The top eight women’s basketball nations in Asia are competing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney from Monday 26 June to Sunday 2 July. Australia is hosting the tournament for the first time and are competing in their fourth women’s Asia Cup, having previously won the silver medal in 2017 and the bronze medal in 2019 and 2021.

The Seven Consulting Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 team includes a quartet of players from Australia’s bronze medal winning team at the Asia Cup 2021 – Darcee Garbin, Lauren Nicholson, Keely Froling and Lauren Scherf. Garbin and Nicholson are competing in their third consecutive FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, having also been members of the Opals bronze medal winning team at the 2019 tournament. Five members of the Opals Asia Cup 2023 team have competed at the tournament previously, Alice Kunek was a member of the team that made the final and won the silver medal in 2017. 

Keely Froling playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022 with fellow Opals member Maddison Rocci playing defense

Sydney is hosting a FIBA women’s tournament for the second time in 10 months, having held the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 from 22 September to 1 October. Two nations that compete in the Asia Cup played what many people considered to be the game of the World Cup 2022 with China and Australia playing an epic semi final in front of 11,916 fans at the Sydney Superdome. China defeated Australia 61-59 in a thrilling semi final and both nations finished on the podium. Australia won the third placed game against Canada 95-65 to win the bronze medal and China claimed the silver medal after being defeated by USA 61-83 in the final. A trio of players from the Seven Consulting Opals bronze medal winning team at World Cup 2022 are in Australia’s Asia Cup 2023 team, Opals captain Tess Madgen along with forwards Darcee Garbin and Anneli Maley. 

Tess Madgen shooting a three-pointer for Melbourne Boomers against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 20 February 2022

Japan and Korea are also returning to Sydney after competing at the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Japan and Korea each won one of their five group games and missed out on the quarter finals, finishing 9^th and 10^th respectively. 

The article below includes the following information on the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup:

• General information on the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 tournament including all eight nations competing 
• The Opals Group B schedule
• Australian Opals history at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
• Detailed profiles on all 12 members of the Australian Opals Asia Cup 2023 team and Head Coach Shannon Seebohm

Venue, Groups and nations competing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023

Eight nations are competing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney from 26 June to 2 July. All games during the tournament will be played at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre (also known as Quaycentre) which was one of the venues for Group games at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.

The four nations in Group A at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 are China, Korea, New Zealand and Lebanon. Australia are in Group B with Japan, Chinese Taipei and Philippines. Seven of the eight nations competing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 took part in the previous edition of the tournament held in Amman, Jordan from 27 September to 3 October 2021. Lebanon won the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 Division B to be promoted up to Division A in 2023, replacing India who finished eighth in the Division A tournament in 2021.

The nations that finish in the top four at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 will qualify for an Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament to be played in February 2024. Nations that finish outside the top four at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 will be eliminated from contention for the 2024 Olympic Games.

From Monday 26 June to Wednesday 28 June at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 each nation plays one game against each of the other three nations in their group. After a rest day on Thursday 29 June the games to determine the finishing order for the eight nations commence on Friday 30 June.

The nations that finish first in Group A and Group B advance to the semi finals. The second ranked team from each group plays the third ranked nation from the other group in a qualification semi final to determine the third and fourth nations to advance to the semi finals and in doing so book a ticket to an Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in February 2024.

The nations that finish fourth in each group play a classification game against each other on Friday 30 June to determine 7^th and 8^th place. The winner will retain their position in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A and the nation that loses will be relegated to Division B. 

The two nations that lose qualification semi finals play against each other on Saturday 1 July for fifth place. The two semi finals are also played on Saturday 1 July. After 18 games from Monday 26 June to Saturday 1 July the two games to determine the medal winners at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 will be played on Sunday 2 July. The two teams that lost in the semi finals will play-off for third place at 12.30pm AEST and the two semi final winners will battle it out for gold at 3.00pm AEST. The final of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 has sold out.

A total of 16 nations will compete in one of four global FIBA Women’s Qualifying Tournaments to determine which 12 nations qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris from 26 July to 11 August. In the Qualifying Tournaments the four highest placed teams at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 will be joined by two nations from the Americas, the two highest placed teams at AfroBasket 2023 and the six highest placed nations at EuroBasket 2023. Two nations automatically qualify for the five on five women’s basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games, host nation France and World Cup 2022 winners USA.

At the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 Japan will be attempting to win the gold medal for the sixth consecutive time, having commenced this streak in 2013. At the previous three FIBA Women’s Asia Cups in 2017, 2019 and 2021 China and Australia both finished on the podium and Korea has completed the top four.

The two Groups of four nations each at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 are listed along with each nation’s Asia Ranking and World Ranking as at 28 February 2023. Some information is provided on each of the eight nations that are competing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney.

Group A                                Asia ranking        World ranking

China                                     1                            2

Korea                                    4                             12

New Zealand                      5                             29

Lebanon                               8                             44

China made it to the quarter finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and were defeated by Serbia 70-77 and finished fifth. Meng Li led China with 16.0 points per game and ranked fourth overall at World Cup 2022 but missed her nation’s last two games due to illness. China fought back from a 57-59 deficit with one minute and 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 semi final against host nation Australia to score the last four points and defeat the Opals 61-59. In the final USA defeated China 83-61, resulting in China winning their second ever World Cup silver medal, having also achieved this feat when Australia hosted the tournament for the first time in 1994.

From 2001 to 2011 China won the gold medal at the Asia Cup five times from six tournaments, with  a silver medal finish in 2007 being the only exception. At five Asia Cup’s from 2013 to 2021 China finished on the podium at all five tournaments but have been unable to win gold, winning silver in 2015, 2019 and 2021 and finishing third in 2013 and 2017.     

Chinese centre Han Xu at 205 centimetres tall is an extremely difficult prospect for opposition nations to curtail. At the World Cup 2022 Xu averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds (ranked 5^th at the World Cup) and 1.7 blocks (equal 2^nd) per game to earn selection in the All-Star Five. At Asia Cup 2023 Xu also earned All-Star five selection averaging 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and a tournament-high 2.6 blocked shots per game.

Even with centre Yueru Li missing due to injury China still have the tallest team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2022 with an average height of 185 centimetres. Four of the six players that averaged more than 7.5 points per game for China at the World Cup 2022 will be suiting up for their nation in Sydney again for the Asia Cup with Meng and Xu joined in this category by captain Yang Liwei (9.3 points and 3.9 assists) and Siyu Wang 9.3 points and 4.4 assists).

Korea have finished 10^thout of 12nations at the past two major championships, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and World Cup 2022 held in Sydney. Korea’s only victory from five Group A games at World Cup 2022 was 99-66 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Forward Leeseul Kang scored 37 points in Korea’s victory and averaged a team-high 17.2 points – ranked equal 2^nd overall at the World Cup.

At the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Korea hold the record for the most gold medals, having won the title 12 times including at the inaugural tournament on home soil in Seoul in 1965. Their most recent gold medal was the last time they hosted the event, in Incheon in 2007. Korea also rank first for medals won with 26, one ahead of Japan on 25. Korea missed out on a podium finish at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the first time in 2017 and have finished fourth at the last three editions of the tournament.

At World Cup 2022 Korea were heavily reliant on their top three scorers, with three players averaging more than 12.0 points per game – Kang, Jihyun Park (12.8 points per game) and Hyejin Park (12.4) but no other player averaged more than 5.0 points per game. Korea will be without  Hyejin Park at Asia Cup 2023 but have a significant inclusion in centre Jisu Park who missed World Cup 2022. Jisu Park registered a triple double comprised of 20 points, a game-high 13 rebounds and a game-high 11 blocked shots in Korea’s 76-74 victory against Brazil in the 2022 World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. Korea have two players in the top six of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Power Rankings with Jisu Park second and Leeseul Kang sixth.

New Zealand are competing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the fourth time in 2023, having finished sixth in 2017 followed by back-to-back fifth placed finishes in 2019 and 2021. After competing in the women’s basketball tournament at the Olympic Games for the first time in 2000 the Tall Ferns competed in three consecutive Olympic Games with their best finish being eighth in 2004. New Zealand didn’t qualify for the past three Olympic Games and need a top four finish at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in 2023 to keep the dream alive of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

New Zealand Tall Ferns in a team huddle after a game against WNBL team the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 15 October 2022

Five players on the Tall Ferns team for Asia Cup 2023 have played more than 20 games for New Zealand – Penina Davidson (57 games), Stella Beck (56), Charlisse Leger-Walker (36), Josie Trousdell [nee Stockill] (36) and Krystal Leger-Walker (23 games). At FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Davidson led New Zealand with 15.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Kystal Leger-Walker led the Tall Ferns with 4.0 assists per game. Charlisse Leger Walker averaged 11.0 points and 3.0 assists per game to rank second for the Tall Ferns in both categories. In the lead up to Asia Cup 2023 the Tall Ferns embarked on a European tour, playing friendlies against Serbia, Turkey and Poland.

Charlisse Leger Walker playing for New Zealand against WNBL team the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 15 October 2022

Several members of the New Zealand Tall Ferns have considerable experience competing in Australia. Davidson has played 100 WNBL games and for three seasons at the Deakin Melbourne Boomers from 2019/20 to 2021/22 had New Zealand Tall Ferns Head Coach Guy Molloy as her Head Coach. In Molloy’s ninth and final season as the Melbourne Boomers Head Coach the club won the 2021/22 WNBL Championship and Davidson was a member of the core rotation. Davidson is playing for fifth consecutive WNBL season with the Melbourne Boomers and sixth season overall in the league in 2023/24.

Penina Davidson playing for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022

New Zealand Head Coach Guy Molloy talking to the team before a game against WNBL team the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 15 October 2022

Another Tall Fern, guard Krystal Leger-Walker was a member of JCU Townsville Fire’s 2022/23 WNBL Championship winning team. In 2019/20 and 2020 Stella Beck was teammates at the Boomers with Davidson and had Molloy as her Head Coach. Molloy has been appointed the Interim Head Coach of WNBL team the Sydney Flames.

Stella Beck shooting a free throw for New Zealand against WNBL team the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 15 October 2022

Guard Tahlia Tupaea has extensive WNBL experience and will be making her debut for New Zealand at FIBA Asia Cup 2023. Tupaea was born and raised in Sydney and represented Australia at under-age level but has family in New Zealand. Tupaea made her WNBL debut for Sydney Flames in 2012/13, has played a total of 145 games in the league and has signed with the University of Canberra Capitals for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. In New Zealand’s inaugural Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa (TBA) season in 2022 Tupaea playing for Northern Kahu won the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award averaging 18.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Tupaea has signed with Northern Kahu for the 2023 season which tips off on 12 July.

Tahlia Tupaea playing for UC Capitals against Perth Lynx at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022

In the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 Division B tournament final in Amman Lebanon got off to a blistering start to score the first 14 points of the game against host nation Jordan. Lebanon went on to defeat Jordan 80-40 to finish first at the tournament and qualify for Division A of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021. Rebecca Akl (19.5 points per game) and Aida Bakhos (12.8 points per game) were Lebanon’s two leading scorers in the 2021 Division B tournament and will both be suiting up for the Asia Cup 2023 Division A tournament in Sydney.  Lebanon’s highest finish at an Asia Cup was fifth in 2011.  

Group B                                Asia ranking        World ranking

Australia                              2                             3

Japan                                  3                             9

Chinese Taipei                    6                             33

Philippines                          7                             42

Australia are competing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the fourth time and have made the podium at their previous three tournaments, winning the silver medal in 2017 and finishing third in 2019 and 2021. At Asia Cup 2021 guard Sami Whitcomb captained the Opals and had a phenomenal tournament to average 17.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game to lead Australia in all four categories and earn selection in the tournament’s All-Star Five.

After finishing eighth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Australia progressed to the medal games at the World Cup 2022 held on home soil in Sydney. The Opals lost to China 59-61 in a semi final. On the day of the Opals bronze medal game against Canada Lauren Jackson announced that it would be her last game representing the Australian Opals. During the bronze medal game against Canada Jackson put on an exhibition to score a phenomenal game-high 30 points at an accuracy of 68.8% to have a fairytale finish to her international career in the Opals 95-65 victory to win the bronze medal. At the World Cup 2022 Steph Talbot averaged 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists (ranked 4^th at the World Cup) and played phenomenal defense to earn selection in the tournament’s All Star Five.

Lauren Jackson shooting a jump shot for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 9 November 2022

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For FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney Milestones and Misses published an article in a similar format to this providing a guide to the tournament and player profiles on the 12 Australian Opals players and Head Coach Sandy Brondello. A link to this article is below:

2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup preview and Australian Opals player profiles

Three players from the Seven Consulting Opals bronze medal winning team at World Cup 2022 – Tess Madgen, Darcee Garbin and Anneli Maley are suiting up in the green and gold again at Asia Cup 2023. Four players from the Opals bronze medal winning team at Asia Cup 2021 are representing their nation on home soil at the 2023 edition of the tournament – Garbin, Lauren Nicholson, Keely Froling and Lauren Scherf. At Asia Cup 2021 this quartet all ranked in the top five for the Opals in points and top six for rebounds.

Seven Australians including Whitcomb are unavailable for Asia Cup 2023 due to WNBA commitments and Talbot is out injured due to tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a WNBL game for Adelaide Lightning on 18 February. At Asia Cup 2021 Whitcomb was the Opals standout player, this week in Sydney it will be very much a by committee approach. Rather than individual brilliance from one player the Opals will be relying on tenacious defense and an even team performance at Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney.

At their past two major championships Japan have had mixed results. Japan won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and with a smaller line-up (their two tallest players were both 185 centimetres tall), speed and three-point shooting ability. At the Tokyo Olympic Games Japan easily led the tournament for three-pointers made with 12.2 per game and ranked first for three-point accuracy with 38.4%. Japan’s leading scorer Maki Takada (14.0 points per game) and leading rebounder Himawari Akaho (7.3 rebounds per game) from Tokyo are both suiting up for their nation at FIBA Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney.

At World Cup 2022 Japan were without guard Rui Machida who averaged an incredible 12.5 assists per game at the Olympics to rank first in this category. Japan defeated Mali 89-56 in their opening Group B game at World Cup 2022 but then had four consecutive defeats to Serbia, Canada, France and Australia.

Japan enter FIBA Asia Cup 2023 with a world ranking of nine and an Asia ranking of 3 behind China and Australia who are ranked second and third in the world respectively. In the FIBA Asia Women’s Cup Japan have been a dominant force, winning five consecutive gold medals in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

In the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 final Japan recovered from a 52-57 deficit at three quarter time to outscore China 26-16 in the fourth quarter to win by five points 78-73 and win their fifth consecutive Asia Cup gold medal. Two Japanese players were selected in the tournament’s All-Star five, point guard Saori Miyazaki who led the tournament with 9.6 assists per game and forward Himawari Akaho who averaged 10.6 points per game at 51.3% from the field and a team-high 5.0 rebounds per game.

Chinese Taipei rank fourth on the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup medal tally with nine medals comprised of one silver medal and eight bronze medals. Chinese Taipei’s last podium finish was a bronze medal in 2005, this was followed by five consecutive fourth placed finishes from 2007 to 2015. Since Australia and New Zealand started competing in the Asia Cup Chinese Taipei finished fifth in 2017 followed by back-to-back sixth place finishes in 2019 and 2021.

At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 Chinese Taipei defeated Philippines 93-52 in their third and final Group B game and had four losses. In a qualification semi final against Korea scores were locked at 57 points at three quarter time. Korea outscored Chinese Taipei 23-17 in the fourth quarter to have an 80-74 victory. Hsiao-Tong Peng scored a team-high 18 points against Korea and led Chinese Taipei with 10.8 points per game at the tournament.

Four of the five Chinese Taipei players that averaged more than 7.0 points per game at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 are competing in the 2023 tournament – His-Yeh Liu (9.8 points per game), Wei-An Chen (7.4), I-Hsiu Cheng (7.4) and Yu-Ting Lin (7.2). In Sydney Chinese Taipei will be without Hsiao-Tong Peng who led her nation with 10.8 points per game at the 2021 tournament.

Philippines have competed at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 17 times and have a best finish of fourth place twice, at the inaugural tournament in 1965 and in 1984. At each of the past four Asia Cups from 2015 to 2021 Philippines have finished seventh. To retain their place in Division A they will need to maintain their standing of seventh or improve, an eighth place finish will result in them being relegated to Division B.

At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 Philippines lost their three Group B games and had a smallest losing margin of 41 points in their third game to Chinese Taipei 52-93. In the battle for seventh position and to maintain their spot in Division A Philippines trailed India 34-39 at half-time. Philippines fought back to outscore India 40-31 in the second half to record a 74-70 victory, finish seventh and preserve their place in Division A. Philippines were led by 22 points each from guard duo Khate Castillo and Janine Pontejos whilst forward Afril Bernardino stuffed the stat sheet with nine points at 50% from the field, a team-high 11 rebounds, along with seven assists, four steals and four blocked shots to set game-highs in the latter three categories.

The Philippines three leading scorers at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 of Bernardino (14.5 points per game), Pontejos (11.5) and Castillo (7.8) are all representing their nation in Sydney at Asia Cup 2023. At the 2021 tournament Bernardino also led Philippines with 8.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

 Australian Opals Group B schedule

Monday, June 26              Australia vs Philippines at 7.30pm AEST

Tuesday, June 27               Chinese Taipei vs Australia at 7.30pm AEST

Wednesday, June 28        Australia vs Japan at 7.30pm AEST

All games are at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 will be broadcast in Australia on television station ESPN2. Viewers can watch ESPN2 through Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch and Sky NZ. ESPN2 will broadcast Australia’s three Group B games, the two qualification games on Friday 30 June, the semi finals on Saturday 1 July and the medal games on Sunday 2 July. 

Viewers can also watch the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 on the FIBA YouTube channel and on the FIBA TV app, Courtside1891, however Geo restrictions could apply.

Australian Opals team for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023

Player                                     2023 NBL1 team                                         2023/24 team                      

Amy Atwell                         Bendigo Braves (South)                                 Perth Lynx

Chloe Bibby                        Frankston Blues (South)               

Keely Froling                     Launceston Tornadoes (South)                  Melbourne Boomers

Darcee Garbin                  Goldfield Giants (West)                               

Shyla Heal                           Sydney Comets (East)

Chantel Horvat                  Geelong United (South)

Alice Kunek                        Nunawading Spectres (South)                    JCU Townsville Fire

Tess Madgen                                                                                            Sydney Flames

Anneli Maley                      Eltham Wildcats (South)                                Perth Lynx

Lauren Nicholson             Sutherland Sharks (East)                               Sydney Flames

Maddison Rocci                South West Metro Pirates (North)

Lauren Scherf                     Perth Redbacks (West)                        Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes (France)

Player profiles on all 12 members of the Seven Consulting Australian Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 team are included later in this article.

Coaches

Shannon Seebohm          Head Coach

Cheryl Chambers             Assistant Coach

Renae Garlepp                  Assistant Coach

Kristi Harrower                 Assistant Coach

A profile on Australian Opals Head Coach Shannon Seebohm is included later in this article.

Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello is unavailable to coach the Seven Consulting Opals at the 2023 Asia Cup due to her commitments as Head Coach of New York Liberty in the WNBA. Shannon Seebohm will be the Head Coach of the Opals at the Asia Cup and was the Head Coach of the Championship winning Townsville Fire during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season.   

On 20 June the Australian Opals 12 player team for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 was announced. Seven Consulting Opals caretaker Head Coach Seebohm told Australia.basketball “It’s always a big moment in basketball when an Opals team comes together and I’m excited to see what this group can achieve on the court. We’ve got a good mix of players with the experience of Tess, Darcee and Anneli, while it’s very exciting for Chloe, Chantel and Amy who make their Opals debut.”

“Between both international and domestic basketball calendars, schedules do become very busy, so we did face challenges with player availability as well as those trying to recover from injuries.

The positive is that this gives opportunities to other players, like our debutants, who have the chance to gain valuable experience against international players and represent Australia, which is a special moment for any professional athlete. We hope sports fans and the basketball community will get behind the team and come to the Quaycentre and cheer us on.”1

Eight of the nine members of the Australian Opals team for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 that played in the WNBL during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season played at least 20 games for the season. Amy Atwell, Chloe Bibby and Lauren Scherf were all teammates at Perth Lynx. Shyla Heal started the 2022/23 season as teammates with Keely Froling at Sydney Flames. Late in the season Heal joined Townsville Fire and had Lauren Nicholson as her captain and Shannon Seebohm as Head Coach. Townsville Fire won their last 16 games of the 2022/23 season to win the WNBL Championship. In 2022/23 Maddison Rocci played for Southside Flyers and Anneli Maley played for Bendigo Spirit. Opals captain Tess Madgen was restricted to one game for the Melbourne Boomers due to a knee injury.

Maddison Rocci playing for Southside Flyers against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

Among players that played at least five games during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season three players in the Australian Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 team ranked in the league’s top five for rebounds per game – Maley second, Scherf third and Froling fifth.

A trio of forwards in the Seven Consulting Opals team for this week’s Asia Cup all played in Europe during 2022/23 with Alice Kunek playing for Sopron Basket in Hungary, Darce Garbin playing for DVTK-Hun-Therm in Hungary and Chantel Horvat playing in Poland for InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow.

11 of the 12 members of the Opals Asia Cup 2023 team have played in an NBL1 Conference in 2023 with Madgen being the exception, focusing on recovering from her knee injury. Several players have returned to where they played junior basketball with Maley playing for the Eltham Wildcats, Nicholson playing for the Sutherland Sharks, Garbin returning to Kalgoorlie to represent the Goldfield Giants and Horvat playing for Geelong United.

Seven members of the Opals squad announced in January 2023 were unable to be considered for the 2023 Asia Cup due to their commitments with WNBA teams. These players are Seattle Storm trio Ezi Magbegor, Sami Whitcomb and Jade Melbourne, Alanna Smith (Chicago Sky), Bec Allen (Connecticut Sun), Kristy Wallace (Indiana Fever) and Cayla George (Las Vegas Aces). Steph Talbot is on the sidelines due to her ACL injury.

The Seven Consulting Australian Opals had a training camp in Sydney just over a week before the start of FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023. Due to injury Marianna Tolo (foot) and Steph Reid (calf) were unable to be selected for the tournament. Others players in the squad that missed out on selection in the final 12 player team were three players under 20 years of age in Isobel Borlase (18), Nyadiew Puoch (19) and Shaneice Swain (19) along with Opals 2018 World Cup silver medal winner Alex Bunton.

Lauren Nicholson playing for Townsville Fire being defended by Southside Flyers Nyadiew Puoch in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March 2023

Four players that were members of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at FIBA Asia Cup 2021 and ranked in the Opals top five for minutes played are suiting up in the green and gold at Asia Cup 2023 – Keely Froling, Darcee Garbin, Lauren Nicholson and Lauren Scherf.

Three players, Atwell, Bibby and Horvat will be making their debut for the Australian Opals in Sydney at the FIBA Asia Cup 2023 however this trio have all represented Australia at senior level in 3×3 tournaments. Horvat was a member of the gold medal winning Australian 3×3 team at the 2015 FIBA 3×3 Oceania Championships held on the Gold Coast. In early May 2023 Atwell and Bibby made their Australian 3×3 debuts as members of the women’s Gangurrus team that finished second at the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Wuhan Stop. 

Chloe Bibby playing for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

Australia’s history at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup

The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 is the 30^th edition of the tournament and the first time that Australia have been the hosts. The tournament was known as the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championship until 2001 and was held for the first time in 1965 with Korea winning the gold medal on home soil in Seoul.   

In the FIBA Federation rankings Australia and New Zealand are both classified as being in the Oceania zone and previously competed in Oceania Championships against other nations from this region. From 2017 onwards Australia and New Zealand have both competed in the Asia Cup. The Opals will be competing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the fourth time, having won the silver medal in 2017 and the bronze medal in 2019 and 2021.

FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017

The Australian team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 held in Bengaluru, India from 22 to 29 was Sara Blicavs, Steph Blicavs, Katie Ebzery, Maddie Garrick, Laura Hodges, Kelsey Griffin, Alice Kunek, Tessa Lavey, Lauren Mansfield, Alanna Smith, Belinda Snell and Marianna Tolo.  

Australia won all three of their Group B games to finish on top of the Group at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017. The Opals smallest winning margin during the group phase was nine points against Japan 83-74 in their final Group B game.

The Opals had an 81-64 victory against Korea in a semi final led by forward Kelsey Griffin with 16 points and nine rebounds to set game-highs in both categories.

After Australia and Japan finished first and second respectively in Pool B they played each other for the second time at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 in the final. The Opals led Japan 39-33 at half-time in the final. Japan controlled the third quarter 26-14 to turn a six point half time deficit into a six point lead at the final change. The Opals went on a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter to take the lead by three points, 62-59 with seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Saki Mizushima put on a long range shooting exhibition to make three three-pointers in the space of three minutes and 25 seconds to gain the ascendancy for Japan 71-67 with three minutes and 35 seconds remaining in the fourth term. The Opals responded with field goals to Belinda Snell and Marianna Tolo to tie the scores at 71 points apiece. Mizushima made her fourth three-pointer of the quarter with one minute and 26 seconds remaining to reclaim the lead for Japan 74-71. Kelsey Griffin took an offensive rebound and made a layup to reduce the Opals deficit to one point with one minute and 12 seconds to play. Neither side was able to score in the last 72 seconds resulting in Japan holding on to have a 74-73 victory to win the gold and Australia finishing in second place with the silver medal. In the 2017 final Mizushima made seven of nine three-pointers at 77.8% and scored a team-high 26 points for Japan. Griffin scored a game-high 30 points at 57.9% from the field, took a game-high 15 rebounds including seven offensive boards and made a game-high three blocked shots in an exceptional performance.

At the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 Griffin played all six games for the Opals and played brilliant basketball to average 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game to lead Australia in both categories. Kelsey ranked third overall at the tournament in scoring and equal fifth in rebounding. Griffin was named in the tournament’s All-Star Five and won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Six Australian’s averaged more than 7.5 points per game at the Asia Cup 2017 with Griffin joined in this category by Smith (10.8 points), Sara Blicavs (9.7), Tolo (9.0), Steph Blicavs (8.7) and Ebzery (7.8).

Kelsey Griffin shooting a free throw for Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 23 October 2016

FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019

The Australian team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019 held in Bengaluru, India from 22 to 29 September was Bec Allen, Abby Bishop, Sara Blicavs, Katie Ebzery, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Ezi Magbegor, Leilani Mitchell, Lauren Nicholson, Jenna O’Hea, Nicole Seekamp and Steph Talbot. Sara Blicavs and Ebzery were the only two players from Australia’s FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 team  that returned to Bengaluru, India two years later and suited up in the green and gold at the 2019 Asia Cup.

In Australia’s last five games of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019 from their second Group B game they had the same starting line-up with Mitchell and Ebzery starting in the backcourt along with  Allen, O’Hea and George in the frontcourt.

Australia defeated Philippines 123-57 in their first Group B game and followed up with an 82-44 victory against New Zealand. China also won their first two Group B games and played Australia in their final group B game with the winner to finish first in the group and progress directly to the semi finals. China outscored Australia 25-15 in the second quarter of their Group B game to lead 44-35 at half-time. Australia reduced the margin throughout the second half and with a Mitchell steal and driving layup took the lead 69-68 with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Ting Shao responded with a lay-up to regain the lead for China 70-69 with eight seconds left. On the next possession the Opals turned the ball over before attempting a shot and China held on for a one victory top place in Group B.

In a qualification to semi final game the Opals defeated Chinese Taipei 90-51 to advance to a semi final against Japan. The Opals outscored Japan 23-15 in the first quarter to lead by eight points at quarter-time. Whilst scoring dried up for Australia in the second quarter they were able to keep Japan relatively in check and retained a six point lead 28-22 with three minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Japan dominated the remainder of the quarter to go on a 13-0 run led by six points from Nako Motohashi, turning a six point deficit into a seven point lead at half time. Japan went on to defeat the Opals by 12 points 76-64 to make the gold medal game with Australia playing off for bronze.

Australia had a 98-62 victory against Korea in the bronze medal game led by Allen with a game-high 20 points shooting at 70% from the field and seven rebounds. Talbot made a game-high eight assists. Allen averaged 11.7 points (ranked 2nd for Australia), 4.5 rebounds (4^th) and a team-high 1.7 steals  per game. Allen made 10 of 22 three-pointers at an accuracy of 45.5% and was selected in the tournament’s All-Star Five. Six players averaged more than 7.0 points per game for the Opals with other players in this category being Magbegor (12.0), George (9.3), Garbin (8.8), O’Hea (8.5) and Ebzery (7.3).

FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021

Two months after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Australia competed in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 held in Amman, Jordan from 27 September to 3 October. Australia had an inexperienced team with none of the members of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games team playing. Sami Whitcomb, Darcee Garbin and Lauren Nicholson were the only three members of the team with previous experience representing the Opals. Whitcomb was named the Opals captain for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 and had been a member of the Opals silver medal winning team at the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2018. Garbin and Nicholson had both been members of Australia’s bronze medal winning team at the previous Asia Cup held in India in late-September 2019. Nine members of the team made their Australian Opals debut at the Asia Cup 2021 – Zitina Aokuso, Keely Froling, Jade Melbourne, Tiana Mangakahia, Lauren Scherf, Alex Sharp, Jaz Shelley, Kristy Wallace and Abbey Wehrung. With Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello unavailable for the tournament due to commitments in the WNBA with Phoenix Mercury, Opals Assistant Coach Paul Goriss took over as the Head Coach for the 2021 Asia Cup.   

Australia won their first two Group B games at the Asia Cup 2021, defeating Chinese Taipei 75-64 and had a 120-56 victory against Philippines. In their final Group B game Australia trailed China by one point 39-40 at half time. China controlled the second half 42-25 to defeat the Opals 82-64 led by a double-double comprised of 16 points and 11 rebounds from Han Xu. Whitcomb was the standout for Australia with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead the Opals in all three categories.

In the first quarter of a qualification semi final the Opals and New Zealand Tall Ferns scored 20 points each. Australia won the second quarter 20-14 and went on to defeat the Tall Ferns 72-61. In a semi final Japan got the jump on the Opals to lead 20-12 at quarter-time. Australia played scintillating basketball in the second term to outscore Japan 24-11 to turn an eight point quarter time deficit into a five point half-time lead 36-31. The semi final continued to ebb and flow and the Opals looked to be well placed leading by six points, 62-56 with four minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Japan went on an 11-3 run for the remainder of the game to defeat Australia by two points 67-65.  Saki Hiyashi made five of ten three-pointers at 50%, scored a game-high 17 points, took a team-high seven rebounds and made three assists for Japan. Opals captain Whitcomb scored a team-high 16 points, took seven rebounds, made a team-high eight assists and an equal game-high three steals.

An Opals 23-10 second quarter against Korea in the third place game set up an Australian 88-58 victory to win the bronze medal. Whitcomb scored a team-high 15 points and was joined in double figures by three Opals teammates – Garbin (14 points) along with Froling and Aokuso with 10 points each.

Whitcomb played all six games for Australia, averaged 17.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 28.3 minutes per game. In each game of the 2021 Asia Cup Whitcomb led the Opals in at least one of the three major statistical categories of points, rebounds and assists including three games in which she led Australia in all three categories, the final group game against China, the semi final classification game against New Zealand and the bronze medal game against Korea, which highlights Whitcomb’s sustained excellence throughout the tournament.  Whitcomb ranked first overall at the tournament for scoring per game, second in assists, sixth for steals, seventh in rebounds and was selected in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 All-Star Five.

Sami Whitcomb playing for Perth Lynx against University of Canberra Capitals at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022

Six Opals averaged more than 6.0 points per game at FIBA Asia Cup 2021 with Garbin (10.5) Froling (9.8), Scherf (9.3), Sharp (6.5) and Nicholson (6.3) ranking second to sixth. Scherf led the Opals with 7.7 rebounds per game and ranked third with 1.8 assists per game. Four of Australia’s top six scorers from Asia Cup 2021 – are suiting up in the green and gold at Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney this week –  Garbin, Froling, Scherf and Nicholson.

Lauren Scherf shooting a three-pointer for Perth Lynx against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

Korea hold the record for most FIBA Women’s Asia Cups won with 12, just ahead of China with 11 gold medals. Japan rank third with six gold medals and are attempting to win the Asia Cup for the sixth consecutive time, having won the tournament in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Australian Opals player profiles for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023

Player profiles are included in alphabetical order of the players surname.

Amy Atwell

#25                                             Position:  Guard/Forward              

Date of Birth 30 June 1998     Height 183cm                   

Junior Club                                Willetton Tigers (Western Australia)     

WNBL debut: 2022/23             WNBL games played: 23

2022/23 and 2023/24 WNBL Team: Perth Lynx

2023 NBL1 Team: Bendigo Braves (South)

The feature image for this article is of Amy Atwell shooting a free throw for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

Amy Atwell grew up in South Perth and played junior basketball with Willetton Tigers. As a junior player Atwell represented Western Australia at Australian National Championships.

At 18 years of age Atwell moved away from Perth and her family to attend the University of Hawaii and play college basketball. Before playing her first game Atwell injured her knee and required a knee reconstruction, Atwell missed the entire season due to injury which resulted in 2016/17 being classified as a redshirt season. Although Atwell was unable to play she still travelled for every road trip and did her rehabilitation with University of Hawaii athletic trainer Erin Tillman. During the rehabilitation process Atwell was unable to do most on-court activities but continued to work on  her shooting which paid dividends. 

In her freshman season for University of Hawaii in 2017/18 Atwell played 23 games and had one start. During the 12 April 2022 episode of The Dribble podcast published by The West Australian Atwell commented “Even coming back from that ACL I was playing and felt physically good but I didn’t have all that trust back and I actually ended up tearing my meniscus that next off-season and had to have another two surgeries. So that next 18 months after my ACL I was still kind of battling knee injuries had a couple more surgeries in there and still trying to find that groove and get back into it. So it wasn’t really until the year before COVID, that season I really found my feet again and felt like the same basketball player I was before I tore my ACL.” Atwell’s ACL injury and COVID extended her time at University of Hawaii from four years to six years.

In 2017/18 and 2018/19 Atwell was a core rotation player for University of Hawaii, in 51 games over these two seasons she averaged 4.4 points and 12.7 minutes per game. During the 2017/18 season Perth Lynx teammate Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard was a teammate of Atwell’s at Hawaii. After regaining confidence in her knee Atwell averaged 10.6 points and 22.0 minutes per game starting 13 of 27 games in 2019/20 and was named the Big West Conference Best Sixth Player.

During the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons Atwell started all 47 games and emerged as a star for University of Hawaii. In 2020/21 Atwell started all 17 games for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Basketball team and averaged 12.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 29.1 minutes per game. Atwell was selected in the 2020/21 Big West Conference Second-team.

Atwell scored at least 20 points in a game 13 times from 30 games in 2021/22. In a University of Hawaii home game Atwell scored a game-high and season-high 33 points shooting at 52.6% from the field and took 10 rebounds in a 73-66 victory against CSU Bakersfield on 22 January 2022. During her exceptional 2021/22 season Atwell averaged 17.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 31.8 minutes per game for the University of Hawaii. In 2021/22 the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Basketball team won the Big West regular season championship and also won the Big West tournament, defeating UC Irvine 59-48 in the final. Atwell was named in the Big West Conference First-Team in 2021/22 and was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first University of Hawaii player to receive this award. Atwell played 125 games for University of Hawaii, averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 21.5 minutes per game and made 205 three-pointers to set a new career record for her college.

At pick 27 in the 2022 WNBA Draft Los Angeles Sparks selected Atwell, who made history by becoming the first West Australian to be selected in a WNBA draft. West Australians to play in the WNBA after being recruited as free agents include 2006 World Championships Gold medallist Tully Bevilaqua and two-time World Cup medallist and 2022/23 Perth Lynx teammate Sami Whitcomb. In a WNBA pre-season game against Phoenix Mercury Atwell scored 19 points and made six of six three-pointers. Atwell started in LA Sparks season opener for the 2022 WNBA regular season in a road game against Chicago Sky on 6 May. Atwell was waived by the LA Sparks on 7 June. Atwell played four regular season games for the Sparks averaging 0.8 points and 8.0 minutes per game.

Atwell was one of three Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team members in the Perth Lynx starting line-up for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season along with Chloe Bibby and Lauren Scherf. In a Round 12 road game against the Melbourne Boomers Atwell scored a game-high 27 points and took four rebounds in Perth’s 91-82 victory at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January. Atwell shot the ball proficiently to make seven of 14 three-pointers against Melbourne at an accuracy of 50%. Atwell was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Week for Round 12, her second selection of the season, having previously been selected in Round 2.

Amy Atwell playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023

Amy Atwell in a Perth Lynx team huddle against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023, Opals teammates Bibby and Scherf are to Atwell’s left

Perth Lynx finished fourth at the end of the 2022/23 regular season and lost both games of their semi final series to eventual champions Townsville Fire. Atwell played all 23 games for Perth Lynx in 2022/23 including 21 as a starter and averaged 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals (ranked equal 17^th in the WNBL) per game. Atwell made 52 of 146 three-pointers at an accuracy of 35.6% and her 2.3 three-pointers made per game ranked equal fourth in the WNBL.

Amy Atwell playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023

At the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Wuhan Stop on 6 and 7 May 2023 Atwell and Bibby both made their debut for the Australian 3×3 women’s Gangurrus team. Australia finishing second at the Wuhan stop, being defeated by China 13-21 in the final.

During the 2023 NBL1 South season Atwell is playing for the Bendigo Braves and has scored at least 26 points in six of her 11 games. In a road game against Diamond Valley on 20 May Atwell made five of 11 three-pointers at an accuracy of 45.5% and scored a season-high and game-high 32 points, took four rebounds and made an equal game-high three steals in Bendigo’s 89-68 victory. In the Braves next game against Geelong Atwell scored an equal season-high and game-high 32 points, took four rebounds, made three assists and two steals in Bendigo’s 92-75 victory at home on 27 May at Red Energy Arena. Atwell is averaging 23.4 points (ranked 7^th in NBL1 South) and 7.7 rebounds per game for the Bendigo Braves.

On 19 May 2023 Perth Lynx announced that Atwell had signed with the club for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Perth Lynx Head Coach Ryan Petrik told WNBL Media “The entire organisation loved having Amy back home last year, and showed real match-winning abilities on multiple occasions. Amy clearly has size, length, and floor spacing ability which makes her dangerous every second she’s on the floor. We can’t wait to see what she can do with a year of pro experience under her belt.”2

Atwell is one of three players making their debut for the Seven Consulting Opals at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 along with Bibby and Chantel Horvat.

Chloe Bibby

#55                                            Position:  Guard/Forward               

DOB  15 June 1998                  Height 185cm                   

Junior Club                               Dandenong Rangers (Victoria)     

WNBL debut: 2013/14             WNBL games played: 50

2022/23 WNBL Team: Perth Lynx

2023 NBL1 Team: Frankston Blues (South)

Bibby is a free agent for 2023/24.

Chloe Bibby played her junior basketball with the Dandenong Rangers. In the 2016 Under 20 National Championships Bibby was a member of gold medal winning Victoria Navy team. In Victoria Navy’s 22 point Grand Final victory against South Australia Bibby scored a team-high 19 points. Bibby played a phenomenal tournament in 2016 to average 17.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

At the 2014 FIBA Under 17 World Championship for Women Bibby played for the Australian Sapphires. As a member of Australia’s gold medal winning team at the 2016 FIBA Under 18 Oceania Championship held in Suva, Fiji Bibby played all five games and averaged 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 17.3 minutes per game. Bibby ranked third for Australia in scoring and had a field goal accuracy of 55.8%.

Bibby was a starter for the Australian Gems team that finished sixth at the 2017 Under 19 FIBA Women’s World Cup held in Italy. Bibby played all seven games for the Gems and averaged 11.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 26.1 minutes per game. Throughout the tournament Bibby was consistent, scoring at least 10 points and taking at least six rebounds in five games. Bibby ranked second for the Gems in scoring behind Ezi Magbegor and third in rebounding behind Anneli Maley and Magbegor. 

At just 15 years of age Bibby made her WNBL debut with the Dandenong Rangers in 2013/14 and was teammates with FIBA Asia Cup 2023 Opals team member Lauren Scherf. In four WNBL seasons with the Jayco Rangers from 2013/14 to 2016/17 Bibby played a total of 28 games. The Rangers made the 2016/17 Grand Final and were defeated by the Sydney Uni Flames two games to nil.

Bibby also played for the Dandenong Rangers in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) during WNBL off-seasons and was a member of the Rangers team that won back-to-back SEABL Championships in 2015 and 2016. Bibby played 25 games for the Rangers during the 2016 SEABL season and averaged 10.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Chloe Bibby and Lauren Scherf celebrating after Dandenong Rangers defeated Kilsyth Cobras in the 2016 SEABL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 10 September 2016

For the 2017 SEABL season Bibby joined the Bendigo Lady Braves. In a road game for Bendigo against former team Dandenong Rangers Bibby scored a game-high and season-high 31 points shooting at 58.8% from the field, took a game-high nine rebounds and made an equal team-high two steals  in a 66-60 victory at Dandenong Stadium on 1 July.

During the 2017 SEABL season Bibby played 18 games for Bendigo and averaged 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Bibby was rewarded for her brilliant 2017 SEABL season with two awards, winning the Women’s Australian Youth Player of the Year award and being named in the All-SEABL Women’s First team. 

Chloe Bibby playing for Bendigo Braves in a SEABL game against Dandenong Rangers at Dandenong Stadium on 12 August 2017

From 2017/18 to 2019/20 Bibby played three seasons of College basketball for Mississippi State in the United States. As a freshman Bibby played 37 games for Mississippi State off the bench in 2017/18. Bibby was a starter in her 2018/19 sophomore season, however sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in her left knee in the opening minute of Mississippi’s game against South Carolina on 17 January which ended her season.

After the knee injury Bibby made her return in Mississippi State’s opening game of the 2019/20 season and scored a team-high 16 points against Southern Mississippi on 9 November. Bibby played 33 games including 31 as a starter in 2019/20. In three seasons at Mississippi State from 2017/18 to 2019/20 Bibby played 88 games including 49 as a starter and averaged 6.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 20.0 minutes per game. In 2019/20 Bibby led for Mississippi State with 38 three-pointers made and ranked second for rebounds.

After the 2019/20 college season Bibby transferred to University of Maryland. Bibby played for Maryland in 2020/21 and 2021/22, starting all 61 games that she played during this period. Bibby scored a game-high 22 points and took seven rebounds in Maryland’s 72-55 home victory against Rutgers on 27 January 2022. In a road game at Penn State on 30 January Bibby scored 17 points and took a game-high 10 rebounds in 82-71. Across these two victories Bibby made an aggregate of five three-pointers from 10 attempts and had a field goal accuracy of 50%. On 31 January 2022 Bibby was named the Big Ten Player of the Week. Bibby was selected in the 2022 All-Big Ten Second team. Bibby starting all 61 games that she played for Maryland in 2020/21 and 2021/22 and averaged 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 31.4 minutes per game.

Although Bibby was projected to be selected in the third round of the 2022 WNBA Draft by some mock drafts including ESPN she went undrafted. Bibby attended a 2022 pre-season training camp with WNBA club Minnesota Lynx. In one pre-season game for Minnesota Bibby scored four points. On 2 May 2022 the Lynx waived Bibby.

Mid-way through the 2022 NBL1 South season Bibby joined Kilsyth Cobras and was teammates with Lauren Scherf. In nine games for Kilsyth Bibby averaged 18.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 28 minutes  court-time per game. Bibby ranked second for Kilsyth in scoring per game behind Scherf and third for rebounds.

Perth Lynx announced on 2 August 2022 that they had signed guard/forward Bibby for the 2022/23 season. Perth Head Coach Ryan Petrik told WNBL Media “Everyone knows Chloe is an elite talent who can really shoot it, and that’s huge in our system. But what we really like is that she can also floor it, switch it on D, rebound it, come off screens or set them herself, or post it up. We want to keep doubling down on this pace and space styled system, and we know Chloe’s versatility can go a long way to helping us with that.”3

Perth Lynx’s starting five for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season included three members of the Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team – Bibby, Amy Atwell and Lauren Scherf. In Perth’s 82-75 home victory against Adelaide at Bendat Basketball Centre on 30 December Bibby scored a game-high 25 points shooting at 50% from the field, took nine rebounds to earn selection in the WNBL’s Round 8 Team of the Week.

Chloe Bibby shooting a free throw for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

Due to testing positive to COVID Bibby missed Perth’s Round 9 home game against Sydney on 7 January. Bibby only missed one game but upon her return had managed minutes playing several games off the bench. In a road game against Adelaide Lightning on 16 February Bibby putting on a shooting exhibition to make seven of nine three-pointers at 77.8% all four free throws and score a season-high and game-high 29 points shooting at 75% from the field in a 108-82 victory.

Chloe Bibby playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023

Perth had 13 wins and eight losses to finish fourth on the ladder at the end of the 2022/23 regular season. In a semi final series Townsville defeated Perth two games to nil. In 2022/23 Bibby played 22 games for Perth including 18 as a starter and averaged 15.6 points (ranked 10^th in the WNBL), 4.6 rebounds and 30.8 minutes per game. Bibby ranked equal 14^th in the WNBL with 1.6 three-pointers made per game and had a field goal accuracy of 48.5%. Bibby was in a select group of four players along with Karlie Samuelson, Tianna Hawkins and Tiffany Mitchell that had a field goal accuracy above 47.5% and made at least 25 three-pointers in the 2022/23 season.

Chloe Bibby making a lay up for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

For the 2023 NBL1 season Bibby returned to Victoria to play for the Frankston Blues in the South Conference. In a road game against Casey on 14 May Bibby made five of nine three-pointers at 55.6%, scored a game-high and season-high 36 points shooting at 58.3% from the field, took eight rebounds and made four assists, two steals and blocked two shots.

The Frankston Blues are fourth on the NBL1 South ladder with 11 wins and four losses. In 2023 Bibby is averaging 28.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Bibby is shooting at 48.0% from the field and leads the NBL1 South for points per game.

A trio of players are making their their debut for the Opals Seven Consulting Opals at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 this week, Bibby, Atwell and Chantel Horvat. Bibby is a free agent for 2023/24.

Keely Froling         

#21                                                   Position: Forward                    

DOB  31 January 1996                   Height 188cm                         

Junior Club                                      Townsville (Queensland)                               

WNBL debut: 2012/13                   WNBL games played: 150     

2022/23 WNBL Team: Sydney Flames

2023 NBL1 Team: Launceston Tornadoes (South)

2023/24 WNBL Team: Melbourne Boomers

Asia Cup:                                    2021

Keely Froling was born and raised in Townsville, Queensland and is from a family with a very strong basketball pedigree. Mum Jenny played in the WNBL and Dad Shane played in the NBL. Keely’s twin sister Alicia plays in the WNBL for the Bendigo Spirit and both of her brothers Harry and Sam play in the NBL.

Keely made her WNBL debut as a development player with Townsville Fire in 2012/13 and played two seasons of College basketball at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas alongside twin sister Alicia. Keely played 49 games for SMU including 18 starts. Due to a knee injury suffered late in the 2014/15 season Froling spent time on the sidelines early in the 2015/16 season.

From 2016/17 to 2020 Froling spent five seasons in the WNBL with the University of Canberra Capitals and played 108 games during this time. Froling was a member of the Capitals team that won back-to-back WNBL Championships in 2018/19 and 2019/20. In the 2019/20 and 2020 WNBL seasons Froling averaged more than 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. 

Froling was a member of the Emerging Opals gold medal winning teams at the 2017 and 2019 World University Games and was teammates with twin sister Alicia at the later tournament. A quartet of players from the Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team played in Australia’s 80-72 victory against USA in the 2019 gold medal game with Keely being joined in this category by Lauren Scherf, Anneli Maley and Maddison Rocci. In the 2019 final Keely scored 12 points and took seven rebounds against USA.

From 2018 onwards Froling has played in many 3×3 tournaments. In 2019 Froling was a member of the Spectres iAthletic team that won NBL Pro Hustle tournaments in Darwin and Melbourne. Froling has represented Australian 3×3 teams at several international tournaments including the bronze medal Australian team at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2018 and finishing fourth at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2019. In September 2019 Froling was in the Australia quartet that won FIBA Women’s Series Tokyo Stop 2019. Froling was a member of the Australian team that finished first at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier 2023.

In the traditional five on five format of basketball Froling was a member of the Opals bronze medal winning team at the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in Jordan. Keely played all six games for Australia and averaged 9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 18.9 minutes per game to rank third for the Opals in points and rebounds and fifth for minutes played.

Keely Froling playing for University of Canberra Capitals against Bendigo Spirit at the State Basketball Centre on 25 November 2017

Froling joined the Sydney Flames for the 2021/22 WNBL season and in her first season with the club was named co-captain along with guard Lauren Mansfield. Froling scored more than 17 points in a game eight times including seven of her last eight games of the season. On 12 February against Townsville Froling scored a game-high and season-high 31 points at a field goal accuracy of 46.2% and took nine rebounds. Against Perth Lynx on 5 March Froling played the full 40 minutes and inspired a Flames team missing Shyla Heal to a 66-63 road victory against the Lynx at the Bendat Basketball Centre. Against Perth Froling scored 30 points and took a game-high 22 rebounds comprised of seven offensive and 15 defensive rebounds.

In 2021/22 Froling played 17 games for Sydney Flames and averaged 4.5 free-throws made per game (2^nd in the WNBL), 16.3 points (6^th) 8.5 rebounds (7^th) and 32.7 minutes (7^th) Froling was a joint winner of the Sydney Uni Flames 2021/22 MVP Award along with point guard Heal. 

Keely Froling shooting a free-throw for Sydney Uni Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022

During the 2022 NBL1 South season for Launceston Tornadoes Froling averaged 28.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.6 blocked shots per game. Froling recorded double-doubles in 21 of her 24 games for Launceston and in two other games fell one rebound short of reaching this benchmark. Keely Froling won two of the three NBL1 South Women’s regular season statistical Awards, winning the awards for leading scorer (29.6 points per game) and leading rebounder (14.2 rebounds per game). Keely was selected in the 2022 NBL1 South Women’s All-Star Five and was joined in the team by her sister Alicia who won the conference’s MVP award.

Keely Froling playing for Launceston Tornadoes in an NBL1 South preliminary final against Ringwood Hawks at The Rings on 28 August 2022

During 2022/23 as Sydney Flames sole captain Froling was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Week three times including Round 15 when she was also named the league’s Player of the Round. Froling scored at least 20 points in a game 11 times in 2023 including both of Sydney’s Round 15 games. In Sydney’s first game of Round 15 Froling scored a season-high 30 points at 52.4% from the field, made two of four three-pointers at 50%, took eight rebounds, made three assists and three steals in Sydney’s 100-91 home victory against Adelaide Lightning on 24 February at Quaycentre- the venue for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023.

Keely Froling and Sydney Flames teammates including Shyla Heal in a huddle against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022

Froling played all 21 games in 2022/23, reaching 150 games in Sydney’s final game of the season on the road against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 5 March. mIn 2022/23 Froling averaged 18.1 points (ranked 4^th in the WNBL) and 8.8 rebounds (5^th) per game to set new career-highs in both categories. Keely ranked equal first in the league with 4.0 free throws made per game and ranked equal 10^th with 0.6 blocked shots per game. During 2022/23 Froling set a new career-high with a field goal accuracy of 45.4% and also made a career-high 14 three-pointers for the season.

Keely Froling shooting a free throw for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022

Suiting up for the Launceston Tornadoes again in 2023 Froling has continued to be a dominant force in NBL1 South. Across two games in Round 7 Froling amassed 60 points and 29 rebounds to be named the NBL1 South Round 7 Foot Locker Player of the Week. In Launceston’s second game of Round 7 Froling scored 39 points, took 13 rebounds and made seven steals to set game-highs in all three categories in Launceston’s 84-79 road victory against Sandringham. Froling has played 10 games for the Tornadoes in 2023 and is averaging 25.9 points (ranked 3^rd in NBL1 South) and 10.1 rebounds per game.  

For the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Froling has signed with the Deakin Melbourne Boomers and will be teammates with two members of the Opals bronze medal winning team from World Cup 2022 in Kristy Wallace and Sara Blicavs. Froling will also be teammates at the Boomers with Penina Davidson who this week is playing her third consecutive FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for New Zealand.

WNBL Achievements:            WNBL Championship 2018/19, 2019/20 (both with University of Canberra Capitals)

Achievements for Australia (in 5 on 5):    Asia Cup bronze medal 2021

Darcee Garbin                                        

#5                                            Position: Forward                    

DOB  24 June 1994                Height 188cm                    

Junior Club                              Kalgoorlie (Western Australia)          

WNBL debut: 2011/12       WNBL games played: 242    

 2022/23 Team: DVTK-Hun-Thern (Hungary)

 2023 Team: Goldfield Giants (NBL1 West)  

FIBA Asia Cup:                      2019 & 2021

FIBA World Cup:                  2022

Darcee Garbin grew up in Kambalda, Western Australia and commenced her junior basketball career with Kalgoorlie, her family later moved to Perth. In the current NBL1 West season Garbin has returned to Kalgoorlie and is playing for the Goldfield Giants.

In 2011/12 Garbin made her WNBL debut at 17 years of age with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in the AIS’s last season in the league. Darcee’s younger sister Sophie has represented Australia in netball and played the 2022 and 2023 Suncorp Super Netball seasons for Collingwood.

From 2012/13 to 2014/15 Garbin played three WNBL seasons for the West Coast Waves (who were later re-branded the Perth Lynx) and averaged more than 6.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in each season.

Garbin played 110 WNBL games for the Townsville Fire in a five season stint with the club from 2015/16 to 2019/20 and played in WNBL Championships for Townsville in 2015/16 and 2017/18 with front-court teammates in these championship winning seasons including Opals teammate Cayla George and six-time WNBL MVP winner Suzy Batkovic who the award is now named after.

Darcee Garbin shooting a free-throw for Townsville Fire against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017

At the 2017 World University Games in Taipei Garbin was co-captain of the Emerging Opals team that won the gold medal. Garbin was exceptional in the final with a game-high 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in Australia’s 85-78 victory against Japan.

After the 2017/18 WNBL season concluded Garbin played in the DBBL Damen Basketball Bundesliga (DBBL) in Germany and was a member of Herner TC’s 2018 Championship winning team. 

After averaging between 5.0 and 9.9 points per game in seven WNBL seasons from 2012/13 to 2018/19 Garbin relished additional court-time to make an impact on the scoreboard, averaging 14.4 points with Townsville Fire in 2019/20.

For the 2020 WNBL season Garbin returned to play for the Perth based WNBL club who had been re-branded the Perth Lynx. Garbin played all 13 games for Perth in the 2020 hub season and averaged 16.5 points (ranked 6^th in the WNBL), and 7.2 rebounds per game (equal 11^th) to set new career-highs in both categories.    

At the 2019 and 2021 Asia Cup Garbin was a member of the Australian Opals team that won bronze medals. During the 2021 Asia Cup Garbin averaged 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 22.8 minutes per game, shot the ball at 55.6% from the field and 45% from the perimeter. At the 2022 World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in Belgrade Serbia in February Garbin averaged 8.0 points (ranked equal 3rd for the Opals) and 5.7 rebounds (ranked 2nd) per game.

Garbin played 11 consecutive WNBL seasons from 2011/12 to 2021/22 and was very durable, amassing 242 WNBL games. During 2021/22 Garbin was the captain of Perth Lynx and was very effective from long-range, making 2.3 three-pointers per game to rank equal fourth in the WNBL in this category and had a three-point accuracy of 40.3%.

Darcee Garbin shooting a three-pointer for Perth Lynx against UC Capitals at Selkirk Stadium on 19 January 2022

At the FIBA World Cup 2022 held in Sydney Garbin was a member of the Seven Consulting Opals bronze medal winning team. In Australia’s second Group B game against Mali Garbin made six of nine field goal attempts at 66.7% and scored 14 points – ranked equal second for the Opals. 

During 2022/23 Garbin played for Hungarian club DVTK-Hun-Therm. In the 2022/23 Euroleague season Garbin played 13 games for DVTK-Hun-Therm and averaged 9.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

In the current 2023 NBL1 West season Garbin has returned to Kalgoorlie and is playing for the Goldfield Giants. Garbin has played three games for the Goldfield Giants and is averaging 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

On the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 Garbin told nbl1.com.au in early June “I’m so excited for that too. Any time we get to get together as an Opals group and put on the green and gold, it’s always so exciting. We have such a great thing going with our culture and connection now, especially rolling off that medal with the World Cup last year. It’s always an exciting time and I can’t wait to get into camp, and hopefully into some games from there.”4

This week Garbin and Lauren Nicholson become the first players to represent the Opals in three FIBA Women’s Asia Cup’s, having been teammates on the Australian bronze medal winning teams at the 2019 and 2021 tournaments.

WNBL Achievements:                    WNBL Championship 2015/16, 2017/18 (both with Townsville Fire)

Achievements for Australia:         World Cup bronze medal 2022

                                                      Asia Cup bronze medal 2019 & 2021

Shyla Heal     

#4                                                  Position: Guard                      

DOB 19 September 2001              Height 168cm                         

Junior Association                          Northern Suburbs (New South Wales)

WNBL debut: 2015/16                    WNBL games played: 100     

2022/23 WNBL Teams: Sydney Flames and JCU Townsville Fire

2023 NBL1 Team: Sydney Comets (East)

Heal is a free agent for 2023/24.

At just 21 years of age Shyla Heal already has six seasons and 100 games WNBL experience, having made her debut at 14 years of age in 2015/16 with the SEQ Stars where she was coached by dad Shane who played for the Australian Boomers at four consecutive Olympic Games from 1992 to 2004. Shyla played 11 games with the Perth Lynx in 2018/19 and across her first two WNBL seasons played limited game-time.

Point guard Heal excelled at under-age level for Australia with a highlight being selection in the All-Star five at the 2018 FIBA Under 17 World Cup in Belarus after averaging 16.0 points – ranked second overall at the tournament, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Heal played a pivotal role in the Australian Sapphires winning the bronze medal and scored an equal game-high 16 points in the bronze medal game against Hungary.

With the Bendigo Spirit in the 2019/20 WNBL season Heal played all 21 games. In a Round 12 home game at Red Energy Arena Heal made four of seven three-pointers at an accuracy of 57.1%, scored a team-high 24 points at 54.5% from the field and took an equal team-high eight rebounds in Bendigo’s 94-90 victory against the UC Capitals on 3 January. Heal was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Week for Round 12. For Bendigo Spirit in 2019/20 Heal averaged a team-high 12.1 points and ranked equal 17^th in the WNBL with 1.5 three-pointers made per game.

Shyla Heal playing for Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 October 2019

For the 2020 WNBL season Heal started in Townsville’s backcourt alongside fellow Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team member Lauren Nicholson. Townsville’s Head Coach was Shannon Seebohm who is having his first tournament as the Opals Head Coach at the Asia Cup 2023. Heal earned back-to-back Team of the Round selections in Rounds 2 and 3 and was named Player of the Round for Round 3.

Townsville finished second on the ladder at the end of the 2020 regular season with nine wins and four losses. In Townsville’s 93-106 semi final loss to Southside Heal made four of eight three-pointers at an accuracy of 50%, scored an equal team-high (along with Nicholson) 30 points at 52.4% from the field, made a team-high seven assists and an equal game-high four steals. Heal was influential in Townsville progressing to the 2020 Grand Final, making 11 of 14 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 78.6%, scored a game-high 28 points, took five rebounds, made three assists and two steals in Townsville’s 65-62 preliminary final victory against Melbourne Boomers.

For 2020 Grand Finalists Townsville Heal average 16.7 points (ranked 5^th in the WNBL), 4.9 rebounds,  3.4 assists (equal 11^th) and 1.4 steals (equal 8^th)  per game. Heal ranked fifth in the WNBL for free throws made per game.  Heal was selected in the 2020 All-WNBL Second Team and won the Betty Watson Australian Youth Player of the Year Award.

At the 2021 WNBA Draft Chicago Sky selected Shyla with pick eight and she played four regular season games with the club before being traded in June 2021 to the Dallas Wings who immediately waived her.

During the 2021/22 WNBL season Shyla played for the Sydney Uni Flames and was again coached by her dad Shane. Against the Melbourne Boomers on 22 December 2021 Heal scored a game-high 29 points, made four of eight three-pointers at an accuracy of 50%, took eight rebounds and made four assists. On 26 February against Adelaide Lightning Heal scored a game-high 24 points shooting at 52.6% from the field, took seven rebounds and made a team-high five assists.

For the Sydney Flames in 2021/22 Heal played 14 games and averaged 15.6 points (ranked 10^th in the WNBL), 4.4 rebounds, a WNBL career-high 4.3 assists (7^th) and 1.3 steals per game. Heal was a joint winner of the Sydney Uni Flames 2021/22 MVP Award along with fellow Opals team member Keely Froling and finished runner up in the WNBL’s 2021/22 Betty Watson Youth Player of the Year Award behind Ezi Magbegor.

Shyla Heal playing for Sydney Uni Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 20 February 2022

At the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in Belgrade, Serbia in February 2022 Heal represented the Australian Opals, playing all three games at the tournament. Shyla also played all three of the Opals games against Japan in New South Wales in late May 2022 but missed out on selection in the Opals 2022 World Cup team.

During the 2022 NBL1 North season Heal played for Northside Wizards. Heal scored at least 28 points in a game four times. Against Rip City on 7 May at South Pine Sports Complex Heal registered a double-double comprised of 33 points and 10 rebounds to set team-highs in both categories and also made four assists and had two steals in the Wizards 91-79 victory.Heal played 15 games for Northside Wizards in the 2022 NBL1 North season and averaged 19.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Heal won the 2022 NBL1 North Women’s Youth Player of the Year award.

In a Sydney Flames Round 8 home game on 30 December 2022 Heal made four of seven three-pointers at 57.1%, scored a game-high 26 points, took six rebounds and made a game-high seven assists in an 81-70 victory against the UC Capitals. Heal was selected in the WNBL’s Team of the Round three times in the first half of the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season, earning selections in rounds 5, 7 and 8. After playing Sydney’s first 13 games of the 2022/23 up until the end of Round 10 in mid-January Heal didn’t play for Sydney again.

Shyla Heal playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022

On 1 February 2023 the Sydney Flames released a statement which said “The Sydney Flames and Shyla Heal have agreed to a mutual release for the remainder of the 22-23 WNBL season. The club has cleared the way for Shyla to seek other playing opportunities.”5

Shyla Heal switched WNBL clubs during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season, returned to Townsville Fire and was again teammates with Nicholson, fellow point guard Steph Reid and had Seebohm as her Head Coach just like in 2020. Heal played Townville’s last seven games of the 2022/23 regular season off the bench, commencing with two Round 13 road games against Perth Lynx on 1 and 4 February.

Townsville finished finish on top of the ladder with 17 wins and four losses at the end of the 2022/23 regular season. In each of Townsville’s first three finals Heal scored at least 14 points off the bench. In game 1 of the Grand Final at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on 18 March Heal shot the ball exceptionally to make all three three-pointers, nine of 10 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 90%, and scored a game-high 23 points in Townsville’s 94-63 victory against the Southside Flyers. In the final game of the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Heal played her 100^th WNBL game in game 2 of the Grand Final and was a member of the championship winning JCU Townsville Fire team.  

Shyla Heal playing for Townsville Fire against Southside Flyers in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March 2023

In an eventful 2022/23 season Heal played 24 games comprised of 13 games as a Sydney Flames starter and 11 games off the bench for Townsville. In 2022/23 Heal averaged 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.  

Shyla Heal shooting a free throw for Townsville Fire against the Southside Flyers in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March 2023

Playing for the Sydney Comets during the 2023 NBL1 East season Heal has scored at least 27 points in five of her 10 games. In a road game against Sutherland Sharks on 21 May Heal scored a team-high 41 points, took four rebounds and made a game-high seven assists in a 91-85 victory. For the Sydney Comets Heal is averaging 25.8 points (ranked 3^rd in NBL1 East), 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists (5^th) per game.

WNBL Achievements:            All-WNBL Second Team 2020         

Betty Watson Australian Youth Player of the Year 2020

WNBL Championship 2022/23 (with JCU Townsville Fire)

Chantel Horvat

#17                                                   Position: Forward                    

DOB  1 June 1998                            Height 188cm                         

Junior Club                                      Geelong (Victoria) 

Yet to make WNBL debut       

2022/23 Team: InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow (Poland)

2023 NBL1 Team: Geelong United (South)

Horvat is a free agent for 2023/24.

Chantel Horvat grew up in Geelong and progressed to represent Victoria Country at under-age level in several Australian National Championships. Horvat has played for Geelong at senior level, playing for Gelong Supercats in the SEABL as a teenager and more recently Geelong United in the current 2023 NBL1 South season.

Chantel is from a sporting family, her father Steve played for the Australian men’s soccer team, the Socceroos from 1994 to 2002. At the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 Horvat is one of three players making their debut for the Opals, following in her father’s footsteps and representing Australia at senior level on the international stage.           

At the 2015 Under 19 Women’s World Championship held in Russia in July Horvat was a member of the Australian Gems team. Horvat scored at least 10 points in three consecutive games, commencing with 10 points in a group game against Korea, followed by 14 points in a Round of 16 game against Mali and 11 points in a quarter final against China. Horvat played all seven games for the bronze medal winning Gems and averaged 5.7 points per game. 

Later in 2015 Horvat suited up in the green and gold at senior level as a member of the Australian 3×3 team at the 2015 FIBA 3×3 Oceania Championships held on the Gold Coast on Saturday September 12 and Sunday September 13. One of Horvat’s teammates was fellow Opals Asia Cup 2023 team member Anneli Maley. Australia defeated New Zealand 14-13 in the final to win the gold medal.

In 2016 Horvat had a scholarship at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence along with Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team member Maddi Rocci. Horvat played for the BA CoE at senior level during the 2016 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) season.            

During 2017 forward Horvat played for the Geelong Supercats in the SEABL and was teammates with Sara Blicavs and Alex Bunton. In a road game against Hobart Lady Chargers on 30 June Horvat made 14 of 27 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 51.9%, scored a game-high and season-high 33 points, took 11 rebounds and made two steals.

Horvat played her last game of the 2017 SEABL season for Geelong late in the regular season on 29 July and left to commence her college basketball career in the United States. In 19 games for Geelong Horvat excelled to average 17.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to earn selection in the 2017 All-SEABL Women’s Second team. Horvat scored at least 20 points in a game seven times including her last three games of the season. In the Championship game Geelong Supercats defeated Bendigo Braves 76-67 to win the 2017 SEABL title.

In five seasons of college basketball for University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 2017/18 to 2021/22 Horvat played 114 games. After having a total of four starts in her first four seasons Horvat started 14 of her 29 games for UCLA in 2021/22. In a road game against Washington on 13 February 2022 Horvat started for UCLA, scored a season-high 13 points and took a game-high nine rebounds in a 69-61 victory. During her college career for UCLA Horvat averaged 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 17.3 minutes per game.

Horvat attended the Los Angeles Sparks 2022 WNBA Training Camp in April along with Amy Atwell who is also making her Opals debut at Asia Cup 2023. The LA Sparks waived Horvat on 30 April 2022.

In 2022/23 Horvat played in Europe for Polish club InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow and was teammates with fellow Australian Alanna Smith. In a play-off game for Gorzow Horvat made 10 of 16 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 62.5%, scored 21 points and took five rebounds playing 24 minutes in a home win against Slava Banska Bystrica on 15 December. Horvat played 10 games for Gorzow and averaged 12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 22.5 minutes per game.

During the 2023 NBL1 South season Horvat is playing for Geelong United. After Horvat signed with the club Geelong United Head Coach Matthew Paton commented on Horvat to geelonguniteedbasketball.com “She’s a long, versatile athlete. She’s very aggressive on the glass; she can add to our ability to create second and third shot opportunities. She’s also a difficult matchup, in that she’s quite tall, can stretch the floor, (and) shoot the perimeter shot. But also a good first step and a slasher that can get to the rim.”6

Horvat has registered five double-doubles and has scored at least 20 points in a game five times for Geelong in 2023. Horvat scored a game-high and season-high 29 points shooting at 52.4% from the field and took an equal game-high 10 rebounds in Geelong’s 77-66 road win against Keilor on 4 June. Horvat has played nine games for Geelong United in 2023 and is averaging 19.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. One of Horvat’s Geelong United teammates Monica Okoye is representing Japan at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023. Horvat and Okoye will be on opposition teams when Australia play Japan in a Group B game on Wednesday 28 June at 7.30pm AEST.

After attending an Australian Opals training camp in June 2023 and being named in the Opals 12 player team for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 Horvat told geelonguniteedbasketball.com “I couldn’t fight back the tears; it was so exciting. Being in the squad was such an honour … but when I got the call that I’d made the team, I was in shock – I couldn’t believe it. It’s been a like a dream since I got that phone call. It’s amazing training with this group of girls and learning from the coaching staff. It’s been a phenomenal experience so far. There’s been a lot of training; getting to know the offences, getting to learn the defence, meetings and stuff like that.”7

Alice Kunek         

#10                                                 Position: Forward                    

DOB  6 January 1991                     Height 187cm                         

Junior Club                                      Eltham (Victoria)                               

WNBL debut: 2007/08                   WNBL games played: 220     

2022/23 Team: Sopron Basket (Hungary)

2023 NBL1 Team: Nunawading Spectres (South)

2023/24 WNBL Team: JCU Townsville Fire

Asia Cup:                                    2017

Alice Kunek made her WNBL debut with the Australia Institute of Sport in 2007/08. In three seasons with the Canberra based AIS from 2007/08 to 2009/10 Kunek averaged more than 5.0 points per game in each season and played a total of 21 games. 

For the 2010/11 season forward Kunek played off the bench for the Bulleen Boomers and was a member of the club’s first ever WNBL Championship. Kunek was elevated into the Boomers starting line-up at the start of the 2011/12 season and improved significantly during her three seasons with Bulleen, increasing her scoring output from 4.9 points per game in 2010/11 to 13.0 points per game in 2012/13. In 2012/13 Kunek made 1.5 three-pointers per game – ranked equal sixth in the WNBL.

At the inaugural FIBA 3×3 World Championships 2012 held in Athens, Greece during late August Kunek was a member of the Australian 3×3 team along with Katie Ebzery, Sara Blicavs and fellow Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team member Tess Madgen. Australia belied their status as the number 23 seeds to win all five Pool A games to top their pool and advanced all the way to the medal games. After being defeated in a semi final by USA 18-19 Australia won a thrilling third place game against the Ukraine 18-17 to win the bronze medal and finish on the podium at the 2012 FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Championships.   

In 2013/14 Kunek joined the Boomers crosstown rivals the Dandenong Rangers (now known as the Southside Flyers). With the Rangers Kunek averaged a new career-high 15.9 points per game (ranked equal fifth in the WNBL) and was one of the most accurate all-round shooters in the league. Among players that had at least 10 shot attempts Kunek ranked seventh for free throw accuracy (90.1%), 11^th for field goal accuracy (48.2%) and 12^th for three-point accuracy (40.8%). In 2014/15 with the Dandenong Rangers Kunek was teammates with the athlete she admired the most, Penny Taylor.

After two consecutive seasons for Dandenong Kunek returned to play the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons for the Boomers who in her time away from the club had been rebranded as the Melbourne Boomers. Kunek joined Perth Lynx for the 2017/18 season and made a career-high 2.3 three-pointers per game – ranked 3^rd in the WNBL. Late in the 2017/18 season Kunek played the 200^th WNBL game of her career. 

Alice Kunek playing defense for Melbourne Boomers against Perth Lynx against at the State Basketball Centre on 5 December 2015

Alice Kunek playing for Perth Lynx against Townsville Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017

Kunek was a member of the Australian Opals team that competed in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the first time at the tournament held in Bengaluru, India from 22 to 29 July 2017. Australia won their first five games of the tournament and lost a thrilling final to Japan 73-74. Kunek played four of the silver medal winning Opals six games at the tournament.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Townsville and the Gold Coast in Queensland during April Kunek was a member of the Australian Opals team. In the Opals victory against England in a Pool A game on 9 April at the Townsville Entertainment Centre Kunek made two of three three-pointers at an accuracy of 66.7%, scored 10 points at 57.1% from the field and took eight rebounds in 14 minutes and 16 seconds court time off the bench. In the final Australia defeated England 99-55 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre to win the gold medal. Kunek played all five games for the Opals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and had a field goal accuracy of 63.6%. 

In 2019/20 Kunek played in the WNBL for the Sydney Flames. On the road against the Southside Flyers Kunek recorded a double-double comprised of 27 points and 11 rebounds to set game-highs in both categories and made four assists in Sydney’s 86-79 Round 10 victory. Against Southside Kunek shot the ball exceptionally to make three of seven three-pointers at 42.9%, 11 of 19 field goal attempts at 59.2% and both free throws. Kunek was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Week twice – Rounds 3 and 10, in the latter Round Kunek was also named the Player of the Week.

Alice Kunek playing for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 30 November 2019

During 2019/20 Kunek played 17 WNBL games for Sydney Flames and averaged a career-high 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and a career-high 3.0 assists per game. Among players that played at least five games for the season Kunek ranked second in the WNBL for points per game and 17^th for assists.

Throughout her 12 season WNBL career Kunek has made 310 three-pointers from 853 attempts at an accuracy of 36.3%. In each of her past eight WNBL seasons from 2011/12 onwards Kunek has averaged at least 1.0 three-pointers made per game and has ranked in the league’s top 20 for three-pointers made per game.

After playing 11 consecutive WNBL seasons from 2007/08 to 2017/18 Kunek has played in Europe in four of the past five Australian summers. Kunek played for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre in France during 2019/20, followed by two seasons in Poland for Arka Gdynia in 2020/21 and 2021/22. Over two seasons for Arka Gdynia Kunek played a total of 15 Euroleague games and averaged 15.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

A decade after representing the Nunawading Spectres during the 2012 SEABL season Kunek suited up for the Spectres during the 2022 NBL1 South season. In a Round 4 road game against Casey at Casey Stadium Kunek played a brilliant all-round game to score a game-high 40 points, take nine rebounds and had an equal team-high five assists on 14 May 2022. Kunek made 12 of 17 two-point field goal attempts at an accuracy of 70.1% and made all 10 free-throws in Nunawading’s 95-76 road victory.

Five times during the 2022 NBL1 South season Kunek scored at least 27 points in a game including two games where she registered a double-double. During the 2022 NBL1 South season Kunek played 17 games for the Nunawading Spectres and averaged 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Kunek led Nunawading in scoring and rebounding, ranked second for assists and was selected in the NBL1 South All-Star 5.

Alice Kunek playing for Nunawading Spectres against Launceston Tornadoes at Nunawading Basketball Stadium on 26 June 2022

In 2022/23 Kunek played for Hungarian club Sopron Basket and was teammates with fellow Australian Ezi Magbegor. Sopron finished first on the ladder at the end of the 2022/23 Hungarian regular season with 20 wins and two losses. Sopron won all seven play-off games to win the Hungarian 2022/23 League Championship, defeating Uni Gyor three games to nil in the finals. Sopron Basket won the 2022/23 Hungarian Cup, defeating PEAC-Pecs 89-46 in the final with Kunek scoring 12 points and taking six rebounds. Kunek played 16 Euroleague games for Sopron who were defeated in the 2022/23 quarter finals by Fenerbahce. 

During the 2023 NBL1 South season Kunek scored at least 26 points in each of her first five games of the season for Nunawading Spectres including a season-high 29 points at 57.1% from the field against Diamond Valley Eagles in a 101-80 home victory on 3 June. In seven games for Nunawading in 2023 Kunek is averaging 22.3 points (ranked 8^th in NBL1 South), 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.  

On 7 June 2023 JCU Townsville Fire announced that Kunek had signed with the club for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Shannon Seebohm will be in his fifth season as Townsville’s Head Coach in 2023/24 and is the Head Coach of the Opals at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023. After Kunek had signed with Townsville Seebohm told WNBL Media “Alice is a great addition to our team. She has been playing in the Euroleague for the past few years, which is one of the top leagues in the world. She brings a lot of experience and knows how to win. Combined with her ability to score in a variety of different ways, she’s a tough player who will fit our style of play extremely well.”8

WNBL Achievements:     WNBL Championship 2010/11 (with Bulleen Boomers)

                                         All-WNBL Second team 2019/20

Achievements for Australia (in 5 on 5):         Commonwealth Games gold medal 2018

                                                                      Asia Cup silver medal 2017

Tess Madgen                       

#7                                            Position: Guard

DOB  12 August 1990           Height 180cm 

Junior Club                              Eastern Mavericks (South Australia)             

WNBL debut: 2008/09          WNBL games played: 247      

2022/23 WNBL Team: Melbourne Boomers

2023/24 WNBL Team: Sydney Flames

Olympic Games:                     2020

World Cup:                           2018 – silver medal, 2022 – bronze medal

Tess Madgen grew up in Williamstown, a small town in the Barossa Valley, South Australia and has two brothers that also played basketball, older brother Ben and younger brother Jack. Tess played junior basketball for the Eastern Mavericks alongside Australian Opals teammate Cayla George. At 18 years of age Madgen made her WNBL debut with the Australian Institute of Sport in 2008/09 and played a total of 38 games in two seasons for the AIS. Tess’ older brother Ben played basketball in the NBL and in 2012/13 playing for the Sydney Kings led the league in scoring and was named in the All-NBL First team. Younger brother Jack switched from basketball to Australia Rules Football and played 49 games as a defender for Collingwood in the AFL.   

After graduating from the AIS Tess played two WNBL seasons for Bendigo Spirit in 2010/11 and 2011/12, averaging more than 15.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in each season. In both 2010/11 and 2011/12 Madgen ranked in the WNBL’s top 10 for points and three-pointers made per game.

From 2012/13 to 2015/16 Madgen played four consecutive WNBL seasons for the Boomers who were rebranded from Bulleen to Melbourne in her second season with the club. In all four seasons for the Boomers Madgen averaged more than 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Tess Madgen playing for Melbourne Boomers against SEQ Stars at the State Basketball Centre on 8 November 2015

During 2014/15 Madgen played 22 games for the Melbourne Boomers and averaged 16.0 points (ranked 8th in the WNBL), 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 (equal 2nd) assists and 1.7 three-pointers made (7^th) per game. Madgen hasd a career-high field goal accuracy of 46.4% and made 36 of 88 three-pointers at an accuracy of 40.9% – ranked 10^th in the WNBL among players that had at least 10 three-point attempts. Madgen was recognised for her brilliant 2014/15 season for the Melbourne Boomers with selection in the All-WNBL first team.

In 2015 Madgen had a short stint in the WNBA playing eight games with Phoenix Mercury alongside George with Sandy Brondello as the Head Coach. Madgen played in Poland for AZS UMCS Lublin in 2016/17 but in the fourth quarter of the club’s first finals game for the season suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and required a knee reconstruction.

After rehabilitating from her knee injury Madgen made her basketball return during Australia’s 2018 winter season playing 10 games for the Dandenong Rangers in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).

Madgen made her Australian Opals debut at the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championships against New Zealand and also represented Australia at the 2013 and 2015 Oceania Championships. After narrowly missing selection for Australian Opals teams at major championships including the 2016 Rio Olympics Madgen made her major championships debut as part of the Australian Opals silver medal winning team at the 2018 World Cup in Spain. Madgen played all four games for the Australian Opals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In 2018/19 Madgen returned to the WNBL and played two seasons for JCU Townsville Fire, in the latter season Shannon Seebohm who is the Head Coach of the Opals at FIBA Asia Cup 2023 was Townsville’s Head Coach. In 2018/19 Madgen averaged 4.0 assists per game, ranked seventh in the WNBL. 

Tess Madgen playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 18 November 2018

Madgen returned to the Melbourne Boomers for the 2020 WNBL season and playing predominantly as a point guard averaged 13.6 points (ranked 14th^nd in the WNBL), 5.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists (2^nd) per game to earn selection in the All-WNBL second team.

Tess Madgen playing for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022

With the return of point guard Lindsay Allen to the Boomers for the 2021/22 season Madgen played mainly as a shooting guard/small forward. After playing junior basketball together with the Eastern Mavericks Madgen and George have gone on to play WNBL basketball, WNBA basketball and represent the Opals together. In April 2022 they were both starters on the Melbourne Boomers team that won the WNBL Championship.

Tess Madgen playing for the Melbourne Boomers against the Southside Flyers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 11 December 2021

At the World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in Belgrade, Serbia in February 2022 Madgen averaged 2.3 assists per game, ranked equal fourth for the Opals. During the three game series held in New South Wales against Japan in late May 2022 Madgen and George were the two most experienced members of the Opals team and played an important role with their leadership. After Game 2 against Japan Madgen commented “I think I play better when I try and help everyone else so I am just focussing on that at the moment and trying to make it enjoyable, trying to build this new culture, we are doing a really great job across the board.”

During the 2022 NBL1 South season Madgen played 16 games for the Bendigo Braves, averaging 28.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Madgen ranked second in the NBL1 South women’s conference in scoring and third in assists. The Bendigo Braves made the Grand Final and Madgen was selected in the NBL1 South women’s All Star 5.

Tess Madgen playing for Bendigo Braves against Ringwood Hawks at the State Basketball Centre in NBL1 South Grand Final on 3 September 2022

On 8 September 2022 at the Opals final training camp on the Gold Coast before the World Cup Head Coach Sandy Brondello announced that Madgen had been appointed as the Opals captain for the 2022 World Cup. Madgen spoke to the Opals playing group and staff commenting “Obviously our leadership group right from the beginning wanted to lead by empowering everyone to be a leader and that’s something I’m extremely passionate about. I’m going to be the best captain I can be, it’s a huge honour and I’m really overwhelmed. I love you guys, let’s do this.” 

In Australia’s second group game of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney against Mali Madgen scored 13 points, made four of five field goals at an accuracy of 80% and made an equal game-high five assists. In the Opals fourth group game they played Canada who had won their first three games of the tournament. In the last four minutes of the second quarter Madgen made two three-pointers to help the Opals go on a 19-0 run to turn a 19-33 deficit into a 38-33 lead at half-time. The Opals went on to defeat Canada 75-72. In the Opals final group game against Japan Madgen made a game-high six assists and took six rebounds.

The Opals met Canada again in the bronze medal game and won in convincing fashion, 95-65 to win the bronze medal. Opals captain Madgen played all eight games for the tournament off the bench and ranked third for Australia with 2.9 assists per game.

Due to suffering a knee injury during the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 Madgen missed the first half of the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season with the Melbourne Boomers. On 4 January 2023 Madgen made her return off the bench in a Melbourne Boomers home game and scored six points in 17 minutes and 16 seconds court time. On 11 January the Melbourne Boomers announced that Madgen “will sit out the remainder of the 2022-23 Cygnett WNBL season. Madgen, in consultation with the club doctor and medical staff, along with Boomers coaches, made the call following her season debut last Wednesday against the Southside Flyers.”9

On 18 May 2023 the Sydney Flames announced that Madgen had signed a two season deal with the club. Madgen is one of four members of the Australian Opals extended squad that have joined the Sydney Flames in the off-season along with Cayla George, Lauren Nicholson and Shaneice Swain. 2022/23 Melbourne Boomers Championship winning coach and current New Zealand Tall Ferns Head Coach Guy Molloy has been appointed the Interim Head Coach of the Sydney Flames.

WNBL Achievements:            All-WNBL First team 2014/15

                                                All-WNBL Second team 2020

WNBL Championship 2021/22 (with Melbourne Boomers)

Achievements for Australia (in 5 on 5):    World Cup silver medal 2018

World Cup bronze medal 2022

Anneli Maley

#24  Position: Forward                  

DOB 1 September 1998                   Height 186cm                         

Junior Club                                        Eltham Wildcats (Victoria)                          

WNBL debut: 2016/17                     WNBL games played: 87       

2022/23 WNBL Team: Bendigo Spirit

2023 NBL1 Team: Eltham Wildcats (South)

2023/24 WNBL Team:  Perth Lynx

World Cup:                           2022 – bronze medal

Anneli Maley played her junior basketball with the Eltham Wildcats and has also represented Eltham at senior level in the NBL1 South conference from 2021 to 2023. At under-age level Maley represented Australia at several tournaments including Under 17 and Under 19 World Championships. Maley was a member of the Australian Gems team that won a bronze medal at the 2015 Under 19 FIBA World Championship held in Chekhov, Russia. Maley is an exceptional rebounder and at the 2017 FIBA Under 19 World Cup held in Italy led the sixth placed Gems for rebounds and ranked fourth overall at the tournament in this category.

Maley joined WNBL club Adelaide Lightning in December 2016, two months after the 2016/17 season started and made her debut in the league at 18 years of age. The following month in an Adelaide Lightning victory on the road against the Dandenong Rangers on 8 January 2017 Maley fell just short of recording a double-double, scoring 16 points and taking a team-high nine rebounds. Maley played 12 WNBL games for Adelaide Lightning in 2016/17 and averaged 3.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Playing off the bench for Adelaide Maley finished in the top five of the WNBL’s 2016/17 Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award.

Anneli Maley playing for Adelaide Lightning against Dandenong Rangers at Dandenong Stadium on 8 January 2017

In the United States of America Maley played one season of college basketball for the Oregon Ducks in 2017/18, playing 37 games off the bench. Against Southern Utah on 9 December 2017 Maley scored an equal season-high nine points, made two of three three-pointers, took a season-high eight rebounds and made two assists in 15 minutes court-time. After the 2017/18 college season Maley transferred from Oregon to Texas Christian University (TCU). Maley played 10 games for TCU including three as a starter in 2018/19 before returning to Australia during the Christmas break.  

At the 2019 World University games Maley was a member of the Emerging Opals team that defeated USA 80-72 in the final. Four players from the Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 were in Australia’s gold medal winning team with Maley being joined in this category by Keely Froling, Madison Rocci and Lauren Scherf.

During the 2019/20 WNBL season Maley played for the Southside Flyers. In a Southside 81-62 victory against Townsville Fire at Dandenong Stadium on 13 December Maley started on the bench and recorded a double-double comprised of 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes and eight seconds court-time. Maley played 25 games for the Southside Flyers off the bench in 2019/20, averaging 2.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 10.0 minutes per game.

Anneli Maley playing for Southside Flyers against Bendigo Spirit at Traralgon Stadium on 26 October 2019

During the 2020 WNBL hub season Maley flourished in a starting role with the Sydney Uni Flames. In each of Sydney’s last 11 games of the season Maley took at least eight rebounds and took more than 13 rebounds in a game six times. In Sydney’s 73-67 victory against Perth on 23 November Maley took 20 rebounds to set the season-high by a player in a single-game during the 2020 WNBL season. Maley was a revelation during the 2020 season for Sydney to average 7.9 points per game, a league-leading 12.1 rebounds, and 29.6 minutes court-time per game whilst also impressing with her defense. At 186 centimetres tall Maley consistently battles for rebounds against bigger bodies, however with the ability to read the flight of the ball superbly, together with great body positioning and timing Maley averaged 8.4 defensive rebounds and 3.7 offensive rebounds per game in 2020 to lead the WNBL in both categories. Highlighting how dominant Maley’s rebounding was her 12.1 rebounds per game during the 2020 regular season was 31.5% more than the second ranked player in the league – Australian Opals teammate Cayla George with 9.2 rebounds per game.

Anneli is from a basketball family, her dad Paul Maley played 270 NBL games from 1990 to 2001, was part of North Melbourne’s 1994 Championship winning team and during his first two NBL seasons in 1990 and 1991 averaged a double-double for the entire season. After his playing career ended Paul has held several sports related roles and has worked at Basketball Australia from April 2015, he has held an Executive General Manager role since March 2019.

In Bendigo Spirit’s fourth game of the 2021/22 season on 22 December Maley put on a shooting exhibition against the University of Canberra Capitals to score a career-high 38 points, made 14 of 20 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 70% and was even more effective from long-range, making five of six three-pointers at an astronomical accuracy of 83.3% to surpass her previous career-high of four three’s made in a season in a single incredible game. Against the Capitals in Round 4 at the National Convention Centre Maley took a game-high 20 rebounds comprised of nine offensive and 11 defensive. For her incredible Round 4 game against the Capitals Maley was named the WNBL’s Player of the Week. Maley’s 38 points against the Capitals was the most scored by a player in a WNBL game during the 2021/22 season.

Anneli Maley shooting a free throw for Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 6 March 2022

Playing as a forward for Bendigo Spirit during the 2021/22 WNBL season Maley well and truly developed into an offensive threat, averaging a league-leading 19.8 points per game – a phenomenal 250% improvement on her previous season’s output. Maley averaged 15.7 rebounds per game in 2021/22 to again lead the WNBL in this category and also led the league for free-throws made and minutes played. Throughout the 2021/22 season Maley was remarkably consistent, scoring at least 13 points in 15 of her 16 games for Bendigo and fell a solitary point short of recording a double-double in every game. Maley was recognised for her incredible season, winning the 2021/22 Suzy Batkovic Medal for being the WNBL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was also named in the All-WNBL first team.

To celebrate Maley winning the WNBL’s 2021/22 Suzy Batkovic medal for being the league’s Most Valuable Player an article comprehensively covering Maley’s incredible career was published on 5 May 2022. A link to this article is below:

The evolution of Anneli Maley from exceptional rebounder to Suzy Batkovic medal winner

As a teenager Maley was a member of the Australian team that won the gold medal at the 2015 FIBA 3×3 Oceania Championships held on the Gold Coast. From 2019 onwards Maley has competed in several NBL 3×3 Pro Hustle events and has had success playing on teams with her partner and fellow Australian Gangurrus team member Marena Whittle, including winning two Pro Hustle events as teammates.

At the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 held in Singapore in July Maley and Whittle were members of the Australian team along with Lauren Mansfield and Lauren Scherf. Australia had three wins and two losses at the tournament to win the silver medal. Australia’s two losses were both against China, in a Pool C game and a 10-14 loss in the final. Maley was named in the Team of the Tournament.

In May 2022 Maley attended WNBA team Chicago Sky’s training camp. After being waived by Chicago Maley was signed as a hardship exception player due to several of Chicago’s players being injured or overseas due to other playing commitments. Maley played four regular season games for Chicago, averaging 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 11.0 minutes per game, before being waived when the players on Chicago’s roster returned.

On 31 May 2022 Maley made her debut with Australia’s senior women’s basketball team, the Opals in game three of the friendly series against Japan. Despite not being part of the Opals training camp due to her WNBA commitments with Chicago Sky and missing the first two games of the series Maley fitted in seamlessly. Immediately after being substituted in for her Opals debut at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre Maley took an offensive rebound off a missed free-throw and scored a field goal. Maley finished the game with 11 points and seven rebounds.

During the 2021 NBL1 South season Maley averaged 17.3 points and a league-leading 23.4 rebounds per game for her home club the Eltham Wildcats. After her stint playing in the WNBA with Chicago Sky and making her Opals debut against Japan in late May Maley joined the Eltham Wildcats during the 2022 NBL1 South season. Maley played eight games for Eltham and averaged 21.5 points, 19.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Maley led the NBL1 South Conference for rebounds per game, ranked third in assists and ninth in scoring.

At the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup held in Sydney from 22 September to 1 October Maley made her major championship debut for the Opals. Against Mali in Australia’s second group game Maley made a three-pointer, took three rebounds and made one assist. Maley was a member of the bronze medal winning Opals team and played in five of Australia’s eight games for the tournament. 

Anneli Maley playing for Bendigo Spirit in a pre-season game against Southside Flyers at Dandenong Stadium on 22 October 2022

Against Adelaide Lightning on 28 December at Adelaide 36ers Arena Maley played all 40 minutes scored a team-high 19 points and was a monster on the boards, taking a game-high 24 rebounds comprised of nine offensive and 15 defensive in Bendigo’s 78-66 victory and was named the WNBL’s Round 8 Player of the Round. 

Maley played all 21 games for Bendigo during the 2022/23 regular season and averaged 16.2 points (ranked 9^th in the WNBL), 11.0 rebounds (2nd), 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals (equal 10^th), 3.5 free-throws made (4th) and 34.2 minutes (4th) per game.

Anneli Maley shooting a jump shot for Bendigo Spirit against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023

On 17 February 2023 WNBA club Chicago Sky announced that Maley had signed a 2023 training camp contract with the club. Maley played two games for Chicago during the 2023 pre-season before being the last player waived by Chicago before the regular season started. 

Singapore was again the host city for the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 held from 29 March to 2 April. The quartet of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson dominated at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 to win the gold medal in convincing fashion. Australia won three qualifying draw games and five main draw games by at least 10 points each and defeated Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 21-11 in the final to win the gold medal. Maley and Whittle were both named in the Team of the Tournament for the Asia Cup 2023 and Maley ranked first overall with 7.6 rebounds per game.

The same quartet represented the Australian women’s Gangurrus team at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 and were seeded 19^th out of the 20 nations competing in Vienna from Tuesday 30 May to Sunday 4 June. Australia won four of their first five games of the tournament to advance to the semi finals where they lost to France 17-21. In the third place game against China Australia fought back from a 17-20 deficit to score the next four points and had a 21-20 victory to win the bronze medal.

Maley has played four games for the Eltham Wildcats during the 2023 NBL1 South season and is averaging 16.8 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per game.

For the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Maley has joined Perth Lynx and will be teammates with fellow Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 team member Amy Atwell.

WNBL Achievements:          Suzy Batkovic medal winner 2021/22

                                               All-WNBL first-team 2021/22

                                              WNBL leading rebounder Award 2020, 2021/22

                                               WNBL leading scorer Award 2021/22

Lauren Nicholson

#1                                                      Position: Guard                

DOB  26 March 1993                      Height 183cm                   

Junior Club                                       Sutherland Sharks (New South Wales)                                         

WNBL debut: 2010/11    WNBL games played: 142       

2022/23 WNBL Team: JCU Townsville Fire

2023 NBL1 Team: Sutherland Sharks (East)

2023/24 WNBL Team: Sydney Flames

Asia Cup:                                   2019, 2021

Lauren Nicholson commenced her junior basketball career with the Sutherland Sharks in New South Wales and progressed to represent NSW under-age level at Australian National Championships. Nicholson represented Australia at under-age level at several tournaments including the 2010 FIBA Under 17 World Championships held in France. At 17 years of age Nicholson made her WNBL debut with the Sydney Flames in 2010/11, playing limited court-time in seven games.

From 2012/13 to 2015/16 Nicholson played college basketball for St Mary’s Gaels who have a strong history of Australian’s representing the college including Australian Boomers Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova. During a four-season college career with St Mary’s Nicholson played 110 games including 74 starts and averaged 12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 26.7 minutes court-time per game. Nicholson was named in the All-West Coast Conference First-team in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Nicholson returned to the WNBL with the Sydney Uni Flames in 2016/17 and playing off the bench was a member of the Flames Championship winning team coached by Cheryl Chambers who is an Assistant Coach of the Australian Opals at FIBA Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney this week. 

Lauren Nicholson playing for Sydney Uni Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 5 February 2017

In three seasons with Adelaide Lightning Nicholson improved her scoring output from 8.0 points per game in 2017/18 to 14.2 points per game in 2019/20. Nicholson became renowned as one of the best defenders in the WNBL, this was officially recognised when she won the WNBL’s Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2018/19.

Nicholson signed as a marquee player with JCU Townsville Fire for the 2020 WNBL season. Townville Fire Head Coach and Australian Opals Head Coach for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 Shannon Seebohm commented “I believe Lauren is one of the most talented guards in the WNBL, her competitiveness and defensive instinct set her apart from some of the other guards in the league and I feel she is going to have a breakout season offensively within our system here at the Fire.”10 Nicholson’s teammates at Townsville in 2020 included Shyla Heal and Steph Reid.

Lauren Nicholson playing defense for Adelaide Lightning against Dandenong Rangers at Traralgon Basketball Stadium on 24 November 2018

Nicholson had set a high benchmark throughout her career before joining Townsville, however Seebohm’s comments proved to be accurate with Lauren taking her game to another stratosphere during the 2020 season. Nicholson ranked second in the WNBL with 18.9 points per game and also ranked in the league’s top 10 for minutes played, free-throws made and steals, leading Townsville in all four categories. Nicholson shot the ball at 48.3% from the field, having an accuracy of more than 46% for the fourth season in her WNBL career. Nicholson was recognised for her incredible 2020 season, finished third in the WNBL’s MVP Award, was selected in the All-WNBL first team and finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year Award to play a critical role in Townsville making the 2020 Grand Final.

Nicholson was a member of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at the 2019 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in India and played five of the Opals six games. At the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in Jordan Nicholson started for the Opals in all six games, ranked second for the bronze medal winning Opals for minutes played and sixth for scoring. Nicholson played for the Opals in a three game series against Japan held in New South Wales in May 2022 but missed out on selection for the 2022 FIBA World Cup.

In her second consecutive season with Townsville Fire Nicholson was a co-captain along with Mia Murray and suffered a season ending ankle injury in the third quarter of a road game against the University of Canberra Capitals on 19 February 2022. Nicholson played 12 games for Townsville in 2021/22 and averaged 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 31.6 minutes court-time per game.

Lauren Nicholson playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 22 January 2022

Nicholson has had a decorated career at state league level including winning the 2018 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) regular season MVP playing for the Launceston Tornadoes and winning the 2019 NBL1 Grand Final MVP for a dominant 36 point, 10 rebound and six assist performance for the Kilsyth Cobras in their victory against the Geelong Supercats.

Lauren Nicholson playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 22 January 2022

In 2022 Nicholson returned to represent her junior club Sutherland Sharks at senior level in the inaugural NBL1 East season and averaged 25.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game whilst shooting the ball at 51.0% from the field in 19 games. Nicholson ranked third in NBL1 East for scoring, second for assists and sixth for steals. Nicholson was selected in the 2022 NBL1 East All Star Five and won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.  

Nicholson was appointed Townsville’s sole captain for 2022/23. At the start of 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Nicholson displayed that she was back to her best, making six of nine three-pointers at an accuracy of 66.7% and scoring 35 points at 72.2% from the field in Townsville Fire’s home victory against UC Capitals on 6 November to be named the WNBL’s Round 1 Player of the Week. Nicholson scored at least 23 points in four of Townsville’s first six games of the 2022/23 season.

Lauren Nicholson shooting for Townsville Fire against the Southside Flyers in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March 2023

Due to a foot injury Nicholson missed five games from Round 12 onwards including Townsville’s last two games of the season in Round 16. Townsville won their last 12 games of the regular season to finish on top of the ladder with 17 wins and four losses. Nicholson returned for the finals and captained Townsville to the WNBL Championship with the Fire defeating Perth Lynx 2-0 in the semi finals and had a 2-0 victory against Southside Flyers in the Grand Final to extend their winning streak to 16 games. 

JCU Townsville Fire captain Lauren Nicholson, Head Coach Shannon Seebohm and Townsville Fire players with the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL Championship trophy

Including finals Nicholson played 20 of a possible 25 games for JCU Townsville Fire and averaged 15.2 points (ranked 13^th in the WNBL) per game. Nicholson shot proficiently to have a field goal accuracy of 47.4% and made 35 of 70 three-pointers at 50%. Among players that attempted at least 10 three-pointers Nicholson ranked equal third in the league for accuracy. Nicholson was selected in the 2022/23 All-WNBL Second team. 

Lauren Nicholson playing for JCU Townsville Fire against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 10 December 2022

Playing for the Sutherland Sharks Nicholson has scored at least 22 points in seven of her eight games during the 2023 NBL1 East season. In a road game against the Sydney Comets on 21 May Nicholson scored 43 points at 65% from the field, took four rebounds and made five assists. In 2023 for Sutherland Nicholson is averaging an NBL1 East leading 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists (ranked 2^nd in NBL1 East) and 2.8 steals per game – ranked fourth among players that have played at least five games.

On 25 May 2023 the Sydney Flames announced that Nicholson had signed a three season deal with the club. Nicholson played seven games for Sydney in her debut 2010/11 season and was a member of the Flames 2016/17 Championship winning team. At Sydney Nicholson will be teammates with Opals captain Tess Madgen and have New Zealand Tall Ferns Head Coach Guy Molloy as Head Coach.

This week Nicholson and Darcee Garbin become the first players to represent the Opals in three FIBA Women’s Asia Cup’s, having been teammates on the Australian bronze medal winning teams at the 2019 and 2021 tournaments.

WNBL Achievements:           All-WNBL First team 2020, All-WNBL Second team 2022/23

Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year 2018/19

                                              WNBL Championship 2016/2017 (with Sydney Uni Flames), 2022/23 (with JCU Townsville Fire)

Achievements for Australia:         Asia Cup bronze medal 2019, 2021

 Maddison Rocci      

#9                                              Position: Guard                

DOB  1 June 1998                    Height 168cm                          

Junior Club                              Werribee Devils (Victoria)                              

WNBL debut: 2017/18    WNBL games played: 128     

2022/23 WNBL Team: Southside Flyers

2023 NBL1 Team: South West Metro Pirates (North)

Rocci is a free agent for 2023/24 

As a junior Maddison Rocci commenced her basketball career at 11 years of age with the Werribee Devils in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Rocci progressed to represent Victoria Metro at National Championships in the under 16’s and under 18’s and played for Australian under 17’s and under 19’s teams. Rocci was the captain of the 2015 Under 18 Victoria Metro team that won the gold medal and was a starter for Australia at the 2017 Under 19 World Cup until an arm injury ended her tournament.

In 2017/18 Rocci made her WNBL debut at 19 years of age for the University of Canberra Capitals and finished runner-up in the league’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award behind then Capitals teammate Ezi Magbegor.

Maddison Rocci playing for the University of Canberra Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 18 November 2017

In 2018/19 and 2019/20 Rocci played in back-to-back WNBL Championships with the University of Canberra Capitals and took on more responsibility during this time. During 2018/2019 Rocci started some games early in the season due to injuries to team-mates and then became a permanent starter in 2019/20. Rocci’s scoring output increased from 3.8 points per game in 2017/18 to 9.0 points per game in 2019/20.

At the 2019 World University games Rocci was a member of the Emerging Opals team that defeated USA 80-72 in the final. Four players from the Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 were in Australia’s gold medal winning team with Rocci being joined in this category by Keely Froling, Anneli Maley and Lauren Scherf.

Maddison Rocci playing for the University of Canberra Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 9 November 2019

Playing in the Queensland Basketball League in 2020 Rocci flourished being the go-to player for University of the Sunshine Coast Rip City, averaging 32.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game to win the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. In July 2020 Rocci was included in the extended 23 player Australian Opals squad for the Tokyo Olympic Games and attended several Opals training camps.

During the 2020 WNBL season with the UC Capitals guard Rocci took her basketball to another stratosphere, excelling with her speed, reading of the play and quick hands to average 16.0 points (ranked 7^th in the WNBL), 3.8 assists (equal 9th) and 2.0 steals (2^nd) per game. Rocci was recognised for her brilliant season by winning the University of Canberra Capitals Most Valuable Player Award, was selected in the All-WNBL Second team and finished fifth in the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

Rocci returned to Victoria to play for the Southside Flyers during the 2021/22 WNBL season and was a team-mate of sister in law Aimie. Maddison averaged 11.8 points, 4.6 assists (6th in the WNBL) and 1.7 steals (7th) per game and played her 100^th WNBL game on 10 March 2022.

Below is a link to an article published on Milestone and Misses on 10 March 2022 celebrating Rocci reaching 100 WNBL games:

Maddison Rocci’s journey to reach 100 WNBL games and debut with the Australian Opals

Maddison Rocci playing for the Jayco Southside Flyers against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 11 December 2021

After attending several Opals training camps Rocci made her debut appearance for the Australian Opals at the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in Serbia in February and played all three games for Australia.

During the 2022 NBL1 North season Rocci scored at least 20 points in 11 of her 12 games for US Rip City and registered three double-doubles. Rocci averaged 26.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.1 steals per game to rank second in the league in scoring, rank third for steals and ninth for assists.

On 23 September 2022 the Jayco Southside Flyers announced that Maddy Rocci had signed with the club for the 2022/23 WNBL season. Southside Head Coach and Australian Opals Assistant Coach Chambers told WNBL Media “We were fortunate to add such a quality young player to our team last year, she continued to grow during the season and will no doubt take her game to another level this year. Her speed is supported by quick hands, and she reads the play well. While we know she can score, she is also a very tough defensive player. Last year also confirmed what a quality person Maddy is and her input on and off the court is important.”11

In 2022/23 Rocci played all 26 games for the Southside Flyers who progressed to the Grand Final. Rocci scored at least 15 points in a game 10 times and had two games scoring in double figures and having at least eight rebounds and seven assists. In a road victory against the UC Capitals Rocci scored an equal game-high 22 points shooting at 50% from the field, made 10 of 10 free throws, took eight rebounds, made seven assists and two steals on 21 January.

Maddison Rocci shooting a free throw for Southside Flyers against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

During 2022/23 Rocci averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists (ranked 7^th in the WNBL) and 1.6 steals (equal 11^th) per game. Rocci won the Southside Flyers 2022/23 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. 

Maddison Rocci playing for the Southside Flyers against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre in game 3 of the semi final series on 15 March 2023

For the 2023 NBL1 North season Rocci joined the South West Metro Pirates and has been a model of consistency across her eight games to have a season-low of 19 points and a season-high of 26 points. Rocci is averaging 22.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game. 

Maddison Rocci is a free agent for 2023/24. 

WNBL Achievements:            All-WNBL Second Team 2020                                                                                         

WNBL Championship 2018/19, 2019/20 (both with University of Canberra Capitals

Lauren Scherf

#77                                           Position: Centre       

DOB  7 March 1996                Height 196cm                         

WNBL debut: 2013/14           WNBL games played: 208       

Junior Club                              Melbourne Tigers (Victoria)      

2022/23 WNBL Team: Perth Lynx

2023 NBL1 Team: Perth Redbacks (West)

2023/2024 Team:  Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes (France)

Asia Cup:                                   2021

At 17 years of age Lauren Scherf made her WNBL debut with the Jayco Dandenong Rangers in 2013/14. Power forward/centre Scherf won the WNBL’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award In 2014/15 averaging 4.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

In the Dandenong Rangers 2016 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) Grand Final victory Scherf scored a team-high 21 points, took a game-high 13 rebounds and won the Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award. Scherf was a member of the Jayco Rangers team that made the 2016/17 WNBL Grand Final. From 2013/14 to 2016/17 Scherf played 86 games in four WNBL seasons with the Jayco Dandenong Rangers.

Lauren Scherf shooting a free-throw for Dandenong Rangers against Kilsyth Cobras at the State Basketball Centre in the 2016 SEABL Grand Final on 10 September

During 2017/18 and 2018/19 Scherf played 46 WNBL games for the University of Canberra Capitals and was a member of the club’s championship winning team in the latter season. In both seasons with the Capitals Scherf averaged at least 6.0 points per game and more than 4.5 rebounds per game.

As the Sydney Uni Flames starting centre in 2019/20 and 2020 Scherf averaged more than 8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and at least 1.0 blocked shots per game in each season. In 2019/20 and 2020 Scherf ranked in the WNBL’s top dozen for blocked shots and rebounds per game.

Lauren Scherf playing for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 30 November 2019

Scherf was a member of the Emerging Opals gold medal winning teams at the 2017 and 2019 World University Games. Four players from the Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team played in Australia’s 80-72 victory against USA in the 2019 gold medal game with Scerf being joined in this category by Keely Froling, Anneli Maley and Maddison Rocci. In the 2019 gold medal game Scherf scored 16 points – ranked second for the Emerging Opals. 11

At the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup held in Jordan from 27 September to 3 October Scherf played all six games for the Australian Opals, averaging 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocked shots and 21.2 minutes per game. Scherf led the bronze medal winning Opals for rebounds and blocked shots per game and ranked fourth for scoring and minutes played. Scherf also represented the Opals in their three game friendly series against Japan in New South Wales in late May 2022 but played far less court-time than at the 2021 Asia Cup.

Scherf was the starting centre in the Perth Lynx team that made the 2021/22 WNBL Grand Final and averaged 11.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to set career highs in both categories. Scherf ranked third in the WNBL for rebounds, fifth for blocked shots (1.0 per game) and finished runner-up in Perth’s MVP Award behind American import guard Jackie Young who was a member of the USA team that won a 3×3 gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Scherf registered seven double-doubles for the 2021/22 season including 19 points and 18 rebounds in Perth’s overtime victory against the Melbourne Boomers at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium on 6 February 2022.

Lauren Scherf taking one of her 18 rebounds for Perth Lynx against Melbourne Boomers at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium on 6 February 2022

Scherf first competed at a 3×3 tournament in 2013, winning the gold medal with the aptly named Australia Gold team at the AYOF Basketball 3×3 tournament in January. Scherf represented Diamond Valley at the NBL ProHustle II in early May 2018. At the NBL 3×3 Pro Hustle 7 held in Melbourne in March 2021, Scherf was a member of the Melbourne Towers team that won the tournament.

For the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Austria from 26 to 30 May 2021 Scherf was Australia’s travelling emergency. In July 2022 Scherf was a member of the Australian 3×3 team that won two medals, winning the silver medal at the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup held in Singapore and the bronze medal in the 3×3 tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham.

During the 2022 NBL1 South season with the Kilsyth Cobras Scherf registered seven double-doubles, including 29 points and 19 rebounds along with five assists in Round 16 against the Bendigo Braves. Scherf played 16 games for the Kilsyth Cobras and averaged 19.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Scherf ranked eighth in the NBL1 South Conference for rebounds per game and 12th for blocked shots.

Lauren Scherf playing for the Kilsyth Cobras against the Knox Raiders at the State Basketball Centre in an NBL1 South game on 21 May 2022

On 3 June 2022 Perth Lynx announced that Scherf had signed with the club for the 2022/23 WNBL season. Perth Head Coach Petrik told wnbl.basketball “Lauren had an outstanding season in the league last season, taking home our Runner Up MVP award on a pretty talented roster. She can really shoot it for a 5; she can anchor our defense; she can post up down low, and her passing big out of short roll situations is elite. The scary part is I think we’re only scratching the surface on how good Lauren is going to be.”12

During the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season 196 centimetre tall Scherf was given more responsibility as a ball handler and facilitator for Perth Lynx. In the entire 2021/22 season Scherf had at least four assists in a game three times with a season-high of five assists in a game. Scherf had at least four assists in 18 games during the 2022/23 season including five games with more than seven assists.

Lauren Scherf playing for the Perth Lynx against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

In the second quarter of a Round 9 home game against Sydney at Bendat Basketball Centre on 7 January Scherf dominated to score 22 points, take four rebounds and make two assists. Scherf made eight of nine field goal attempts in a scintillating term at an accuracy of 88.9%. In the second period Scherf made three of four three-pointers at 75%, made a turn around jump shot, three lay ups, a floating jump shot and three free-throws. Scherf finished the game against Sydney with a game-high and season-high 33 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot. Scherf shot the ball proficiently to make 13 of 22 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 59.1%, four of eight three-pointers at 50% and all three free-throw attempts. For her brilliant performance in the 75-64 victory against Sydney Scherf earnt selection in the WNBL’s Round 9 Team of the Week, her second selection of the season, having made the TOTW in Round 3.

On 29 January Scherf played her 200^th WNBL game in Perth’s road victory against Melbourne Boomers on 29 January at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville. Against Townsville Fire in a home game on 4 February Scherf scored a game-high 27 points, took eight rebounds and made a game-high eight assists. Scherf shot the ball proficiently to make a game-high five three-pointers from 10 attempts at an accuracy of 50%, made 10 of 20 field goal attempts at 50% and made both free throws.

Lauren Scherf and Perth Lynx teammates including Chloe Bibby and Amy Atwell in a team huddle before Scherf’s 200th WNBL game against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023

During the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Scherf played 22 games for Perth Lynx and averaged 14.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 blocked shots and 31.6 minutes per game. Among players that played at least five games for the season Scherf ranked second in the WNBL for blocked shots per game, ranked third for rebounds, fifth for assists and equal 16^th for points, highlighting her wide-ranging skill set. Scherf was recognised for her brilliant season with selection in the 2022/23 All-WNBL Second Team. 

Lauren Scherf bringing the ball up the court for Perth Lynx in her 200th WNBL game against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023

After Perth Lynx’s 2022/23 WNBL season concluded Scherf had a short stint playing in Europe for Italian club Campobasso in Serie A1. Scherf played five games for Campobasso and averaged 6.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Back in Australia Scherf has played four games for Perth Redbacks during the 2023 NBL1 West season and is averaging 12.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

From 2013/14 to 2022/23 Scherf played a total of 208 games and 10 WNBL seasons comprised of four seasons for Dandenong Rangers, two seasons for UC Capitals, two seasons for Sydney Flames and two seasons for Perth Lynx. For the 2023/24 season Scherf has signed to play in France for Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes.

WNBL Achievements:    Betty Watson Rookie of the Year 2014/15

                                                All-WNBL Second team 2022/23

WNBL Championship 2018/19 (with University of Canberra Capitals)

Achievements for Australia (in 5 on 5):    Asia Cup bronze medal 2021

Head Coach profile – Shannon Seebohm

Shannon Seebohm has been JCU Townsville Fire’s Head Coach for four consecutive WNBL seasons from 2019/20 to 2022/23 and has six seasons experience overall as a WNBL Head Coach, having previously coached Sydney Flames in 2014/15 and 2015/16. JCU Townsville Fire won their last 16 games of the 2022/23 season to win the WNBL Championship in convincing fashion. 

Shannon Seebohm instructing Townsville Fire players during a time-out against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022

Shannon Seebohm grew up in Millicent, South Australia and as a junior received a basketball scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). At the 2007 FIBA Under 19 Men’s World Championship held in Serbia Seebohm represented the Australian team, his teammates included Patty Mills, Chris Goulding and Daniel Johnson. Australia finished fifth at the tournament and Seebohm playing as a guard ranked third for his nation in minutes played and fifth in scoring.

At 19 years of age Seebohm made his NBL debut with Melbourne based club South Dragons in 2007/08, the Dragons Head Coach was Shane Heal. During a Shannon Seebohm ABC Feature television interview in November 2014 during the WNBL season Seebohm commented “Played in the national league with the South Dragons in the NBL but during my rookie year suffered a health issue where I had a cardiac arrest at training and needed to be resuscitated and woke up in hospital. That essentially ended my playing career very early at 19. Since then I have worked my way into coaching.” Seebohm played three NBL games for South Dragons before being forced to retire due to his health issue.   

For three seasons from 2011/12 to 2013/14 Seebohm was an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings in the NBL, in the latter two seasons Heal was the Kings head coach.

Seebohm was appointed as the Head Coach of the Sydney Flames at 26 years of age for the 2014/15 season. Sydney finished fourth at the end of the regular season with 11 wins and 11 losses. Sydney had a nine point road semi final victory against Dandenong Rangers. In a preliminary final home side Bendigo defeated Sydney by eight points. Seebohm won the WNBL’s Coach of the Year Award in his first season as Head Coach of Sydney. In 2015/16 Sydney had 13 wins and 11 losses and finished fifth, two wins out of the finals.       

After the 2015/16 season Seebohm resigned from his role as Sydney Flames Head Coach. From 2017 to 2019 Seebohm was the Newcastle Basketball Association’s Head of Coaching and Head Coach of the Association’s Waratah League Women’s team.

At several international tournaments Seebohm was the Head Coach of the Australian team at  women’s junior tournaments including the Australian Sapphires team that created history at the 2016 Under-17 FIBA World Championships held in Zaragoza, Spain by achieving Australia’s best ever result at the tournament and winning the gold medal.

Seebohm has also been head coach of the Australian Women’s university team, the Emerging Opals, including at the 2019 World University Games where the Emerging Opals were undefeated in six games, had an 80-72 victory in the final against USA and won the gold medal. At the 2019 World University Games Seebohm coached four players that are representing the Opals at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 – Keely Froling, Anneli Maley, Maddison Rocci and Lauren Scherf.

On 14 June 2019 Townsville Fire announced that the club had appointed Seebohm as their head coach for three WNBL seasons from 2019/20 to 2021/22. The vacancy opened up at Townsville after Claudia Brassard resigned in May 2019 as the Head Coach of the Townsville Fire. The catalyst for Brassard’s decision was a change in her work commitments with the Townsville City Council. 

When Seebohm was appointed as Townsville’s Head Coach in June 2019 most free-agents had already signed with clubs and much of Townsville’s roster for the 2019/20 season had already been determined. During 2019/20 Seebohm coached two members of the Opals Asia Cup 2023 team – Tess Madgen and Darcee Garbin.

In 2020 and later seasons Seebohm was able to have a greater involvement in player recruitment, making it easier for him to implement the playing style he wanted. Among Townsville’s recruits for the 2020 season were a trio of guards in Lauren Nicholson, Shyla Heal and Steph Reid. Nicholson and Heal are both members of the Seven Consulting Opals Asia Cup 2023 team whilst Reid is missing the tournament due to a calf injury.

Townsville had nine wins and four losses during the 2020 regular season to finish second on the ladder and progressed to the Grand Final where they were defeated by Southside Flyers. Seebohm was named the WNBL’s 2020 Coach of the Year, winning the award for the second time in his career.

On 10 December 2020 Seebohm extended his contract as head coach of Townsville Fire for two years until the end of the 2023/24 season. Townsville Fire General Manager Sam Pascoe told WNBL Media “We have secured someone we believe is the best WNBL coach in the country on a long-term deal, someone who has shown time and again his genuine desire to be a strong part of the Townsville community through his work in our school and youth engagement programs. Watching Shannon work day-to-day, and what he does in his player development and preparation, and the strong relationship he has with his players is testament to his drive and commitment to the program and reinforces everything that the Fire program stands for.”13

Townsville won six of their first 10 games of the 2021/22 WNBL season, but were undermanned late in the season, being without three of their starters, Nicholson, Monique Billings and Sug Sutton. Townsville finished the season in sixth place with seven wins and 10 losses.

Shannon Seebohm talking with Megan Hustwaite post-game after Townsville Fire defeated Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 22 January 2022

Seebohm has been an Assistant Coach of the Australian Opals, including for the Opals three game series against Japan held in New South Wales in late May 2022. In the series against Japan Reid made her Opals debut and Nicholson was also a member of the team.

During 2022 Seebohm was the Head Coach of a Townsville Flames team in NBL1 North which included three players from Townsville Fire’s 2021/22 roster in the starting line-up – Reid, Courtney Woods and Mia Murray.

Townsville Flames had 16 wins and three losses during the 2022 NBL1 North regular season, three games behind minor premiers Logan Thunder who won all 19 games and one game behind second placed Southern District Spartans. Townsville Flames won the Grand Final series against Logan Thunder two games to nil to win the NBL1 North Championship with Reid winning the Grand Final MVP. At the 2022 NBL1 National Finals held at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna, Victoria Townsville Flames won two of their three games.

Shannon Seebohm instructing Townsville Flames players against Albury Wodonga Bandits at the State Basketball Centre on 10 September 2022

Five players on Townsville’s 10 player main roster at the start of the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season had been members of the Townsville team that finished runners-up to Southside in 2020 – Nicholson  Reid, Aokuso, Woods and Lara McSpadden. Three off-season recruits were members of Townsville’s 2022/23 starting line-up, imports Tianna Hawkins and Karlie Samuelson along with Mikaela Ruef who had Seebohm as her Head Coach in her debut WNBL season with the Sydney Flames in 2015/16.

After being defeated by Adelaide in their first game of 2023 JCU Townsville Fire had a record of five wins and four losses nine games into the 2022/23 season. During the season two members of Townsville’s 2020 Grand Final team returned to the club – Kate Gaze and Shyla Heal. Townsville won their last 12 games of the regular season to finish on top of the ladder with 17 wins and four losses. In the finals the Fire defeated Perth Lynx 2-0 in the semi finals and had a 2-0 victory against Southside Flyers in the Grand Final to win the WNBL Championship and extend their winning streak to 16 games. Seebohm was named the WNBL’s Coach of the Year for the third time of his career in just his sixth season as a Head Coach in the league.

Shannon Seebohm instructing Townsville Fire players before the game against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 7 December 2022

WNBL Achievements:           WNBL Championship 2022/23 (with JCU Townsville Fire)

WNBL Coach of the Year 2014/15 (with Sydney Flames), 2020 and 2022/23 (both with JCU Townsville Fire)

Article and photographs by Dean Andrews

Twitter – @DeanAndrews7777

References

1https://australia.basketball/twelve-up-for-asia-cup/

2 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/atwell-amped-to-be-back-for-2023-24/

3 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/chloe-bibby-signs-for-the-perth

4 https://nbl1.com.au/news/garbins-fairytale-emotional-return-to-kalgoorlie/

5 https://wnbl.basketball/sydneyflames/news/statement-from-the-sydney-flames-on-shyla-heal/

6 https://www.geelongunitedbasketball.com.au/2023/05/horvat-excited-to-be-home

7 https://www.geelongunitedbasketball.com.au/2023/06/horvat-enjoying-opals-experience

8 https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/alice-kunek-joins-the-fire/

9 https://wnbl.basketball/melbourne/news/tess-madgen-injury-update/

10 https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/nicholson-heading-north/

11 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/maddison-rocci-set-for-a-second-season-with-southside-flyers/

12 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/scherf-staying-in-perth/

13 https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/jcu-townsville-fire-extend-head-coach-shannon-seebohm-until-end-of-2024-season/

Milestones and Misses

Milestones and Misses publishes articles to celebrate the achievements of sportspeople, mainly in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) and Australian Rules Football (AFL and AFLW). In sport as with life in general it is common that milestones are only achieved after overcoming adversity, so whilst the articles on the Milestones and Misses website celebrate sportspeople achieving milestones they also cover the misses along the journey such as a player having minimal game-time or spending a prolonged period on the sidelines due to injury. The aim of the articles is to enable readers to gain a greater appreciation of the journey sportspeople have had during their career.

A link to Milestones and Misses homepage and WNBL category is below:

https://milestonesandmisses.com/

https://milestonesandmisses.com/category/wnbl/

The Milestones and Misses website was set up in December 2015. From 2020 onwards articles have been published on the following sportspeople:

WNBL

Shaneice Swain

Mia Murray

Steph Reid

Jenna O’Hea

Ally Wilson

Sara Blicavs

Carley Ernst

Kiera Rowe

Chelsea Brook

Sami Whitcomb

Abbey Wehrung

Penny Taylor

Rachel Jarry

Kristy Wallace

Anneli Maley

Lindsay Allen

Jade Melbourne

Maddison Rocci

Cayla George

Kelly Wilson

Steph Talbot

Bec Cole

Aimie Rocci

Abby Bishop

Tessa Lavey

Ezi Magbegor

Zitina Aokuso

Leilani Mitchell

Maddie Garrick

Sara Blicavs

NBL

Nathan Sobey

AFLW

Ashleigh Riddell

Hayley Miller

Darcy Vescio

Tessa Lavey

Georgia Patrikios

Alyce Parker

Tyla Hanks

Tyanna Smith

Tarni White

Caitlin Greiser

AFL

Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin

Nicky Winmar

Sam Walsh

Jack Steele

Luke Jackson

Harry McKay

Seb Ross

Jayden Short

Clayton Oliver

Lenny Hayes

Tim Membrey

Rowan Marshall