Julie Dawn Nykiel (born 13 December 1958) is a former Australian women's basketball player.
Biography
Basketball Nykiel played for the national team between 1979 and 1990, competing at two Olympic Games; 1984 and 1988.Julie Nykiel. Sports Reference: Olympic Games. Retrieved 2012-08-20. Nykiel also represented Australia at three World Championships - 1979, 1983 and 1986.FIBA Archive. Players: Julie NYKIEL. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
In the domestic competition, Nykiel was the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) Most Valuable Player in 1984 and 1988.Basketball Australia. Hall of Fame: Julie Nykiel. Retrieved 2012-08-20.Trailblazers: History of the WNBL MVP Award. Women's National Basketball League (21 March 2012). Retrieved 2012-08-30. Her single-game record of 53 points (set in 1982) stood for over 20 years and was achieved without the benefit of a three-point line.Howell, Stephen (24 January 2005). Snell sets court on fire. The Age. Retrieved 2012-08-20. Nykiel led the WNBL in points scored on 5 occasions; 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1988.Basketball Australia. WNBL Top Shooters Award . Retrieved 2012-12-24. In 2006, Nykiel polled as the 7th greatest Australian female basketball player in the 25-year team.Howell, Stephen (20 January 2005). League pollsters find Jackson simply the best. The Age. Retrieved 2012-08-20. Nykiel is also recognised as one of the leading players in WNBL history.FIBA News. AUS - Lindsay Gaze honoured by Australian Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
Netball Nykiel also played netball for Contax. Together with Kathryn Harby, she was a member of the Contax teams that won the 1990 and 1991 South Australia state league titles.
Honours and recognition In the 1997 Australia Day Honours Nykiel was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). In 2000 she was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and in 2001 the Centenary Medal.
Nykiel was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
See also WNBL Top Shooter Award WNBL All-Star Five
References