Patty Mills revealed that witnessing the Matildas deliver a spirited performance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup boosted the morale of the Boomers. During that time, the Boomers were preparing for their own World Cup campaign.
“We gained a lot of inspiration from the Matildas, being able to watch them while we were in camp. Watch them together game after game of their world cup. It was definitely a bonding experience for us to be able to support them and have our green and gold on and cheer for them together,” shared the 13-year NBA veteran guard.
“So there’s no doubt that we gained a lot of inspiration with the way they represented Australia on home soil.”
Just a week ago, the Matildas achieved their first-ever semi-final finish in the World Cup, after being eliminated in the quarterfinals or earlier in their previous seven tournament appearances.
The Matildas’ journey in some ways mirrors the fate of the Boomers in the World Cup, whose best finish was in 2019 when they secured fourth place in China.
This time, however, they are entering the competition as bronze medalists from the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, marking their first-ever podium finish on the grandest stage in sports.
Mills, who also serves as the Boomers’ team captain, believes that the painful experiences in the past combined with the Matildas’ recent surge give them the confidence to emerge as the last team standing on basketball’s grandest stage.
“This goes back again from what has been built in the past experiences that have come to the international stage and haven’t quite got it done. But there’s no doubt in our mind that our time is now and that’s what we believe within our locker room and our group,” he said.
“Our goal is clear. Everyone’s on the trenches together and we’ll do whatever it takes to be the last team standing.”
Mills and Australia will open their World Cup campaign against Finland at 4:00 p.m. in Okinawa.
