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Australian basketball star Cayla George has secured a move back to the WNBA with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
- Calya George will return to the WNBA for the first time since 2018
- The Las Vegas Aces will be George's third WNBA team
- George has averaged more minutes per game in the WNBL than anyone else this season
The four-time WNBL champion was signed to a free agent contract, five years after her last appearance in the world's premier women's basketball league.
George — a two-time Olympian who last year won World Cup bronze with the Opals in Sydney — said she was thrilled to be rejoining the WNBA.
"I am really excited to join the Aces organisation, and to be back playing in the WNBA," George said via a press release.
"To be able to play alongside some of the best players in the world, and to be coached by Becky [Hammon] is something I am really looking forward to."
The 33-year-old is enjoying a stellar WNBL season with the Melbourne Boomers, averaging more minutes (37.3) per game than anyone else in the league.
She is averaging a league-high 11 defensive rebounds per game, while is second with 11.9 total rebounds and 18.6 points per game.
"Cayla George is one of the best centres in the world," Aces general manager Natalie Williams said.
"Her three-point shooting, high-IQ passing and rebounding skills are elite.
"We're so excited to add her to our talented front court, and watch her stretch the floor on offence and battle the other great centres in the league on defence.
"Cayla is an amazing woman, whom I think the city of Las Vegas is going to love."
The Aces will be George's fourth spell in the WNBA, having previously played with the Phoenix Mercury in 2015 and 2017, and the Dallas Wings in 2018.
George has played in the WNBL for the past 15 seasons, winning three titles with the Townsville Fire and a fourth last year with the Melbourne Boomers, with whom she has played the past five seasons.
She will be joined at the Aces by league MVP Candace Parker.