Rachael McCully (née Flanagan;[1] born 5 April 1982) is one of Australia's most accomplished female basketballers.
During a decorated WNBL career, McCully played for the Adelaide Lightning, Dandenong Rangers and Townsville Fire, earning the WNBL's Robyn Maher Defensive Player of Year award in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.
McCully was also a member of the Australia women's national basketball team, being named in the team for the first time in 2010 and narrowly missing out on selection for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.
[2] In July 2011, Flanagan "was diagnosed with a potentially career-threatening knee condition.
"[5] She had "severe swelling of the patellar tendon"[5] that her doctor "warned could jeopardise her career if she did not take "immediate steps to address it".
"[5] Flanagan is a guard[2][4] and played junior basketball for the South Australian Forestville Eagles.
I feel like I'm 55 (years old) sometimes, especially during warm-ups, but it was a great break and my body really appreciated it.
After guiding the Fire to their inaugural championship in 2014/15, McCully became the first player club history to have her number (5) retired.
For the season, she had an average of 14.3 points and 4.9 assists per game, which was her best performance to date in the league.
[11] She earned the WNBL's Robyn Maher Defensive Player of Year for the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons.
[12] In November 2010, she played in a game against the Australian Institute of Sport that her team won 95–55.
[5][18] In late July 2011 she missed the test series against China played in Queensland because of injury.
[22] Flanagan also represented Australia at the 2005 World University Games where her team took home a bronze medal.