Rohanee Cox

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Rohanee Cox

| image = Opals Training Camp 14.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Cox at a 2012 Opals training camp

| position = Small forward / shooting guard

| height_cm = 182

| weight_kg =

| league =

| team =

| number =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|4|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Broome, Western Australia, Australia

| high_school = Willetton Senior
(Perth, Western Australia)

| career_start = 1996

| career_end = 2016

| years1 = 1996–1998

| team1 = Australian Institute of Sport

| years2 = 1998–2000

| team2 = Perth Lynx

| years3 = 2002–2003

| team3 = Perth Lynx

| years4 = 2005–2010

| team4 = Townsville Fire

| years5 = 2011–2012

| team5 = West Coast Waves

| years6 = 2012–2016

| team6 = Sydney Uni Flames

| highlights =

WNBL MVP (2009)
2× WNBL All-Star Five (2008, 2009)
ACC All-Star five (2007)
3× QBL All-League Team (2007, 2009, 2011)
3× SBL champion (1999, 2004, 2005)
SBL MVP (2005)
SBL Grand Final MVP (1999)
SBL All-Star Five (2005)
SBL Rookie of the Year (1998)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}

}}

Rohanee "Roey" Cox (born 23 April 1980) is an Australian former professional basketball player. She was one of the first Aboriginal Australians to represent her country in basketball at the Olympics and won a silver medal with the Opals at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

She played in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the Australian Institute of Sport, Perth Lynx, Townsville Fire, West Coast Waves and Sydney Uni Flames. She has also played in the State Basketball League for the Willetton Tigers, and has spent time in the Queensland Basketball League with the Townsville Flames, Mackay Meteroettes and Cairns Dolphins.

Early life

Cox, nicknamed Roey, was born on 23 April 1980 in Broome, Western Australia.{{cite web|url=http://corporate.olympics.com.au/athlete/rohanee-cox |title=Australian Olympic Committee: Rohanee Cox |publisher=Corporate.olympics.com.au |accessdate=2012-05-10}}{{cite web|last=Collins |first=Ben |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/04/10/3474073.htm |title=Kimberley mum, Rohanee Cox takes another shot at the Olympics — ABC Kimberley WA — Australian Broadcasting Corporation |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2012-04-10 |accessdate=2012-05-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wnbl.com.au/index.php?id=332 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721072856/http://www.wnbl.com.au/index.php?id=332 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 July 2008 |title=Rohanee Cox |publisher=WNBL.com.au |accessdate=2012-05-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=534 |title=Basketball Australia : Rohanee Cox |publisher=Basketball.net.au |accessdate=2012-05-10}} She is an Indigenous Australian,{{cite web|title=Australian Indigenous Olympians| url=http://corporate.olympics.com.au/files/dmfile/Australian%20Indigenous%20Olympians_19Feb2015_v2.pdf| website= Australian Olympic Committee website| accessdate=10 May 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://clontarf.girlsacademy.com.au/News-Waves-Players-Rohanee-Cox---Jacinta-Bourne-Speak-to-CGA-35.html |title=News — Waves Players Rohanee Cox & Jacinta Bourne Speak to CGA — Clontarf Girls Academy — An Initiative of Role Models & Leaders Australia |publisher=Clontarf Girls Academy |date=2012-02-27 |accessdate=2012-05-10 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and well-known in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

When she was 20 years old, she was living in remote Western Australian town of One Arm Point, single and pregnant,{{cite web|url=http://www.measureup.gov.au/internet/abhi/publishing.nsf/Content/tp-rohanee-radio-int-script |title=Rohanee Cox — Radio interview script |publisher=Measure Up |date=2010-10-08 |accessdate=2012-05-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325143749/http://www.measureup.gov.au/internet/abhi/publishing.nsf/Content/tp-rohanee-radio-int-script |archivedate=25 March 2012 }} and has a daughter named Alyriah.{{cite web|url=http://www.shareourpride.org.au/topics/success-stories/stories/sports/rohanee-cox---basketball |title=Rohanee Cox — Basketball — Reconciliation Australia |publisher=Shareourpride.org.au |accessdate=2012-05-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226040517/http://www.shareourpride.org.au/topics/success-stories/stories/sports/rohanee-cox---basketball |archivedate=26 February 2011 }} She has also encouraged her daughter to play basketball, signing her up for a local league.

Physical characteristics

She is {{convert|183|cm}} tall.{{cite web|last=Davis |first=Sam |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/08/01/2321961.htm |title=Opal, Rohanee Cox, goes for gold in Beijing — ABC Far North Qld — Australian Broadcasting Corporation |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2008-08-01 |accessdate=2012-05-07}} The WNBL and Yahoo!Sport list her height as {{convert|182|cm}}.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/AUS/Rohanee+Cox/210187 |title=Rohanee Cox Profile, Bio, Results, Medals and Photos — Yahoo! Sports coverage of the Summer Olympics in Beijing |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=2011-04-20 |accessdate=2012-05-10}} FIBA lists her height as {{convert|180|cm}}.{{cite web |url=http://london2012.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/12/olym/player/p/eid/6232/pid/27856/rid//sid/6233/tid/239/profile.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123061134/http://london2012.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/12/olym/player/p/eid/6232/pid/27856/rid//sid/6233/tid/239/profile.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-23 |title=Rohanee Cox - 2012 London women | FIBA.COM |publisher=London 2012 |accessdate=2012-05-10 }} On her back, she has a tattoo that means "last chance",{{cite web|last=Chris |first=By |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cox-tattoo-says-it-all/story-e6frexni-1111117090061 |title=Cox tattoo says it all|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2008-08-03 |accessdate=2012-05-06}} which she had done in 2006.

Basketball

Cox played a guard-forward role. She left the game for a while, but returned to basketball a year after the birth of her daughter. Her daughter inspired her to do as she wanted, so her daughter would understand what was possible. She said of this: "Just having her made me realise that I wanted her to have as much of an opportunity [in life] as I did. Just getting back into basketball has helped her get on her way and, more or less, helped me with my life and our lives together." She was also inspired to return by Cathy Freeman's performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She later took another year off from basketball in order to have her second child.

=WNBL=

Cox had a scholarship with and played for the Australian Institute of Sport in 1996, 1997 and 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/sports/basketball/athletes/past_athletes |title=Past Athletes : Australian Institute of Sport : Australian Sports Commission |publisher=Australian Sports Commission |accessdate=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212073754/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/sports/basketball/athletes/past_athletes |archivedate=12 February 2014 }} She played for the Perth Lynx in 1999/2000, and 2002/2003.

In 2005/2006, she played for the Townsville Fire. She was with them again during the 2007/2008 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=3435 |title=News Article |publisher=SportsAustralia.com |date=2008-04-08 |accessdate=2012-05-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219185711/http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=3435 |archivedate=19 December 2013 }} In a January 2008 game against Bendigo, she scored 23 points in an 83–78 win for Townsville.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/01/2152728.htm?site=sydney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213162645/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/01/2152728.htm?site=sydney |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 December 2013 |title=Lightning edge out Sydney in a thriller — ABC Sydney — Australian Broadcasting Corporation |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2008-02-01 |accessdate=2012-05-09}} She was named in the WNBL's All-Star Five this season. In 2008/2009, she was the WNBL MVP.{{cite web |url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=844548 |title=Opals look to shine against China |publisher=Nine MSN |accessdate=2012-05-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222023454/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=844548 |archivedate=22 December 2014}} She was the league's leading scorer that season. She played for the Townsville Fire again in 2009/2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/09/25/81601_sportsphoto.html |title=Unknown Rush can fire for Fire | Townsville Bulletin Sport |publisher=Townsvillebulletin.com.au |date=2009-09-25 |accessdate=2012-05-09}} although she had to miss the first ten weeks of the season because of a knee injury. Cox played for the West Coast Waves in 2011/2012.{{cite web|author=Travis King |url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/basketball/kristi-eyes-fourth-games/2458474.aspx?storypage=0 |title=Kristi eyes fourth Games — Local News — Sport — Basketball |publisher=Bendigo Advertiser |date=2012-02-17 |accessdate=2012-05-07}}

=National team=

Cox was one of the first Aboriginal Australians to represent her country in basketball at the Olympics. She earned 53 caps with Australia's junior national team. In 1995, she made her first international appearance with Australia's U/19 team at the FIBA World Championships. She played for them again in 1997, where Cox averaged 10.1 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game and 1.2 assists per game, and her team took home a silver medal.

Cox made her Australian Opals debut as a teenager, however she left the team and sport shortly after that and did not play with the side again until 2006, eight years later. Getting back into the squad for 2008 was a challenge as she had to overcome a knee injury. She first played for the Opals in 1998 at the Brazil Olympic Committee Invitational and was named in the 1999 and 2000 squads.

In March 2007, Cox was named to the national team what would prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/phillips-keeps-opals-place/story-e6frect3-1111113147190 |title=Phillips keeps Opals place |work=The Advertiser|date=2007-03-12 |accessdate=2012-05-08}} She participated in the 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women. She averaged 9.3 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game. She participated in the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament for Women. She averaged 6.3 points per game and 2.3 rebounds per game and 1.3 assists per game. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she had had an Aboriginal flag and an Australian flag on her kit. Her parents and sister watched her play in Beijing. She won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She was the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic medal in basketball. Her team won 7 straight games at the Olympics, only losing to the United States in the gold medal game. She averaged 5 points per game and 3 rebounds per game and 0.2 assists per game. At the time she won the medal, her daughter was seven years old.

Cox played in 2009 in a series against China which Australia won 2 games to 1. She was expected to step up for the third game.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/opals-limp-to-decider-with-china/story-e6frf9if-1225764562349 |title=Opals limp to decider with China |first=Grantley |last=Bernard |work=Herald Sun|date=21 August 2009 |accessdate=5 June 2012}} On 2 September 2009, she played in the Canberra-hosted return game against New Zealand in the Oceania Championship.{{cite web |url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=854089 |title=Opals side selected to take on Kiwis |publisher=Nine MSN |accessdate=2012-05-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121209190142/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=854089 |archivedate=9 December 2012}} Her team took a gold in the Oceania Championships. In the competition, she averaged 2 points per game, 1 rebound per game and 1 assist per game. She was a member of the national team again in 2001 and 2011. She was trying to make the Opals squad that will represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics and participated in the national team training camp held from 14 to 18 May 2012 at the Australian Institute of Sport.{{cite web|url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/p/newsid/51254/arti.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104010851/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/p/newsid/51254/arti.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2013 |title=AUS — Opals announce training camp squad |publisher=FIBA |accessdate=6 May 2012}}

Recognition

Cox has won several honours, including:

2007: Maher Medal for International Player of the Year
2008: Featured as a basketball star on myFiba{{explain|date=November 2022}}
2009: Deadly Award for Female Sportsperson of the Year
2009: Featured in the WNBL's 2009 league calendar{{cite web|last=Nagy |first=Boti |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/pin-up-girls-hit-market/story-e6frect3-1111118450135 |title=Pin-up girls hit market |work=The Advertiser|date=2008-12-31 |accessdate=2012-05-09}}
NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year{{when|date=November 2022}}{{cite web |url=http://www.indigenous.gov.au/in-the-news/48_naidocawards/#more-3937 |title=NAIDOC Awards celebrate Indigenous achievers |publisher=indigenous.gov.au |date=2010-07-12 |accessdate=2012-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326233843/http://www.indigenous.gov.au/in-the-news/48_naidocawards/#more-3937 |archive-date=26 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}

In August 2021, Cox was inducted into the Basketball WA Hall of Fame.{{cite web|last=O'Donoghue|first=Craig|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/basketball-was-hall-of-fame-to-induct-11-people-including-luc-longley-andrew-vlahov-and-mike-ellis-c-3655514|title=Basketball WA's Hall of Fame to induct 11 people including Luc Longley, Andrew Vlahov and Mike Ellis|work=The West Australian|date=13 August 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240830085131/https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/basketball-was-hall-of-fame-to-induct-11-people-including-luc-longley-andrew-vlahov-and-mike-ellis-c-3655514|archive-date=30 August 2024}}