Cayla George

no. 4 Cayla Francis up against Marianna Tolo in a game against the Canberra Capitals

no. 4 Cayla Francis leaps for the ball in a January 2012 game against the Canberra Capitals

Francis played for the Australian Institute of Sport team[6][14] for three years,[7][14] including for the 2005/2006 season.[1][2][13][14] In 2007, she won the WNBL Bettie Watson Rookie of the Year.[7][13] During the 2007/2008 season, her Australian Institute of Sport team won eight games.[7]

Francis signed with the Adelaide Lightning in 2008.[13] She played with the team[6] during the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons.[1][2] By November 2008 in the 2008/2009 season, she was averaging 16 points a game and 10.6 rebounds a game.[7] In a November 2008 90–62 win over the Australian Institute of Sport, she scored 17 points, and had 7 rebounds in the game.[15] In a November 2009 game against the Australian Institute of Sport which her won 100–77, while on the court 23:38 minutes, she scored 24 points and had a field goal percentage of 75%.[16] In an October 2009 game Adelaide won 75–66 against Dandenong, she had 26 points and 17 rebounds, and had a field goal percentage of 50%. She did not miss a single one of her free throw shots.[17]

Francis joined the Logan Thunder in 2010.[18] She played for them in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.[1][2] In November 2011, she helped her team stage a come from behind victory against the West Coast Waves.[19] She wore no. 4 for the team.[5] In January 2012, she was one of three players seriously considered for player of the week but lost to American Shanavia Dowdell.[20]

Francis returned to the WNBL with the Townsville Fire in 2014.[21] George signed with the Melbourne boomers for the 2018/19 wnbl season

On 4 February 2015, Francis signed with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.[22] In February 2017, Francis was re-acquired by the Mercury.[23]

On 2 February 2018, George was traded to the Connecticut Sun.[24]On 16 May 2018, George was waived by the Connecticut Sun. On 3 June 2018, George was signed by the Dallas Wings.[25]

Francis plays center for the Opals.[4] She was a member of the 2008 Opals squad.[13] In late March, early April 2008, she participated in a week long training camp with the national team in Canberra.[26] In 2008, she had her first Opals cap in a game against New Zealand women's national basketball team.[1][2] She was a member of the 2009 Opals squad.[13] She was a member of the 2011 Opals squad and, as a member of the team, she earned a gold medal at the FIBA Oceania Championship.[13] In June 2011, she participated in a national team training camp in Canberra.[9] In late July 2011, she played in a three-game test series against China played in Queensland.[9] She was scheduled to participate in the national team training camp held from 14 to 18 May 2012 at the Australian Institute of Sport.[27]

Francis has also played for Australia's age restricted national sides. She has 31 caps for Australia's junior national team[1][2] and 14 appearances for the Young Australia team.[1][2] In 2006, as a member of the Gems, she participated in the Taipei hosted William Jones Cup.[13] In 2006, she was a member of Australia's Under-21 national team, the Sapphires.[13] As a member of the Australian team at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women, she finished fifth.[1][2][13][28] She averaged 12.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in the competition.[1][2] In the first-round game against Brazil, she scored 20 points, and went three for three in three-point range.[8] She also had 10 rebounds in the game against Brazil.[8] She averaged 21.1 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game and 0.3 assists per game.[3] She played 204 minutes in 9 games.[28] She made 43 out of 99 attempted field goals.[28] She was 14/16 at the free throw line.[28] She had 20 offensive rebounds and 44 defensive rebounds.[28] Francis earned a silver medal at the 2007 FIBA World Championship for Under 21 Women held in Moscow.[1][2][13] At the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship for Women, she averaged 8.6 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game and 0.5 assists per game.[3] In the competition, she wore number 11.[3] In 2011, she represented Australia at the World University Games.[1][2]