{{short description|Australian basketball player}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{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 High School|Willetton Senior]]<br>([[Perth|Perth, Western Australia]]) | career_start = 1996 | career_end = 2016 | years1 = 1996–1998 | team1 = [[Australian Institute of Sport (WNBL team)|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 Most Valuable Player Award|WNBL MVP]] (2009) * 2× [[WNBL All-Star Five]] (2008, 2009) * [[Australian Basketball Association|ACC]] All-Star five ([[2007 Australian Club Championships|2007]]) * 3× [[Queensland Basketball League|QBL]] All-League Team (2007, 2009, 2011) * 3× [[List of State Basketball League champions|SBL champion]] (1999, 2004, 2005) * [[State Basketball League Most Valuable Player Award|SBL MVP]] (2005) * [[State Basketball League Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award|SBL Grand Final MVP]] (1999) * [[State Basketball League All-Star Five|SBL All-Star Five]] (2005) * [[State Basketball League Rookie of the Year Award|SBL Rookie of the Year]] (1998) |medaltemplates= {{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }} {{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}} {{MedalSilver|[[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|Team Competition}} }}
'''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 [[Australia women's national basketball team|Opals]] at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]].
She played in the [[Women's National Basketball League]] (WNBL) for the [[Australian Institute of Sport (WNBL team)|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,<ref name="coxolympics" /> was born on 23 April 1980 in [[Broome, Western Australia]].<ref name=coxolympics>{{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}}</ref><ref name=bornbroome>{{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}}</ref><ref name=wnblprofile>{{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}}</ref><ref name=bbaustralia>{{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}}</ref> She is an [[Indigenous Australian]],<ref name=aoc>{{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}}</ref><ref name=2012waves>{{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 }}</ref> and well-known in the [[Kimberley region]] of [[Western Australia]].<ref name="bornbroome" />
When she was 20 years old, she was living in remote Western Australian town of [[One Arm Point]], single and pregnant,<ref name=tattoonlast/><ref name=radiointerview>{{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 }}</ref> and has a daughter named Alyriah.<ref name=tattoonlast/><ref name=aboriginalsuccess>{{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 }}</ref> She has also encouraged her daughter to play basketball, signing her up for a local league.<ref name="radiointerview" />
==Physical characteristics== She is {{convert|183|cm}} tall.<ref name=height2008>{{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}}</ref> The WNBL and Yahoo!Sport list her height as {{convert|182|cm}}.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name=yahoosport>{{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}}</ref> FIBA lists her height as {{convert|180|cm}}.<ref name=FIBAheight>{{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 }}</ref> On her back, she has a tattoo that means "last chance",<ref name=tattoonlast>{{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}}</ref> which she had done in 2006.<ref name=tattoonlast/>
==Basketball== Cox played a [[Swingman|guard-forward]] role.<ref name=starpointguard/> She left the game for a while, but returned to basketball a year after the birth of her daughter.<ref name=tattoonlast/><ref name="radiointerview" /><ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /> Her daughter inspired her to do as she wanted, so her daughter would understand what was possible.<ref name=height2008/><ref name=tattoonlast/><ref name="radiointerview" /> 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."<ref name=height2008/> She was also inspired to return by [[Cathy Freeman]]'s performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics.<ref name="coxolympics" /> She later took another year off from basketball in order to have her second child.<ref name="bornbroome" />
===WNBL=== Cox had a scholarship with and played for the Australian Institute of Sport in 1996, 1997 and 1998.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name=aischolars>{{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 }}</ref> She played for the [[Perth Lynx]] in 1999/2000, and 2002/2003.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name="aboriginalsuccess" />
In 2005/2006, she played for the [[Townsville Fire]].<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /> She was with them again during the 2007/2008 season.<ref name=goodluckbejing>{{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 }}</ref> In a January 2008 game against Bendigo, she scored 23 points in an 83–78 win for Townsville.<ref name=coxscores>{{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}}</ref> She was named in the WNBL's All-Star Five this season.<ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /> In 2008/2009, she was the WNBL MVP.<ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /><ref name=wnblmvp2009>{{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}}</ref> She was the league's leading scorer that season.<ref name="bbaustralia" /> She played for the Townsville Fire again in 2009/2010,<ref name=coolpics>{{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}}</ref> although she had to miss the first ten weeks of the season because of a knee injury.<ref name="coolpics" /> Cox played for the [[West Coast Waves]] in 2011/2012.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name="2012waves" /><ref name=newspaperitlat>{{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}}</ref>
===National team=== Cox was one of the first Aboriginal Australians to represent her country in basketball at the Olympics.<ref name=tattoonlast/> 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.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name="FIBAheight" />
Cox made her [[Australia women's national basketball team|Australian Opals]] debut as a teenager,<ref name=tattoonlast/> however she left the team and sport shortly after that and did not play with the side again until 2006, eight years later.<ref name=tattoonlast/> Getting back into the squad for 2008 was a challenge as she had to overcome a knee injury.<ref name=height2008/> She first played for the Opals in 1998 at the Brazil Olympic Committee Invitational and was named in the 1999 and 2000 squads.<ref name="bbaustralia" />
In March 2007, Cox was named to the national team what would prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics.<ref name=kneeouchouch>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="FIBAheight" /> 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.<ref name="FIBAheight" /> At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she had had an Aboriginal flag and an Australian flag on her kit.<ref name=tattoonlast/> Her parents and sister watched her play in Beijing.<ref name=height2008/> She won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.<ref name="coxolympics" /><ref name="bornbroome" /><ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /> She was the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic medal in basketball.<ref name="coxolympics" /><ref name="bornbroome" /><ref name="radiointerview" /> Her team won 7 straight games at the Olympics, only losing to the United States in the gold medal game.<ref name="coxolympics" /> She averaged 5 points per game and 3 rebounds per game and 0.2 assists per game.<ref name="FIBAheight" /> At the time she won the medal, her daughter was seven years old.<ref name="radiointerview" />
Cox played in 2009 in a series against China which Australia won 2 games to 1.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name=starpointguard/> She was expected to step up for the third game.<ref name=playchina>{{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}}</ref> On 2 September 2009, she played in the Canberra-hosted return game against New Zealand in the Oceania Championship.<ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /><ref name=starpointguard>{{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}}</ref> Her team took a gold in the Oceania Championships.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /> In the competition, she averaged 2 points per game, 1 rebound per game and 1 assist per game.<ref name="FIBAheight" /> She was a member of the national team again in 2001 and 2011.<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name="bbaustralia" /> She was trying to make the Opals squad that will represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics<ref name="bornbroome" /><ref name="2012waves" /> and participated in the national team training camp held from 14 to 18 May 2012 at the Australian Institute of Sport.<ref name=trainingcamp>{{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}}</ref>
==Recognition== Cox has won several honours, including: *2007: Maher Medal for International Player of the Year<ref name="wnblprofile" /><ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /> *2008: Featured as a basketball star on myFiba{{explain|date=November 2022}}<ref name="pinupgirls" /> *2009: [[Deadly Award]] for Female Sportsperson of the Year<ref name="aboriginalsuccess" /> *2009: Featured in the WNBL's 2009 league calendar<ref name=pinupgirls>{{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}}</ref> *[[NAIDOC]] Sportsperson of the Year{{when|date=November 2022}}<ref name=naidoc>{{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}}</ref>
In August 2021, Cox was inducted into the [[Basketball WA]] Hall of Fame.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In November 2025, she was inducted into the [[Western Australian Hall of Champions]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quartermain |first1=Glen |title=WA Hall of Champions: From Broome to Olympic history, Rohanee Cox hopes her journey can inspire next gen |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/hall-of-champions-from-broome-to-olympic-history-rohanee-cox-hopes-her-journey-can-inspire-next-gen-c-20604837 |access-date=11 November 2025 |work=The West Australian |date=11 November 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251111042825/https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/hall-of-champions-from-broome-to-olympic-history-rohanee-cox-hopes-her-journey-can-inspire-next-gen-c-20604837 |archive-date=11 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Portal|Sports}} {{commons category}} {{reflist}}
{{Australia Women Basketball Squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Rohanee}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Indigenous Australian Olympians]] [[Category:Australian Institute of Sport basketball (WNBL) players]] [[Category:Australian women's basketball players]] [[Category:Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Indigenous Australian basketball players]] [[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Olympic basketball players for Australia]] [[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia]] [[Category:Olympic medalists in basketball]] [[Category:Perth Lynx players]] [[Category:Basketball players from Perth, Western Australia]] [[Category:Townsville Fire players]] [[Category:Small forwards]] [[Category:Shooting guards]] [[Category:Sportswomen from Western Australia]] [[Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen]]