Beauts Get a Package Deal: Shiga Sisters Sign for Two Years
The forward and defender both have Olympic and Worlds experience.
The last time the Buffalo Beauts had a pair of sisters join the fort was back in 2021, when Lake Placid's single-site season unfortunately kept Taylor Accursi from participating due to her full-time job as an Ontario Provincial Police officer. Little sister Hunter had a solid showing in a bottom-six role.
This time around, it'll hopefully be smooth sailing, as the Beauts announced Friday that sisters Akane and Aoi Shiga are coming over from Japan in a deal through the 2024-25 season. 22-year-old Akane is a forward, while big sis Aoi (who will be turning 24 in July) will take a spot on the blue line.
SIGNING NEWS π£
— Buffalo Beauts (@BuffaloBeauts) June 16, 2023
The #Beauts have signed Olympians and Japanese Womenβs National Team members Akane and Aoi Shiga! π―π΅ The Shiga sisters have signed 2-year contracts with us.
γγγγγγγγγ¨γγγ! ππ¦¬
π: https://t.co/RO7TFtDnWC#FortBeaut #PHF
πΌοΈ: @jsantalucia96 pic.twitter.com/3khmyWZH7I
The Shiga sisters are both members of the Japanese national team, which finished seventh at Worlds back in March. Aoi had one goal, while Akane tallied one assist during the tournament. Both sisters played in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing as well, with Aoi also representing Japan in the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.
This also marks the presence of Japanese nationals in the PHF for the first time since Nana Fujimoto signed with the then-New York Riveters in the inaugural 2015-16 season. Tsubasa Sato entered a PTO agreement with Connecticut in the 2021-22 season but did not sign a contract.
Terms of the contracts will not be disclosed at this time.
The Beauts now have 12 players under contract, including five rookies or first-year PHF players with the addition of the Shiga sisters.
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