Opals on hand for Suzy Batkovic big day

Opal Suzy Batkovic tied the knot on the weekend in front of Opals teammates before heading over to the US to suit up for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA.

THERE was no need for towering 193cm Australian basketballer Suzy Batkovic to waste money on expensive heels for her special day, writes Mike Hurst for The Daily Telegraph.

Along with her Opals' team-mates, Lauren Jackson (196cm), Penny Taylor (185cm), and former Opal Trisha Fallon (190cm) the bridal party towered over the groom and groomsmen.

Batkovic, 29, said she put a lot of thought into finding the perfect dress - a classic, strapless gown - for her marriage to her partner of three years, Matt Brown, 32.

"The wedding was really nice, a bit cold, but the rain stopped as we arrived," she said as she braved the weather to pose for photos on Cronulla's Elloura beach on Sunday.

In a day when showers descended across the city, the clouds parted just long enough for Batkovic and her fiance to tie the knot.

She also made sure she had time to celebrate with her fellow Australian Women Basketball team-mates.

"These girls have such a close bond" said one wedding guest.

The couple held their reception was at Summer Salt restaurant in Elloura Surf Club.

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AUSTRALIA'S preferred centre Suzy Batkovic-Brown wants to have a baby before trying again to win Olympic gold with the Opals in London in 2012, writes Mike Hurst for The Daily Telegraph.

The 195cm Sydney basketballer married Mat Brown at Cronulla beach last Saturday with Opals superstars Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor as bridesmaids.

Jackson and Taylor left for the US the next day and Batkovic-Brown - "I feel like a fly-by bride" - will leave this weekend to team up with Jackson in Seattle, where they will play for the Storm in the world's strongest women's basketball league, the WNBA.

"I'm going to try to make it through to the next Olympics, but I also want to have a kid," Batkovic-Brown, 29, revealed.

"I think if I had a kid I'd be fine, as long as I had a personal trainer to keep me in shape and tell me what I can and can't do if I had a baby before the Olympics.

"As for having someone to babysit while I'm playing, that's why you get married, to have a husband to look after the kids. I warned him before we married."

But first "Batgirl" - as Storm fans call her - is contracted to play a year of basketball; four months in the WNBA and then eight months back in Europe.

Last month, Batkovic-Brown and Jackson were jointly awarded Basketball Australia's Maher Medal as Australia's best international female players for the year.

While motherhood is "not set in cement - if it happens it happens", one thing the Beijing silver medallist is determined to deliver is Olympic gold, with last year's Olympic tournament still a source of frustration.

"I snapped my ankle twice. I had rehab for four months. I came back for two weeks, dislocated my thumb. Had six weeks off. I only had four weeks preparation for the Olympics," Batkovic-Brown said.

"The first week I did OK and I had a bit of energy. But going into the second week, because I was out of shape due to all my injuries, I was exhausted. It's a bit of a shame. Penny had her ankle injury (in the semi). Everyone had a few little hiccups."

Photo courtesy of Anthony Reginato

In other Opals news...

Is Lauren Jackson doing a Michael Jordan and trying her hand at Major League Baseball?

No, she's just throwing the first pitch for the Seattle Mariners before their game against the Baltimore Orioles in Seattle on Monday. 

Photo courtesy of John Froschauer - Associated Press