with an option for 2016/2017.
She has been a regular for the Opals for more than a decade, winning three Olympic medals (2004, 2008, 2012) and represented Australia at two previous world championships in 2002 and 2010.
Meanwhile, O'Hea's ambition to pursue her career in the United States is behind her decision to withdraw from the tournament.
O'Hea is preparing to enter her fourth WNBA season with the Los Angeles Sparks and said she would not be available for the Opals' upcoming camps this month and next.
The 26-year-old was part of the Opals team that claimed bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and also played at the 2010 world championships.
O'Hea is a four-time WNBL All-Star and was runner-up MVP to Batkovic last season.
