Writing and photographs by Dean Andrews
During an eventful WNBL free agency period there was considerable player movement, both with players changing teams within the WNBL and players changing leagues. The end result is that when Round 1 of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season commences tomorrow night, Wednesday 1 November with Adelaide Lightning hosting the Deakin Melbourne Boomers at Adelaide Arena less than half of the 82 players on a main roster of a WNBL team are suiting up for the same team they played for in 2022/23. 35 players in the league are in this category which means that on average 4.4 players on a club’s 2023/24 main roster played for the club in 2022/23, a lower figure than usual.
17 players that played in the 2022/23 WNBL season have been signed on the main roster of another WNBL team for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. This player movement includes the past two Suzy Batkovic Medal winners, with reigning winner Cayla George moving from the Deakin Melbourne Boomers to the Sydney Flames and 2021/22 winner Anneli Maley heading west from Bendigo Spirit to Perth Lynx. Earlier this month George was a member of the Las Vegas Aces team that won the 2023 WNBA Championship. Maley was a member of the Australian Opals team that won a bronze medal at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney in late June and early July. At the FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Cup 2023 held in late May and early June in Vienna, Austria Maley won a bronze medal with the Australian Gangurrus.
Cayla George playing for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 9 November 2022
JCU Townsville Fire finished the 2022/23 season in dominant fashion with a club record 16 game winning streak to win the WNBL Championship in convincing fashion. Just two days before the start of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season the degree of difficulty for Townsville to go back to back increased due to the news that American import power forward/centre Tianna Hawkins will not be joining the team this season due to injury. Hawkins had an exceptional 2022/23 WNBL season to be selected in the 2022/23 All-WNBL First Team, won the Rachael Sporn medal for being Grand Final MVP and was the winner of JCU Townsville Fire’s MVP award.
Tianna Hawkins playing for JCU Townsville Fire against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 10 December 2022
An article on Free Agency published by WNBL Media on 5 April 2023 stated the following in relation to team structure for WNBL clubs:
“Teams will be able to contract up to two imports, which include those athletes that are not residents of Australia or New Zealand. League rules state that playing rosters must have a minimum of 10 contracted athletes.
Further to this teams can have an unlimited amount of Development Players, providing opportunities for young local players to train with a team, and be exposed to what it means to be a professional basketball player.”1
Seven of the eight clubs in the league have 10 or 11 players on their main roster for the start of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season tomorrow on Wednesday 1 November. Adelaide Lightning, Southside Flyers and the UC Capitals each have 11 players on their main roster. This trio of clubs each have one player returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which may have been a factor in opting to have 11 players on their main roster. Four clubs – Bendigo Spirit, Deakin Melbourne Boomers, Perth Lynx and Sydney Flames each have the minimum 10 players on their main roster for the upcoming season. It looked as though all eight WNBL clubs were set to commence the 2023/24 season with the maximum two imports on their main roster. With Hawkins being unable to play due to injury Townsville currently have nine players on their main roster and a vacancy for an import. The 15 imports on a main roster across the league are comprised of 11 players from the United States of America, three Canadians and one player from Japan.
The 2023/24 regular season commences on Wednesday 1 November 2023 with Adelaide Lightning hosting the Melbourne Boomers and Round 15 concludes on Saturday 24 February 2024. Each team will play one game in Round 15. The top four teams on the WNBL ladder at the end of the regular season qualify for the finals which commence on 28 February 2024. Round 1 of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season is Indigenous Round which is being played in conjunction with the NBL holding their Indigenous Round at the same time in Round 6.
During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL regular season each of the eight clubs will play 21 games. All 84 games during the 15 round Cygnett WNBL 2023/24 regular season will be broadcast live on television in Australia. One game early in each round will be broadcast by ESPN and 68 games will be shown on Nine’s free streaming service 9 Now. In 14 of the 15 rounds the game broadcast by ESPN is played on a Wednesday night. After the FIBA window from 5 February to 12 February the opening game of Round 14 with UC Capitals hosting Bendigo on Thursday 15 February will be broadcast on ESPN. All games in the semi finals and Grand Final will be broadcast on ESPN, game 1 of each finals series will also be broadcast on 9 Now. ESPN is also available through Foxtel, KAYO and Sky Sports NZ. International viewers can tune in to watch WNBL games live on FIBA YouTube, the games are also shown on delay on WNBA League Pass.
In early October 2023 each of the eight WNBL clubs had completed their main roster for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season, however this was working on a best-case scenario that things run smoothly and that there are no long-term injuries. On the eve of the season Townsville have had to make a roster change due to Hawkins’ injuries and history tells us that across the league there are likely to be more changes to main rosters during the WNBL regular season due to injuries or a change in circumstances.
The Milestones and Misses Comprehensive guide to main rosters and player movement for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season breaks down the composition of the 82 players signed to a WNBL main roster as at 30 October 2023. Firstly players are placed into categories based on if they played in the WNBL in 2022/23, are returning to the league in 2023/24 or are making their WNBL debut in 2023/24. Secondly players are placed into categories based on what league(s) they played in during the 2023 WNBL off-season. The 56 players that played at least six games for an NBL1 team during the 2023 season are listed by NBL1 Conference. Lists are also provided of the players on a 2023/24 WNBL main roster that in 2023 played in two overseas leagues, the WNBA in the United States of America and the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand. There is also a section providing information on the main roster of each club for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Returning players, arrivals and departures are listed and a profile is included on the Head Coach and each of the players on the main roster of a WNBL team for 2023/24. Development players for each WNBL club are also listed with the number (if known), position and date of birth provided for each player.
Breakdown of the 82 players on a main roster for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season^
Category Players %
Returning to the same WNBL team they played for in 2022/23 35 42.68%
Played in 2022/23 and have changed WNBL teams for 2023/24 17 20.73%
Returning to the league after playing in a WNBL season before 2022/23 12 14.64%
On a WNBL roster for the first time in 2023/24 18 21.95%
Total 82 100.00%
^ As at 30 October 2023 following the announcement that Tianna Hawkins will not be joining JCU Townsville Fire due to injury.
A list of the players in each of the four categories are provided later in this comprehensive guide and in this section at least a paragraph has been written on each of the players that are returning to the league after playing in a WNBL season before 2022/23 or are on a WNBL roster for the first time in 2023/24.
52 players which represents 63.4% of the players signed on a 2023/24 main roster played in the WNBL during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season. 35 players on the main roster of a WNBL team for the 2023/24 season will be suiting up for the same team they played for in 2022/23. 17 players that played in the WNBL during 2022/23 have joined a rival WNBL team for the 2023/24 season. 12 players that didn’t play in the WNBL during the 2022/23 season are returning to the league for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season, including four players that are on a main roster for the first time, having previously played in the league as development players. During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season 18 players will be on a WNBL roster for the first time including 11 players that played for a team in an NBL1 Conference in 2023.
Seven players from the Seven Consulting Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney are playing in the Cygnett WNBL 2023/24 season. Four of these Opals changed WNBL teams in the off-season after playing multiple seasons for their 2022/23 team. Australian Opals captain Tess Madgen has moved from the Melbourne Boomers to the Sydney Flames whilst Keely Froling moved in the opposite direction and is now a Boomer. Anneli Maley left the Bendigo Spirit after two seasons and joined Perth Lynx. After three consecutive seasons with JCU Townsville Fire Lauren Nicholson has returned to the team she commenced her WNBL career with, the Sydney Flames. During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Maddison Rocci and Amy Atwell will again be suiting up for the Southside Flyers and Perth Lynx respectively. With Shannon Seebohm as the Australian Opals Head Coach at Asia Cup 2023 forward Alice Kunek made a significant impact in her Opals return to lead the Opals with 12.0 points per game and earnt selection in the tournament’s All-Star 5. After playing for Sopron Basket in Hungary last Australian summer Kunek makes her return to the WNBL in 2023/24 playing for JCU Townsville Fire with Seebohm as the Head Coach.
Maddison Rocci playing for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers in game 3 of the semi final series at the State Basketball Centre on 15 March 2023
A total of 12 players that represented their nation at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 will be competing in the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season with the seven Opals joined by four members of the New Zealand Tall Ferns team who finished fourth and one member of the silver medal winning Japanese team. Penina Davidson averaged 13.6 points (ranked 6th at Asia Cup 2023) and 9.8 rebounds per game (2nd) for New Zealand to earn selection in the tournament’s All-Star 5. Davidson will be playing her fifth consecutive season for the Melbourne Boomers and will be joined at the club by Tall Ferns teammate Tera Reed who is making her debut in the league. After missing the 2022/23 WNBL season Tahlia Tupaea returns to the league to play for the UC Capitals, having represented the club in 2020 and 2021/22. Forward Esra McGoldrick will make her WNBL debut with Bendigo Spirit. Monica Okoye creates history in 2023/24 by becoming the first Japanese player to play in the league.
At the FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Cup 2023 held in late May and early June in Vienna, the Australian Gangurrus team of Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle and Ally Wilson won the bronze medal. Whittle earnt selection in the Team of the Tournament. In the upcoming WNBL season Mansfield will be playing her second consecutive WNBL season for Adelaide Lightning and Wilson will be playing her third consecutive season for Bendigo Spirit. Maley has left Bendigo and joined Perth Lynx for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Whittle signed with Movistar in Spain for 2023/24 after playing three consecutive seasons for Adelaide Lightning from 2020 to 2022/23.
For three months from 1 November to 31 January WNBL basketball is played each and every week with the first 13 rounds of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season being completed during this time. There is a FIBA window from 5 February to 12 February which results in no WNBL basketball being played for a fortnight from 1 February to 14 February.
During the FIBA window a total of 16 nations will be competing in four FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments with berths at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on offer. Each of the four tournaments will have four nations competing to determine which 10 nations will join the two automatic qualifiers in the field of 12 nations at the Olympic Games. USA have qualified due to being the gold medal winners at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney and France qualify due to being the hosts of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments
Location Nations competing
TBC, China China, New Zealand, France, America 2#
Antwerp, Belgium Senegal, USA, Belgium, Nigeria
Belem, Brazil Brazil, Germany, Serbia, Australia
Sopron, Hungary Spain, Hungary, America 1#, Japan
# The nations that fill the America 1 and America 2 positions at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be determined at the 2024 FIBA Women’s America’s Pre-Qualifying Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Columbia from 9 to 12 November. The four nations competing are Canada, Columbia, Puerto Rico and Venezuela with the top two nations at the tournament securing the America 1 and America 2 positions at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Since February 2022 Milestones and Misses have published articles providing player profiles on Australian players for 5 on 5 basketball and 3×3 and guides to FIBA tournaments. Below are links to the pages for these categories as well as the Milestones and Misses home page:
https://milestonesandmisses.com/
Milestones and Misses will be publishing a similar article on the Australian Opals for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Belem, Brazil from February 8-11.
After the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season is set for a thrilling conclusion with the final two rounds of the regular season to be played from 15 February to 24 February followed by the top four teams battling it in the finals to become WNBL Champions.
Perth Lynx are one of three WNBL teams along with Melbourne Boomers and Sydney Flames that have three players or less returning from their 2022/23 main roster. In the past two free-agency periods several players have been recruited by European teams from Perth Lynx.
In an article published on wnbl.basketball on 22 September Perth Lynx Head Coach Ryan Petrik commented on roster turnover “I think most teams are going through something similar so we’re all kind of doing it and that just seems to be a bit of an on-going trend on the women’s side of things than in the men’s competition. Going back to when I was part of the Perth Lynx coaching staff and the Wildcats owned us, and on the guy’s side they had guys like Wagstaff, Knight, Hire, Robbins, Lisch, Redhage, Jervis, Martin for a number of years to build around. We were in the office next door and would have loved something similar, but it just seems it’s a lot harder on the women’s side. Then with us, we’ve had players move on to bigger and better things largely with Garbin getting a massive offer from Europe, the same with Lauren Scherf and Bibby. So we’ve got players going higher up, so you have to let those players go with your blessing, but it’s also exciting to coach a new squad each year with the challenges it provides, even if it’s certainly not the plan.”2
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard and Alexandra Ciabattoni are the only two players from Perth’s 2021/22 roster that are playing for the team in the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Clinch Hoycard was a development player for the Lynx in 2021/22 and Ciabattoni had a son Elijah in January 2023 so was unable to play in the 2022/23 season. This means that Perth don’t have a player that has been on their main roster for all three seasons from 2021/22 to 2023/24. In each of the past two seasons Perth have promoted a player from being a development player onto the main roster, Clinch Hoycard in 2022/23 followed by Chloe Forster in 2023/24.
Perth Lynx players after winning in overtime against the Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022. Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard (top, second from right) and Alexandra Ciabattoni (bottom right) are the only players from this photo that are playing for Perth in 2023/24. Two members of Perth’s 2021/22 main roster – Darcee Garbin and Sami Whitcomb aren’t in this photo as they were on Australian Opals duties.
During Shooting the Breeze podcast Episode 132: Clubland with Chris Pongrass, CEO Sydney Flames & Kings, published on 15 September 2023 co-host Paul Camillos asked “When you are scouting and recruiting what considerations go into it, you were starting with a number of slots open. What do you look for?” Pongrass responded “It is a combination of things, when you are looking at the individual player it is skill, it is basketball IQ, I think character is a really important element to it all. Honestly I think character is probably 50 per cent of what you are looking for in a player. The other 50 per cent is skill and chemistry and fit and whatever. I think positional fit is obviously an important one too in terms of when you are looking at your roster, a) the pieces you already have signed and b) the other pieces that you are having multiple conversations at once (with). You have kind of got different scenarios that if this domino falls first then this other player you can put a line through because that probably doesn’t work with the kind of player that you have already recruited. So I think fit and chemistry is probably the biggest consideration when you are scouting and recruiting, how they work with all the other pieces you have already in place and how those pieces fit with the player you want to bring in.”
Judging a fit within a team is made easier if the Head Coach of a WNBL team has coached the potential recruit previously. 35 of the 64 players on a WNBL roster for the 2023/24 season that have previous experience in the league are playing for the same team they suited up for in 2022/23. Of the 29 players that have either changed teams in the off-season or returned to the WNBL after playing in a season before 2022/23 more than 40 per cent have had their 2023/24 WNBL Head Coach as a Head Coach or Assistant Coach in the WNBL or at another level previously. Three players are returning to the WNBL to play for a club and Head Coach they have played for previously. Leilani Mitchell and Mercedes Russell both return to the Southside Flyers with Cheryl Chambers as Head Coach, after being teammates at the Flyers in 2019/20. After having a son Elijah in January 2023 Alex Ciabattoni returns to the Perth Lynx and will have Ryan Petrik as a Head Coach just as she did in her previous two seasons with Perth in 2020 and 2021/22.
Three players will be playing for a team they haven’t represented before but will be playing under a Head Coach they have played for previously in the WNBL. In her first season at the Melbourne Boomers Aimie Rocci will have Chris Lucas as a Head Coach, having previously had Lucas as a Head Coach for two seasons at Adelaide Lightning in 2017/18 and 2018/19. In their first season for the Sydney Flames Cayla George and Tess Madgen will have Guy Molloy as an Interim Head Coach, having previously had Molloy as a Head Coach at the Melbourne Boomers including in a WNBL Championship winning 2021/22 season.
Four of Adelaide’s off-season recruits – Brianna Turner, Tayla Brazel, Isabelle Bourne and Lizzy Tonks have been coached by or have been teammates with current Adelaide Head Coach Nat Hurst previously. During the 2023 NBL1 East season Hurst was Head Coach of Bourne and Tonks at the Canberra Nationals. Brazel was a Development Player at the Lightning in 2021/22 and had Hurst as an Assistant Coach. During her previous WNBL season with Adelaide in 2019/20 Turner was teammates with Hurst.
Bendigo recruit Casey Samuels had Bendigo Head Coach Kennedy Kereama as an Assistant Coach at UC Capitals in 2021/22. Southside recruit Lou Brown had Southside Head Coach Cheryl Chambers as Head Coach of the bronze medal winning Australian Gems team at the FIBA Women’s 2013 Under 19 World Championships. Keely Froling was a member of the Emerging Opals team that won a gold medal at the 2017 World Uni Games with Chris Lucas as Head Coach and now at WNBL level with the Melbourne Boomers will have Lucas as a Head Coach.
Off-season activity of the 82 players on a main roster for the 2023/24 season^
Category Players
Played at least six games for a team in an NBL1 Conference in 2023 56
Played for a WNBA team during 2023 11
Played for a Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand team in 2023 7
Recovering from injury/other 13
Total 87
^ As at 30 October 2023.
Lists of the players in each of these four categories are provided later in the article.
Note that the four categories above are not mutually exclusive. Five players are in two categories which has resulted in a players count of 87 rather than the 82 players on a main roster as at 30 October. Four players played in Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand and in an NBL1 Conference, New Zealand Tall Ferns Penina Davidson, Esra McGoldrick and Tahlia Tupaea along with Sydney Flames American import point guard Paige Bradley. Southside Flyers American import guard Jasmine Dickey played in both the WNBA and Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand.
Players returning in 2023/24 to the same WNBL team they played for in 2022/23 – 35 players
Adelaide Lightning – 5 players: Brooke Basham, Ella Batish, Isobel Borlase, Lauren Mansfield, Steph Talbot
Bendigo Spirit – 6 players: Alicia Froling, Kelsey Griffin, Sophia Locandro, Abbey Wehrung, Ally Wilson, Kelly Wilson
Melbourne Boomers – 2 players: Penina Davidson, Kristy Wallace
Perth Lynx – 3 players: Amy Atwell, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, Chloe Forster#
Southside Flyers – 6 players: Bec Cole, Carley Ernst, Lauren Jackson, Dallas Loughridge, Nyadiew Puoch, Maddison Rocci
Sydney Flames – 3 players: Emma Clarke, Kiera Rowe, Vanessa Panousis
JCU Townsville Fire – 4 players: Zitina Aokuso, Steph Reid, Mikaela Ruef, Courtney Woods
UC Capitals – 6 players: Alex Bunton, Jade Melbourne, Nicole Munger*, Rebecca Pizzey, Gemma Potter, Chloe Tugliach#
* Import
# Elevated from being a development player in 2022/23 to being a main roster player in 2023/24
35 players on the main roster of a WNBL team for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season will be suiting up for the same team they played for in 2022/23. This includes two players that have been elevated from being a development player in 2022/23 to being on the main roster in 2023/24 – Chloe Forster at Perth Lynx and Chloe Tugliach at the UC Capitals. With 82 players having been signed to a main roster the 35 players returning to the same team represents 42.7% of the players on a 2023/24 main roster as at 30 October. There has been a decrease in the number of players playing for the same team in consecutive WNBL seasons. 45 of the 84 players on a main roster at the start of the 2022/23 WNBL season were playing for the same they did in 2021/22, representing 53.6% of the players in the league.
Four players that won a 2022/23 club Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award are suiting up for the same team during the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season – Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo), Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals), Maddison Rocci (Southside) and Steph Talbot (Adelaide).
Of the players in the league for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season JCU Townsville Fire forward/centre Zitina Aokuso ranks first for most consecutive seasons on the roster of their current team. Aokuso will be on JCU Townsville Fire’s roster for the seventh season in a row in the upcoming 2023/24 season, having made her league debut with the team in 2017/18. Due to an ACL injury Aokuso missed the entire 2019/20 season but remained on the club’s roster. Aokuso made a successful return in 2020, winning the WNBL’s Sixth Woman of the Year Award. Aokuso has played 87 games for Townsville and been a member of two WNBL Championship winning teams – 2017/18 and 2022/23.
Zitina Aokuso taking a rebound Townsville Fire against Dandenong Rangers at Dandenong Stadium on 13 January 2019
Four players have been on the same WNBL team’s roster in each of the five seasons from 2019/20 to 2023/24 with Aokuso being joined in this category by Bec Cole (Southside Flyers), Penina Davidson (Melbourne Boomers) and Steph Talbot (Adelaide Lightning).
In four seasons with the Southside Flyers from 2019/20 to 2022/23 guard Cole has played 81 games, individual highlights include being selected in the 2019/20 All-WNBL Second Team and winning the Flyers 2021/22 Most Valuable Player Award. Cole has been an integral member of a Flyers team that has made three Grand Finals, winning the WNBL Championship in 2020 and being runners-up in 2019/20 and 2022/23.
Bec Cole playing for Southside Flyers against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
New Zealand forward/centre Penina Davidson joined the Deakin Melbourne Boomers in 2019/20 and has played 75 games for the club, predominantly playing off the bench. Davidson was a member of the Deakin Melbourne Boomers 2021/22 WNBL Championship winning team. In each of the past three seasons from 2020 to 2022/23 Davidson had a field goal accuracy of at least 50%. Among players that had at least 10 field goal attempts Davidson has ranked in the league’s top 15 for field goal accuracy in each of the past three seasons.
Penina Davidson playing for Melbourne Boomers against Sydney Flames at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 5 March 2023
Guard/forward Steph Talbot played the first 44 games of her WNBL career with Adelaide Lightning from 2011/12 to 2013/14 before playing a total of three seasons for rival WNBL clubs. Talbot returned to Adelaide in 2019/20 and has been exceptional to earn All-WNBL selection in four consecutive seasons, being selected in the All-WNBL First team in 2020 and 2021/22 and earnt selection in the All-WNBL Second Team in 2019/20 and 2022/23. Talbot’s wide ranging skill-set has been recognised by being winning the 2020 Suzy Batkovic Medal as league MVP and twice being named the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year – 2020 and 2022/23. Due to suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury late in the 2022/23 WNBL season Talbot will be on the sidelines at the start of the 2023/24 season. Talbot will commence the 2023/24 season as an Adelaide Lightning assistant coach whilst continuing her rehabilitation before making her playing return during the season. Talbot has signed with Adelaide for the next four seasons from 2023/24 to 2026/27 which will result in her playing eight consecutive seasons for the club and adding considerably to her tally of 116 WNBL games for the Lightning.
Steph Talbot shooting a free throw for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Aggregate minutes per game played by returning players
Club Returning players Aggregate minutes per game
Adelaide Lightning 5 107.1
Bendigo Spirit 6 148.3
Melbourne Boomers 2 46.9
Perth Lynx 3 44.5
Southside Flyers 6 110.7
Sydney Flames 3 58.1
JCU Townsville Fire 4 94.3
UC Capitals 6 130.4
Total 35
The number of returning players and the aggregate minutes per game played by these players provides a guide to the level of continuity each WNBL team has from 2022/23 to 2023/24. Bendigo Spirit, Southside Flyers and the UC Capitals rank first with six players each returning from 2022/23 to be on their 2023/24 main roster. Melbourne Boomers rank last in this category with two players returning from last season – Penina Davidson and Kristy Wallace.
Bendigo Spirit rank first with 148.3 minutes per game played by returning players in 2022/23, ahead of UC Capitals (130.4 minutes) and Southside Flyers (110.7). Adelaide Lightning rank fifth with (107.1) minutes per game played by returning players in 2022/23, however due to an ACL injury Adelaide captain Steph Talbot (33.2 minutes per game in 2022/23) will commence the 2023/24 season as a Lightning assistant coaching before returning as a player later in the season. Due to ACL injuries UC Capitals shooting guard Gemma Potter played eight minutes in her only game of the season and Southside Flyers point guard Dallas Loughridge missed the entire 2022/23 season. Southside are the only finalist from 2022/23 to rank in the top four for aggregate minutes per game played by 2022/23 players returning to the same team in 2023/24.
Tianna Hawkins (31.4 minutes per game in 2022/23) missing the 2023/24 season due to injury has resulted in the returning minutes for Townsville falling from 125.7 to 94.3 minutes, sliding the Fire from third down to fifth. Two of last season’s finalists Perth Lynx (44.5 minutes) and Melbourne Boomers (46.9 minutes) rank last and second last respectively. Sydney (58.1 minutes) have also had considerable player turnover and rank third last.
With more player turnover than usual during the off-season building team chemistry will be critical to how each WNBL club performs in 2023/24. Two teams that missed the 2022/23 finals in Bendigo and UC Capitals have the benefit of having the most continuity heading into the 2023/24 season.
Played 2022/23 WNBL season and have changed teams for 2023/24 – 17 players
Player 2023/24 WNBL Team 2022/23 WNBL team
Elizabeth Tonks Adelaide Lightning UC Capitals
Jocelyn Willoughby* Adelaide Lightning Sydney Flames
Sara Blicavs Melbourne Boomers Southside Flyers
Monique Conti Melbourne Boomers Southside Flyers
Keely Froling Melbourne Boomers Sydney Flames
Aimie Rocci Melbourne Boomers Southside Flyers
Miela Goodchild Perth Lynx Melbourne Boomers
Anneli Maley Perth Lynx Bendigo Spirit
Lou Brown Southside Flyers Melbourne Boomers
Leilani Mitchell Southside Flyers Melbourne Boomers
Cayla George Sydney Flames Melbourne Boomers
Tess Madgen Sydney Flames Melbourne Boomers
Lara McSpadden Sydney Flames JCU Townsville Fire
Lauren Nicholson Sydney Flames JCU Townsville Fire
Shaneice Swain Sydney Flames UC Capitals
Sami Whitcomb JCU Townsville Fire Perth Lynx
Alex Sharp UC Capitals Perth Lynx
* Import
17 players that played in the WNBL in 2022/23 are continuing in the league for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season and have changed teams. In the off-season the Sydney Flames recruited five players from rival WNBL clubs, the most of any club ahead of the Melbourne Boomers. Four players including three players – Sara Blicavs, Aimie Rocci and Monique Conti joined the Boomers from cross-town rivals the Southside Flyers. Nine of the 17 players that changed clubs in the off-season joined Melbourne or Sydney, accounting for just over half of the player movement between WNBL teams. Bendigo Spirit are the only club that has not recruited a main roster player from a rival WNBL club for the 2023/24 season.
Players that have changed teams in the off-season are headlined by the past two Suzy Batkovic medal winners with 2022/23 winner Cayla George moving from the Melbourne Boomers to the Sydney Flames and 2021/22 MVP Anneli Maley leaving Bendigo Spirit and joining Perth Lynx.
As the Melbourne Boomers captain in 2022/23 George averaged 18.5 points (ranked 2nd in the WNBL), 11.3 rebounds (1st) and 4.4 assists per game and was selected in the All-WNBL First Team to earn All-WNBL selection for the fourth consecutive season.
During 2022/23 Maley averaged 16.2 points (ranked sixth in the WNBL) and 11.0 rebounds (2nd) per game playing for Bendigo. Maley was the league’s leading rebounder in both 2020 and 2021/22 and led the WNBL in scoring with 19.8 points per game in 2021/22.
Anneli Maley playing Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 6 March 2022
Four of the players that have changed clubs are returning to a club they have played for previously in the WNBL – Monique Conti (Melbourne Boomers), Leilani Mitchell (Southside Flyers), Lara McSpadden (Sydney Flames) and Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames). Conti played 85 games for the Boomers in four seasons from 2016/17 to 2019/20 and won the WNBL’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award in 2016/17. McSpadden and Nicholson were teammates on Sydney’s WNBL Championship winning 2016/17 team. Mitchell played for Southside in the team’s first two WNBL seasons in 2019/20 and 2020. In the Flyers inaugural season Mitchell won the team’s MVP Award and in 2020 she was a member of Southside’s WNBL championship winning team and won the Rachael Sporn medal as Grand Final Most Valuable Player (MVP).
17 players changing clubs in 2023/24 represents 20.73% of the 82 players signed to a main roster as at 28 October 2023. For comparison 14 of the 84 players on a WNBL main roster at the start of the 2022/23 season changed teams after the 2021/22 season. The number of players changing clubs has increased slightly from 16.67% in 2022/23 to 20.48% in 2023/24 and the credentials of the players changing clubs is higher for the 2023/24 season. Of the 14 players that changed WNBL clubs between the 2021/22 season and the 2022/23 season Kelsey Griffin was the only one that had been selected in an All-WNBL team during their career. Seven players that changed WNBL clubs between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons have earnt All-WNBL selection at least once in their career – Sara Blicavs, Cayla George, Tess Madgen, Anneli Maley, Leilani Mitchell, Lauren Nicholson and Sami Whitcomb.
Lauren Nicholson playing for JCU Townsville Fire against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 10 December 2022
Two players that haven’t been selected in an All-WNBL team and have won a Sydney Flames Most Valuable Player (MVP) award left the Flames in the off-season with 2021/22 joint MVP winner Keely Froling joining Melbourne Boomers and Flames 2022/23 MVP Jocelyn Willoughby signing with Adelaide Lightning.
Keely Froling playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
The number of team captains changing WNBL teams during free agency stood out. In the 2022/23 WNBL season six teams had a sole captain, in a massive shift five of these six captains changed teams during the free agency period. As was the case with player movement in general the clubs involved the most in the movement by team captains were the Deakin Melbourne Boomers and Sydney Flames. 2022/23 Sydney captain Keely Froling joined Melbourne whilst 2022/23 Melbourne captain Cayla George moved in the opposite direction, going from the Boomers to the Flames. Adding another layer to the movement between Melbourne and Sydney, Australian Opals captain Tess Madgen also left the Boomers and joined Sydney. The Flames recruited Lauren Nicholson who was the captain of the WNBL Championship winning JCU Townsville Fire in 2022/23. Southside’s 2022/23 captain Aimie Rocci has made the cross town move to join the Melbourne Boomers for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. 2022/23 Perth Lynx captain Sami Whitcomb has made the long move from Perth on the south-west coast of Australia to join JCU Townsville on the north-east coast in the only captain’s move not involving at least one of Melbourne or Sydney.
Returning to the league after playing in a WNBL season before 2022/23 – 12 players
Player 2023/24 WNBL team previous WNBL season
Isabelle Bourne Adelaide Lightning 2018/19 with UC Capitals
Tayla Brazel Adelaide Lightning 2021/22 with Adelaide Lightning
Brianna Turner* Adelaide Lightning 2019/20 with Adelaide Lightning
Casey Samuels Bendigo Spirit 2021/22 with UC Capitals
Ruth Davis* Bendigo Spirit 2017/18 with Adelaide Lightning
Taylah Simmons Melbourne Boomers 2021/22 with Southside Flyers
Alex Ciabattoni Perth Lynx 2021/22 with Perth Lynx
Mercedes Russell* Southside Flyers 2019/20 with Southside Flyers
Klara Wischer Southside Flyers 2015/16 with Perth Lynx
Alice Kunek JCU Townsville Fire 2019/20 with Sydney Flames
Alex Fowler UC Capitals 2018/19 with JCU Townsville Fire
Tahlia Tupaea UC Capitals 2021/22 with UC Capitals
* Import
Tayla Brazel played six games for Adelaide Lightning as a development player in 2021/22 but missed the entire 2022/23 WNBL season due to rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee. Making her basketball return at state league level guard/forward Brazel played 15 games for Sturt Sabres during the 2023 NBL1 Central season, averaging 14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Brazel’s exceptional defense resulted in her ranking second in the conference for steals per game, winning the NBL1 Central’s Best Defensive Player award and contributing to Sturt finishing on top of the ladder and making the Grand Final.
In her debut WNBL season with Adelaide Lightning Alex Ciabattoni won the WNBL’s 2015/16 Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award. Ciabattoni has played five seasons in the WNBL comprised of two seasons for Adelaide and three seasons for Perth Lynx. Ciabattoni averaged a career-high 10.0 points per game in 2020 with Perth Lynx and was a member of the Perth team that made the 2021/22 WNBL Grand Final. Ciabattoni gave birth to son Elijah in January 2023. During the 2023 NBL1 West season Ciabattoni made her basketball return as the playing Head Coach of South West Slammers. Ciabattoni has played 51 of her 90 WNBL games for Perth and needs 10 more games to reach 100 games in the league.
After making her WNBL debut at 15 years of age guard Tahlia Tupaea played 10 consecutive seasons in the league from 2012/13 to 2021/22 comprised of eight seasons for the Sydney Flames followed by two seasons for UC Capitals. Tupaea was a member of Sydney’s 2016/17 WNBL Championship winning team. With the Capitals in 2020 Tupaea averaged 4.2 assists per game, ranked seventh in the league. Tupaea signed with the UC Capitals for the 2022/23 WNBL season. In late September 2022 Tupaea was granted leave from the UC Capitals for the 2022/23 season due to personal and family reasons. Tupaea is five games away from reaching 150 WNBL games, having played 120 games for Sydney Flames and 25 games for University of Canberra Capitals.
American import forward Brianna Turner had a phenomenal debut WNBL season with Adelaide Lightning in 2019/20 to average 16.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game to rank in the league’s top five in all three categories and finished second in the WNBL’s MVP Award. Turner has five seasons WNBA experience with Phoenix Mercury from 2019 to 2023 and was selected in the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2020 and 2021. Turner returns to Adelaide Lightning for the 2023/24 WNBL season. In 2019/20 Turner was teammates with current Adelaide Head Coach Nat Hurst & current captain Steph Talbot.
During a debut WNBL season 198 centimetre tall centre Mercedes Russell made a significant impact for the Southside Flyers in 2019/20 at both ends of the court. Russell won the WNBL’s 2019/20 Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award and averaged 16.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game to rank in the league’s top five in both categories among players that played at least five games. From 2018 to 2023 Russell has played 152 WNBA regular season games including 150 for Seattle Storm. Russell was a member of Seattle’s 2018 and 2020 WNBA Championship winning teams and was teammates with Sami Whitcomb for both Championships and teammates with Ezi Magbegor for the latter championship. Russell returns to the Southside Flyers and will again have Cheryl Chambers as her Head Coach and be teammates with guards Leilani Mitchell and Bec Cole.
Mercedes Russell contesting the jump ball against Ezi Magbegor in Southside Flyers game against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 4 November 2019
Brazel is one of four players along with Isabelle Bourne, Alex Fowler and Taylah Simmons that are returning to the league and are on a WNBL main roster for the first time, having previously played in the league as development players.
Forwards Isabelle Bourne and Alex Fowler were development players in 2018/19 with the UC Capitals and JCU Townsville Fire respectively. At 18 years of age Fowler played six WNBL games for Townsville Fire in 2018/19. Bourne played two games for the UC Capitals as a teenager, playing one game in 2016/17 and one game in 2018/19.
At the FIBA Under 19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2019 held in Thailand Bourne and Fowler were both members of the Australian Gems team that won the silver medal, falling just short of winning the gold medal after being defeated in the final by United States of America 70-74 in overtime. At the tournament Fowler averaged 9.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game to lead Australia in both categories and Bourne ranked in the top five of both categories with 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. From 2019/20 to 2022/23 Bourne and Fowler had successful college careers in the USA playing for University of Nebraska and Portland Pilots respectively.
During the 2023 NBL1 East season Isabelle Bourne excelled playing for the Canberra Nationals and being coached by Adelaide Lightning Head Coach Nat Hurst. In 11 games for Canberra Bourne averaged 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to earn selection in the 2023 Women’s NBL1 EastAll-Star Five. Playing for Adelaide Lightning in the 2023/24 WNBL season Bourne will benefit from continuing to have Hurst as her Head Coach.
Alex Fowler played 11 games for the Townsville Flames during the 2023 NBL1 North season and averaged a double-double with 17.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game whilst shooting the ball efficiently to have a field goal accuracy of 53.2%. Fowler makes her WNBL return in 2023/24 with the University of Canberra Capitals and will play alongside Gemma Potter who was a teammate on the Australian Gems silver medal winning team at the FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup 2019.
Guard/forward Taylah Simmons made her WNBL debut with Southside Flyers in 2021/22, playing six games as a development player. Simmons has played in an NBL1 conference in the past three WNBL off-seasons comprised of 2021 in NBL 1 West followed by the 2022 and 2023 seasons in NBL1 South. During the 2023 NBL1 South season Simmons averaged 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for the Casey Cavaliers. Simmons played for Cinkarna Celje in Spain during 2022/23 and returns to the WNBL with the Melbourne Boomers in 2023/24 where she will play alongside a trio of players she was teammates with at Southside in 2021/22 – Sara Blicavs, Aimie Rocci and Kristy Wallace.
Of the players returning to the WNBL in 2023/24 forward Klara Wischer has the longest gap between playing in the league, having played 21 games for Perth Lynx eight seasons ago in 2015/16. Wischer has vast experience at state league level, having played multiple seasons in three different states – Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. During the 2023 NBL1 South season Wischer played 22 games for Sandringham Sabres and averaged 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. In 2023/24 Wischer makes her WNBL return with the Southside Flyers and will again be teammates with fellow forward Carley Ernst, with the duo having been members on the Perth Lynx team that made the 2015/16 WNBL Grand Final.
A trio of front court players that each have multiple WNBL seasons experience return to the league for the 2023/24 season – Ruth Davis (nee Hamblin), Alice Kunek and Casey Samuels.
Canadian import Ruth Davis played back-to-back WNBL seasons in 2016/17 and 2017/18, representing Perth Lynx in her debut season and played for Adelaide Lightning in the latter season. 199 centimetre centre Davis was a presence in the paint, ranking in the league’s top 15 for rebounds & blocked shots per game in each season. Davis completes her journey across Australia’s southern mainland states and will play for Bendigo Spirit in 2023/24.
Of the players returning to the league in 2023/24 forward Alice Kunek ranks first for WNBL experience, having played 220 games. In her most recent WNBL season Kunek averaged 18.9 points per game for the Sydney Flames in 2019/20 to rank second in the league among players that played at least five games. Kunek joins JCU Townsville Fire for the 2023/24 season and will again be teammates with Sami Whitcomb after they were both starters on the Perth Lynx team that won the minor premiership in 2017/18.
Guard/forward Casey Samuels has 137 games WNBL experience and in her most recent season played seven games for the UC Capitals in 2021/22. From 2013/14 to 2015/16 Samuels played 72 games for Sydney Flames and averaged more than 6.0 points per game in all three seasons.
A trio of frontcourt players returning to the league in 2023/24 each achieved All-WNBL selection during their most recent season in the league in 2019/20 with Brianna Turner being selected on the All-WNBL First Team whilst Mercedes Russell and Alice Kunek each earnt selection on the All-WNBL second team.
On a WNBL main roster for the first time in 2023/24 – 18 players
Taylor Mole Adelaide Lightning
Mehryn Kraker* Bendigo Spirit
Esra McGoldrick Bendigo Spirit
Jordin Canada* Melbourne Boomers
Naz Hillmon* Melbourne Boomers
Tera Reed Melbourne Boomers
Stephanie Gorman Perth Lynx
Ashlee Hannan Perth Lynx
Aari McDonald* Perth Lynx
Emily Potter* Perth Lynx
Jasmine Dickey* Southside Flyers
Paige Bradley* Sydney Flames
DiDi Richards* Sydney Flames
Cassandra Brown* JCU Townsville Fire
Jessica McDowell-White JCU Townsville Fire
Saffron Shiels JCU Townsville Fire
Jayda Clark UC Capitals
Monica Okoye* UC Capitals
* Import
The 18 players that have been signed to a WNBL main roster for the first time and will make their league debuts during the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season includes 10 imports, six Australians and a duo of New Zealand Tall Ferns in Tera Reed and Esra McGoldrick. 11 players that are on a WNBL roster for the first time in 2023/24 played for a team in an NBL1 Conference in 2023 comprised of six Australians, two Americans, one Canadian, one New Zealand player and one Japanese player. Three WNBL teams have at least three players that will make their WNBL debut in the upcoming season led by Perth Lynx with four players, ahead of JCU Townsville Fire and Deakin Melbourne Boomers with three players each.
Four imports that played for an NBL1 team during the 2023 season will each be playing their first WNBL season in 2023/24 – forwards Monica Okoye and Cassandra Brown along with guards Mehryn Kraker and Paige Bradley.
Japan import Monica Okoye will be making her WNBL debut with University of Canberra Capitals in 2023/24 after playing 13 games for the Geelong United Supercats during the 2023 NBL1 South season. Okoye was a member of Japan’s silver medal winning teams at the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo and the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney. Okoye excelled at Asia Cup 2023 to average 10.6 points (ranked equal 2nd for Japan), 4.4 rebounds (equal 2nd) and 2.0 three-pointers made (2nd) per game.
American import Mehryn Kraker has played two NBL1 West seasons with Rockingham Flames in 2022 and 2023. For the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Kraker has signed with Bendigo Spirit where she will be playing alongside 2023 Rockingham teammate Casey Samuels. Kraker had an exceptional 2023 season with Rockingham to average 18.8 points and 5.8 assists per game to earn selection in the All-NBL1 West First Team and won the conference’s Golden Hands Award.
Canadian import Cassandra Brown gets an opportunity at WNBL level for JCU Townsville Fire after playing two NBL1 South seasons with Mt Gambier Pioneers. Brown averaged more than 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the Pioneers in the 2022 and 2023 NBL1 South seasons.
American import point guard Paige Bradley will make her WNBL debut with Sydney Flames after playing two NBL1 South seasons with Hobart Chargers in 2022 and 2023. Bradley averaged 19.9 points and 5.7 assists per game for Hobart in 2023. Playing for Southern Hoiho in the 2023Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season in New Zealand Bradley led the league for total assists and was selected in the Tauihi All-Star 5.
Six Australians under 24 years of age will have their first season on a WNBL roster in 2023/24 – Adelaide Lightning forward Taylor Mole, JCU Townsville Fire guards Jessica McDowell-White and Saffron Shiels along with Perth Lynx guard Stephanie Gorman, Perth Lynx forward/centre Ashlee Hannan and UC Capitals guard Jayda Clark. These six players all played at least 11 games for an NBL1 team during the 2023 season. Two of these players finished their college basketball careers in the United States of America in 2022/23 – Mole (University of California Santa Barbara) and McDowell-White (University of San Francisco). Gorman finished her college career at University of San Diego a season earlier in 2021/22 and since returning to Australia has played in NBL1 South for Ballarat Miners in 2022 and in NBL1 West for Cockburn Cougars in 2023.
Clark and Shiels were teammates on the gold medal winning Australian Sapphires team at the FIBA Under 16 Women’s Asian Championship 2022 held in Jordan. At the tournament Jayda Clark ranked equal second for the Sapphires in points per game with Shiels, second for assists and minutes per game and equal second for steals. Clark and Shiels were teammates playing for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence during the 2023 NBL1 East season. In 24 games for the BA CoE Clark averaged 14.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
At the FIBA Under 16 Women’s Asian Championship 2022 Saffron Shiels led the Sapphires with 5.0 assists per game, ranked second for rebounds, equal second for points per game with Clark and third for minutes played. Shiels played 14 games for the BA CoE in the 2023 NBL1 East season and averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. At the 2013 FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup 2023 held in Spain in July Shiels and Clark both played all seven games at the tournament for the Australian Gems. After spending much of 2023 as teammates the duo will be opponents on Saturday 18 November when Shiels’ Townsville Fire host Clark’s UC Capitals in a Round 3 WNBL game.
Shiels will be joined in the Townsville team by Jessica McDowell-White who returned to Australia in 2023 after a five season college basketball career in the USA. In her last two seasons of college basketball for University of San Francisco McDowell-White started all 65 games that she played across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons and led her team for total assists in both seasons. After returning to Australia McDowell-White started 14 games for Southern Districts Spartans in NBL1 North in 2023 and averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 assists per game to rank fifth in the conference in the latter category among players that played at least five games.
In 2023 Stephanie Gorman played 23 games in NBL1 West for Cockburn Cougars and averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Gorman won the Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award and among players that played at least five games ranked fifth for steals per game. Gorman was a member of the Cockburn Cougars team that won the 2023 NBL1 West Championship, defeating Willetton Tigers 68-61 in the Grand Final. Gorman excelled in the Grand Final to score a team-high 19 points and won the NBL1 West Women’s Finals MVP Award. During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Gorman will continue to be based in Western Australia and will play her debut season in the league for Perth Lynx.
During the 2023 NBL1 East season Ashlee Hannan played 23 games for the Albury Wodonga Bandits and averaged 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game. After playing on opposite sides of the country during the NBL1 2023 season Gorman and Hannan will be teammates at Perth Lynx with Hannan making the move west.
In the 2020/21 college basketball season for University of California Santa Barbara Taylor Mole played 17 games and averaged 14.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. After three seasons with Santa Barbara Mole returned to Australia in 2023. During the 2023 NBL1 North season Mole averaged 15.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game playing for the Cairns Dolphins. In an 83-80 Cairns road victory against Rockhampton on 28 May Mole scored a season-high 36 points at 52.6% from the field.
Guard Tera Reed and forward Esra McGoldrick were teammates on the New Zealand Tall Ferns team that finished fourth at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney. At Asia Cup 2023 Tera Reed averaged 8.5 points (ranked third for New Zealand) and 6.2 rebounds (second) per game. During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Reed is teammates at the Melbourne Boomers with fellow Tall Fern Penina Davidson.
Tera Reed about to pass the ball to Penina Davidson during Melbourne Boomers game against Southside Flyers in a pre-season game at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023
In the lead-up to Asia Cup 2023 Esra McGoldrick played six games for Casey Cavaliers in NBL1 South and averaged a double-double with 12.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 McGoldrick averaged 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game to rank in the top five for New Zealand in both categories. In 2023/24 McGoldrick will make her WNBL debut with Bendigo Spirit.
Three clubs have a duo of imports making their WNBL debuts in 2023/24 – Jordin Canada and Naz Hillmon for the Melbourne Boomers, Aari McDonald and Emily Potter for the Perth Lynx along with Paige Bradley and DiDi Richards for Sydney Flames. Bradley is the only one of these six players that has played in an NBL1 Conference.
Guard Jordan Canada was selected by Seattle Storm with pick 5 at the 2018 WNBA Draft and played four consecutive seasons with Seattle from 2018 to 2021 which included winning WNBA Championships in 2018 and 2020. In between Seattle’s two WNBA titles Canada led the WNBA for steals per game in 2019 and was selected in the 2019 WNBA All-Defensive First Team. Canada joined the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2022 WNBA season. In 2023 Canada played 38 regular season games for the Sparks, all as a starter and averaged 13.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game to set career-highs in the first three categories. Canada led the league in steals per game in 2023, ranked sixth for assists, finished second in the WNBA’s 2023 Most Improved Player Award and was selected in the WNBA All-Defensive First Team for the second time in her career.
During each of her four college seasons with University of Michigan from 2018/19 to 2021/22 Naz Hillmon was extremely consistent to earn selection in the All-Big Ten first team in all four seasons. At University of Michigan Hillmon played 119 games and averaged 18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 30.5 minutes per game. Forward Hillmon was selected by Atlanta Dream with pick 15 at the 2022 WNBA Draft. In two seasons with Atlanta Hillmon has played 74 regular season games and has averaged more than 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in each season. Hillmon has represented USA at junior and senior level. Hillmon was the captain of the USA team that won gold at the FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Championship 2019, having a 74-70 victory in the final against the Australian Gems in overtime. At senior level Hillmon ranked third for rebounds for the gold medal winning USA team at FIBA AmeriCup 2021.
In her senior year of college basketball with University of Arizona in 2020/21 Aari McDonald won the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year and was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Point guard McDonald averaged more than 20.5 points per game in all three seasons at Arizona from 2018/19 to 2020/21 and was a Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year in each of her last two seasons. McDonald was selected by Atlanta Dream with pick 3 overall at the 2021 WNBA Draft. McDonald played 30 games for Atlanta in 2021, averaging 6.3 points, 2.0 assists and 16.4 minutes per game to earn selection on the 2021 WNBA All-Rookie Team. In three seasons with Atlanta Dream from 2021 to 2023 McDonald has played 90 regular season games, averaging 8.6 points, 2.5 assists and 21.5 minutes per game throughout her WNBA career.
In a college career with University of Utah 196 centimetre tall Canadian centre Emily Potter set single season and career school records for blocked shots. During 2022/23 Potter played five games for Greek club Panathinaikos and averaged 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game whilst having a field goal accuracy of 49.2%. Potter was a member of the Canadian team that won a bronze medal at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2023 held in Mexico in July.
During a four season college career from 2017/18 to 2020/21 guard/forward DiDi Richards played 131 games with Baylor University Lady Bears. Richards was a starter on Baylor’s team which won the 2019 NCAA Women’s Tournament, defeating Notre Dame 82-81 in the final. Richards was named the 2019/20 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. New York Liberty selected Richards with pick 17 at the 2021 WNBA Draft. Richards played 31 regular season games for New York in 2021 and was selected on the 2021 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Hamstring injuries restricted DiDi to 14 regular season games in 2022 and days before the start of the 2023 WNBA regular season Richards was waived by New York.
Jasmine Dickey played a total of 112 games including 102 as a starter across a four season college basketball career with University of Delaware Blue Hens from 2018/19 to 2021/22. In her junior and senior seasons Dickey averaged more than 21.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) women’s basketball Player of the Year. Dallas Wings selected Dickey with pick 30 at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Dickey played 20 regular season games for Dallas in 2022 and played 14 games in 2023 before being waived on 28 June. In the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand season Dickey played for Mainland Pouakai and ranked third in the league for points and eighth for rebounds per game.
2023 NBL1 season
56 of the 82 players signed on a WNBL main roster as at 30 October played at least six games for a team in an NBL1 conference during the 2023 season, this equates to 68.29% of players currently on a WNBL main roster. The breakdown across the five NBL1 conferences is 23 NBL1 South players, 11 NBL1 East players, 10 NBL1 North players, eight NBL1 West players and four NBL1 Central players. The 56 players on a 2023/24 WNBL main roster that each played at least six NBL1 games in 2023 are listed by conference below with the 2023 NBL1 team and 2023/24 WNBL team for each player listed in brackets.
NBL1 South – 23 players: Zitina Aokuso (Mount Gambier Pioneers | Townsville Fire), Amy Atwell (Bendigo Braves | Perth Lynx),Ella Batish (Frankston Blues | Adelaide Lightning), Paige Bradley* (Hobart Chargers | Sydney Flames), Cassandra Brown* (Mount Gambier Pioneers | Townsville Fire), Lou Brown (Frankston Blues | Southside Flyers), Bec Cole (Waverley Falcons | Southside Flyers), Carley Ernst (Waverley Falcons | Southside Flyers), Alicia Froling (Knox Raiders | Bendigo Spirit), Keely Froling (Launceston Tornadoes | Melbourne Boomers), Miela Goodchild (Mt Gambier Pioneers | Perth Lynx),Alice Kunek (Nunawading Spectres | Townsville Fire), Sophia Locandro (Waverley Falcons | Bendigo Spirit), Anneli Maley (Eltham Wildcats | Perth Lynx),Esra McGoldrick (Casey Cavaliers | Bendigo Spirit), Monica Okoye* (Geelong United | UC Capitals), Rebecca Pizzey (Eltham Wildcats | UC Capitals), Nyadiew Puoch (Dandenong Rangers | Southside Flyers), Kiera Rowe (Knox Raiders | Sydney Flames), Taylah Simmons (Casey Cavaliers | Melbourne Boomers), Abbey Wehrung (Ballarat Miners | Bendigo Spirit), Kelly Wilson (Bendigo Braves | Bendigo Spirit), Klara Wischer (Sandringham Sabres | Southside Flyers).
NBL1 East – 11 players: Isabelle Bourne (Canberra Nationals | Adelaide Lightning), Jayda Clark (BA Centre of Excellence | UC Capitals), Ashlee Hannan (Albury Wodonga Bandits | Perth Lynx),
Leilani Mitchell (Inner West Bulls | Southside Flyers), Nicole Munger* (Newcastle Falcons | UC Capitals), Lauren Nicholson (Sutherland Sharks | Sydney Flames), Vanessa Panousis (Sydney Comets | Sydney Flames), Saffron Shiels (BA Centre of Excellence | Townsville Fire), Elizabeth Tonks (Canberra Nationals | Adelaide Lightning), Chloe Tugliach (Canberra Nationals | UC Capitals), Tahlia Tupaea (Penrith Panthers | UC Capitals).
NBL1 North – 10 players: Penina Davidson (Cairns Dolphins | Melbourne Boomers), Alex Fowler (Townsville Flames |UC Capitals),Jessica McDowell-White (Southern Districts Spartans | Townsville Fire), Lara McSpadden(Rockhampton Cyclones | Sydney Flames), Taylor Mole (Cairns Dolphins | Adelaide Lightning), Steph Reid (Townsville Flames | Townsville Fire), Maddison Rocci (South West Metro Pirates | Southside Flyers), Mikaela Ruef (Logan Thunder | Townsville Fire), Shaneice Swain (Cairns Dolphins | Sydney Flames), Courtney Woods (Northside Wizards | Townsville Fire).
NBL1 West – 8 players: Alex Ciabattoni (South West Slammers | Perth Lynx), Emma Clarke (Perry Lakes Hawks | Sydney Flames), Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard (Warwick Senators | Perth Lynx),Chloe Forster (Warwick Senators | Perth Lynx), Stephanie Gorman (Cockburn Cougars | Perth Lynx), Mehryn Kraker* (Rockingham Flames | Bendigo Spirit), Casey Samuels (Rockingham Flames | Bendigo Spirit), Alex Sharp (Willetton Tigers | UC Capitals).
NBL1 Central – 4 players: Brooke Basham (North Adelaide Rockets | Adelaide Lightning), Tayla Brazel (Sturt Sabres | Adelaide Lightning), Lauren Mansfield (North Adelaide Rockets | Adelaide Lightning), Ally Wilson (Norwood Flames | Bendigo Spirit).
* Import
Seven of the eight WNBL clubs have at least seven players on their 2023/24 main roster that played at least six games for an NBL1 team during the 2023 season. Bendigo, Perth, Townsville and UC Capitals each have eight NBL1 players on their roster, closely followed by Adelaide, Southside and Sydney with seven NBL1 players each. Melbourne are the outlier with only three players that played during the 2023 NBL1 season.
Four NBL1 conference regular season MVP Awards winners are playing in the WNBL during the 2023/24 season – Brooke Basham (NBL1 Central), Nicole Munger (NBL1 East), Alex Sharp (NBL1 West) and Courtney Woods (NBL1 North). The 2023 NBL1 MVP winning season for this quartet of players is covered in their player profile. Megan McKay won the NBL1 South MVP Award playing for Bendigo Braves but after playing three consecutive WNBL seasons including the past two for Bendigo Spirit has decided to take a break from basketball during the 2023/24 season.
Bendigo Braves coached by Mark Alabakov were undefeated throughout 2023, winning all 25 games on their way to winning the NBL1 South Championship and then won all three games at the NBL1 National Finals by at least 25 points each to win the National title in convincing fashion. Two players from the Bendigo Braves Championship winning team will be playing in the WNBL during 2023/24 – WNBL games record Kelly Wilson for Bendigo Spirit and Amy Atwell for Perth Lynx. Wilson was selected in the 2023 NBL1 South All-Star Five and at the 2023 NBL1 National Finals Atwell earnt selection in the tournament’s All-Star Five.
In addition to the 56 players on a main roster for the 2023/24 WNBL season that played at least six games for an NBL1 team in 2023 another trio played less than four games each. Two Australian Opals in Jade Melbourne and Sami Whitcomb each played in an NBL1 conference early in the 2023 season before playing their 2023 WNBA season as teammates at Seattle Storm. Melbourne played three games in NBL1 South for Melbourne Tigers and Whitcomb played two games in NBL1 West for Willetton Tigers. Due to a back injury Isobel Borlase played limited minutes in two games for Forestville Eagles in May 2023. At the FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup 2023 held in Spain in July Borlase was a starter for the Australian Gems.
Played in the WNBA during the 2023 season and are playing in the WNBL in 2023/24 – 11 players
Player 2023 WNBA team 2023/24 WNBL team
Jordin Canada* Los Angeles Sparks Melbourne Boomers
Jasmine Dickey* Dallas Wings Southside Flyers
Cayla George Las Vegas Aces Sydney Flames
Naz Hillmon* Atlanta Dream Melbourne Boomers
Aari McDonald* Atlanta Dream Perth Lynx
Jade Melbourne Seattle Storm UC Capitals
Mercedes Russell* Seattle Storm Southside Flyers
Brianna Turner* Phoenix Mercury Adelaide Lightning
Kristy Wallace Indiana Fever Melbourne Boomers
Sami Whitcomb Seattle Storm Townsville Fire
Jocelyn Willoughby* New York Liberty Adelaide Lightning
* WNBL Import
11 of the 82 players signed on a WNBL main roster as at 30 October played in the WNBA during the 2023 season comprised of four Australians and seven Americans. The quartet of Australians that played in the WNBA during 2023 and is playing in the 2023/24 WNBL season is Seattle Storm guard duo Jade Melbourne and Sami Whitcomb, Las Vegas Aces forward/centre Cayla George and Indiana Fever guard Kristy Wallace.
The Melbourne Boomers lead the way with WNBA representation from the 2023 season, having three players, Wallace along with import duo Jordin Canada and Naz Hillmon who played for Los Angeles Sparks and Atlanta Dream respectively. Two WNBL clubs will be represented in 2023/24 by two players that played in the WNBA during 2023, Adelaide Lightning and Southside Flyers. Four clubs Perth Lynx, Sydney Flames, Townsville Fire and UC Capitals each have one player on their roster that played in the WNBA in 2023. Bendigo Spirit are the only WNBL club that don’t have a 2023 WNBA player on their roster for the 2023/24 season.
Two players that will be playing in the 2023/24 WNBL season play for teams that competed in the WNBA Finals, Cayla George for the number one seeds Las Vegas Aces and Jocelyn Willoughby for the second seeded New York Liberty. Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello is the Head Coach of New York Liberty. The home team won the first three games of the WNBA Finals, resulting in the Las Vegas Aces leading New York Liberty two games to one after three games. New York Liberty hosted game 4 at Barclays Center on Wednesday 18 October USA time / Thursday 19 October Australian time. Two of the Las Vegas starters missed game four due to foot injuries, point guard and 2022 WNBA Finals MVP Chelsea Grey and centre Kiah Stokes. In game 4 of the 2023 Finals George had the first playoff start of her WNBA career and scored 11 points in the Aces 70-69 victory. Las Vegas won the Finals three games to one to win the 2023 WNBA Championship. Two of George’s Aces title winning teammates have played in the WNBL – Jackie Young earnt All-WNBL First team selection with the Perth Lynx in 2021/22 and Kierstan Bell played nine games for Adelaide Lightning in 2022/23.
A total of 20 players that have played in the WNBA during their basketball careers are on a main roster for the 2023/24 WNBL season, comprised of 11 Australians, eight Americans and one Canadian. The nine players in the upcoming 2023/24 WNBL season that didn’t play in the 2023 WNBA season but have played in the WNBA before 2023 are comprised of seven Australians – Amy Atwell, Kelsey Griffin, Lauren Jackson, Tess Madgen, Anneli Maley, Leilani Mitchell and Steph Talbot along with American forward DiDi Richards and Canadian centre Ruth Davis.
2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand season – 7 players
Player 2023 Tauihi team 2023/24 WNBL team
Paige Bradley* Southern Hoiho Sydney Flames
Penina Davidson Northern Kahu Melbourne Boomers
Jasmine Dickey* Mainland Pouakai Southside Flyers
Tess Madgen Northern Kahu Sydney Flames
Esra McGoldrick Mainland Pouakai Bendigo Spirit
Tera Reed Northern Kahu Melbourne Boomers
Tahlia Tupaea Northern Kahu UC Capitals
* WNBL import
Seven players that played in the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand season will be playing in the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season comprised of four New Zealand players, one Australian and two Americans. New Zealand quartet Penina Davidson, Esra McGoldrick, Tera Reed and Tahlia Tupaea were all members of the Tall Ferns team that finished fourth at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney in late June and early July. At the same tournament Tess Madgen was the captain of the bronze medal winning Australian Opals team. American guards Paige Bradley and Jasmine Dickey will complete the Trans-Tasman double of playing in the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season in New Zealand and the 2023/24 WNBL season in Australia.
The Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship commenced in 2022. Davidson, Madgen, Reed and Tupaea were all members of the Northern Kahu team that finished on top of the 2023 regular standings with nine wins and three losses. In the Grand Final at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua Northern Kahu defeated Tokomanawa Queens 98-72 to win the Championship.
All seven players that competed in the 2023 Tauihi season and are playing in the 2023/24 WNBL season ranked in the Tauihi’s top 20 for points per game including three players in the top 10 – Dickey (2nd), Madgen (5th) and Reed (8th). Two players that will be playing for the Sydney Flames ranked in the Tauihi league’s top six for total assists – Bradley first with 109 and Madgen sixth with 56 after joining Northern Kahu mid-season. Davidson ranked second in the league with 11.6 rebounds per game and was joined in the top 10 by three players that will be making their WNBL debut in 2023/24 – McGoldrick (7th), Dickey (8th) and Reed (9th).
In the final round of the 2023 regular season Madgen set a single game scoring record for the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship with 37 points. In a proficient shooting display Madgen shot at 61.7% from the field, made four of seven three-pointers at 57.1% and made 11 of 12 free throws at 91.7%.
Point guard Bradley’s impressive 2023 season for Southern Hoiho, ability to score herself and facilitate for her teammates was rewarded with selection in the 2023 Tauihi All-Star 5. The week after the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship season concluded the Sydney Flames announced that they had signed Bradley as an import for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. At Sydney she is teammates with fellow guard Madgen.
After being teammates for New Zealand at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 and on Northern Kahu’s 2023 Tauihi Championship team Davidson and Reed will be teammates during the 2023/24 WNBL season at the Deakin Melbourne Boomers. Tupaea returns to the UC Capitals after playing the 2020 and 2021/22 WNBL seasons with the club. Dickey and McGoldrick were teammates at Mainland Pouakai during the 2023 Tauihi season, will both play for Victorian teams in the 2023/24 WNBL season and will make their debuts in the league with Southside Flyers and Bendigo Spirit respectively.
Recovering from injury/other – 13 players
Player 2023/24 WNBL team
Isobel Borlase Adelaide Lightning
Steph Talbot Adelaide Lightning
Ruth Davis* Bendigo Spirit
Kelsey Griffin Bendigo Spirit
Sara Blicavs Melbourne Boomers
Monique Conti Melbourne Boomers
Aimie Rocci Melbourne Boomers
Emily Potter* Perth Lynx
Lauren Jackson Southside Flyers
Dallas Loughridge Southside Flyers
DiDi Richards* Sydney Flames
Alex Bunton University of Canberra Capitals
Gemma Potter University of Canberra Capitals
* Import
13 players on a WNBL main roster for the 2023/24 WNBL season were recovering from injury or didn’t play in the WNBA, Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand or at least six games for an NBL1 team during the 2023 season. The Deakin Melbourne Boomers have three players in this category – Sara Blicavs, Monique Conti and Aimie Rocci.
Three players spent the 2023 off-season on the sidelines due to rupturing their anterior cruciate ligament during the 2022/23 WNBL pre-season or regular season – Adelaide Lightning captain Steph Talbot, Southside Flyers point guard Dallas Loughridge and University of Canberra Capitals shooting guard Gemma Potter. Loughridge suffered her ACL injury in a Southside Flyers 2022/23 pre-season game. Potter started for the UC Capitals in their opening game of the 2022/23 regular season and tore her ACL late in the first quarter. Loughridge played a WNBL pre-season game for Southside Flyers on 14 October against Bendigo. Potter is likely to make her WNBL return early in the 2023/24 pre- season. Talbot suffered her ACL injury late in the 2022/23 WNBL season and will commence the 2023/24 season as an Adelaide assistant coach before making her return as a player later in the season.
Four-time Olympian Lauren Jackson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the opening minute of Southside Flyers home game at John Cain Arena on 4 February 2023 against Sydney Flames. Early this month on Monday 2 October Jackson said “I’m not done yet” and signed with Southside for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Jackson told WNBL Media “I honestly didn’t know if I would be ready for the WNBL this season, but I am fitter than I was last year, it’s the best I have felt in a long time. The rehab has gone really well, and the club has seen me on court, and they know I am ready. That’s why we’re here again.”3
A trio of players that held leadership roles for their respective WNBL teams had injury impacted seasons in 2022/23 and between them only played three WNBL games after mid-January 2023 – Kelsey Griffin (hamstring injury – two games), Aimie Rocci (back injury – no games) and Alex Bunton (lower body injury – one game). None of these three players played for an NBL1 team in 2023. In late August to early September Bunton was a member of the Australian Opals team for a five game China tour against the Chinese women’s national team.
In the off-season Sara Blicavs took a break from basketball and commenced a clothing business Sara Kirsti. During free agency Blicavs and Rocci both made the cross-town move from the Jayco Southside Flyers to the Deakin Melbourne Boomers.
Two Canadian centres that each played in Europe during the 2022/23 season will be playing in the WNBL during 2023/24 – Ruth Davis for Bendigo Spirit and Emily Potter for Perth Lynx. In 2022/23 Davis played 32 games for Spanish club Barca SBS whilst Potter played five games for Greek club Panathinaikos.
After playing in the WNBA for New York Liberty in 2021 and 2022 DiDi Richards attended the Liberty’s 2023 training camp. With New York in WNBA Championship contention mode in 2023 they only had 11 players on their main roster rather than the maximum 12 players and Richards was waived before the regular season commenced.
For most of her professional sporting career Monique Conti has played two sports, basketball and Australian Rules Football and this continues to be the case in 2023. Conti has played all nine games for Richmond in the 2023 AFLW season and is averaging 27.9 disposals (ranked 5th in the AFLW) and 6.9 clearances (equal 3rd). After Round 8 Conti had polled 52 votes in the AFL Coaches Association 2023 AFLW Champion Player of the Year to be in equal fourth place. Conti won the AFL Players’ Association Season 7 (second season of 2022) AFLW MVP Award.
Monique Conti playing for Richmond in an AFLW game against Melbourne at Punt Road Oval on 14 January 2022
The 10 round AFLW home and away season concludes on Sunday 5 November, four days after the Deakin Melbourne Boomers play in the opening game of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season on the road against Adelaide Lightning. The Tigers are currently in 12th place, with four wins, five losses and a percentage of 86.2% to be percentage behind eighth placed Sydney who have five wins, four losses and a percentage of 101.9%. In the last rounds of the h & a season Richmond play a Round 10 away game against Collingwood at Victoria Park on Sunday 5 November. Collingwood are currently in 10th position with five wins, four losses and a percentage of 95.0%. After Round 9 Richmond are one of three teams from 11th to 13th on the ladder with four wins and five losses. The four teams from seventh to 10th on the ladder all have five wins and four losses. Richmond are a mathematical chance to make the finals, needing to defeat Collingwood by at least 10 goals in Round 10 and have Sydney and St Kilda both lose.
Due to a back injury sustained late in the 2022/23 WNBL season with Adelaide Lightning Isobel Borlase played limited minutes for Forestville Eagles in two NBL1 Central games in May 2023. At the FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup 2023 held in Spain in July Borlase was the Australian Gems best player, averaging 14.9 points (ranked 1st for the Gems), 5.9 rebounds (2nd), 4.0 assists (equal 1st) and 2.3 steals (1st) per game. Borlase was damaging from long range – making 19 of 37 three-pointers at an accuracy of 51.4% during the tournament. At Adelaide Lightning in 2023/24 Borlase will be teammates with fellow Gems starter Taylah Brazel.
Imports for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season – 15 players
Player 2023/24 WNBL team Nationality
Brianna Turner^ Adelaide Lightning American
Jocelyn Willoughby~ Adelaide Lightning American
Ruth Davis^ Bendigo Spirit Canadian
Mehryn Kraker* Bendigo Spirit American
Jordin Canada* Melbourne Boomers American
Naz Hillmon* Melbourne Boomers American
Aari McDonald* Perth Lynx American
Emily Potter* Perth Lynx Canadian
Jasmine Dickey* Southside Flyers American
Mercedes Russell^ Southside Flyers American
Paige Bradley* Sydney Flames American
DiDi Richards* Sydney Flames American
Cassandra Brown* JCU Townsville Fire Canadian
Nicole Munger# UC Capitals American
Monica Okoye* UC Capitals Japanese
# Returning to same team as 2022/23 – 1 player
~ Changed teams between 2022/23 and 2023/24 – 1 player
^ Returning to the league – 3 players
* Making WNBL debut – 10 players
The number of imports playing in the WNBL has increased from 12 players at the start of the 2022/23 season to 15 in 2023/24. Bendigo Spirit have gone from no imports in 2022/23 to having two imports in 2023/24 and Perth and Southside have both increased from having one import in 2022/23 to having two imports for the upcoming season. Hawkins missing the 2023/24 WNBL season due to injury has resulted in Townsville starting the season with one import, down from two imports last season. Townsville plan on signing a second import which would increase the league to the maximum 16 imports.
14 of the 15 imports in the 2023/24 WNBL season are from North America comprised of 11 players from the United States of America and three front court players from Canada – Cassandra Brown, Ruth Davis and Emily Potter. Monica Okoye will become the first Japanese player to play in the WNBL.
One import returns to the same team they played for in 2022/23 – guard Nicole Munger with the University of Canberra Capitals. After winning the Sydney Flames 2022/23 Most Valuable Player award Jocelyn Willoughby has joined Adelaide Lightning for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season.
Three import front court players who have played in the WNBL previously return to the league for the 2023/24 season – Ruth Davis, Brianna Turner and Mercedes Russell. Davis is the only import for the 2023/24 season that has multiple seasons experience in the WNBL, having played for Perth Lynx in 2016/17 and Adelaide Lightning in 2017/18. In each seasons Davis had a field goal accuracy above 47.5% to rank in the league’s top dozen in this category among players who had at least 10 field goal attempts.
In 2019/20 Brianna Turner and Mercedes Russell earnt All-WNBL selection with Adelaide Lightning and Southside Flyers respectively which understandably led to talks about returning to play a second WNBL season for the same team. COVID-19 changed things dramatically and imports weren’t eligible to play in the league during the 2020 hub season in North Queensland. Four seasons after their WNBL debuts Turner and Russell make their much anticipated returns to the league to play their second seasons for Adelaide and Southside respectively.
Main rosters of WNBL teams for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season at 28 October 2023
Players on Returning
main roster from 22/23 Imports
Adelaide Lightning 11 5 2
Bendigo Spirit 10 6 2
Melbourne Boomers 10 2 2
Perth Lynx 10 3^ 2
Southside Flyers 11 6 2
Sydney Flames 10 3 2
Townsville Fire 9# 4 1#
UC Capitals 11 6^ 2
Total 82 35 15
^ Includes a player that has been elevated from being a development player in 2022/23 to a main roster player in 2023/24. Chloe Forster at Perth and Chloe Tugliach at the UC Capitals.
# As at 30 October 2023 following the announcement that Tianna Hawkins will not be joining JCU Townsville due to injury.
As at 30 October 2023 there are a total of 82 players on WNBL main rosters for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season that commences on 1 November. Adelaide Lightning, Southside Flyers and UC Capitals each have a player returning from an ACL injury and each club has 11 players on their main roster. Bendigo Spirit, Melbourne Boomers, Perth Lynx and Sydney Flames each have 10 players on their main roster. JCU Townsville Fire currently have nine players on their main roster and are searching for a player to replace Hawkins.
During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season 35 players will be suiting up for the same team they played for in 2022/23. Of the 29 players that have joined a WNBL team in the off-season and have experience playing in the league previously nine are returning to a team that they have represented before. This results in a total of 44 of the 82 players signed as at 30 October suiting up in 2023/24 for a WNBL team they have played for before, representing 53.7% of the players on a main roster. The breakdown of the 38 players that will be playing for a WNBL team for the first time is split fairly evenly, with 20 of these players having previous WNBL experience and 18 of these players making their WNBL debut in 2023/24.
Whilst seven of the eight WNBL teams have completed their main roster for the 2023/24 WNBL season an injury or change in circumstances may result in some players on a main roster spending an extended time on the sidelines. Main roster players that were restricted to less than three games in 2022/23 due to injury included Lily Scanlon and Tess Madgen at the Melbourne Boomers, Dallas Loughridge at Southside Flyers, Morgan Yaeger at JCU Townsville Fire and Gemma Potter at UC Capitals. After playing four games for the UC Capitals import Dekeiya Cohen returned to America.
Six players that weren’t on a main roster at the start of the 2022/23 season were recruited by a WNBL team during the season and played more than five games each. Players in this category were – Miela Goodchild, Taylor Ortlepp and Leilani Mitchell at the Melbourne Boomers, Monique Conti at Southside Flyers, Kate Gaze at JCU Townsville Fire and American import Nicole Munger at UC Capitals. It is likely that some players that are yet to sign with a WNBL team will get an opportunity on the main roster of a WNBL team in 2023/24.
Miela Goodchild playing for Melbourne Boomers against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Most of the 82 players on a WNBL main roster for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season are in their 20’s and 30’s however the league also has six teenagers and will commence the season with one player in their 40’s – the Australian basketball GOAT Lauren Jackson. Another player, WNBL games record Kelly Wilson will have her 40th birthday during the season and has been the epitome of aging like a fine wine.
Six youngest players on a main roster for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season
Rank Player Age Date of birth 2023/24 WNBL team
1 Saffron Shiels 17 years old 18 January 2006 JCU Townsville Fire
2 Jayda Clark 18 years old 17 July 2005 UC Capitals
3 Isobel Borlase 19 years old 12 September 2004 Adelaide Lightning
4 Nyadiew Puoch 19 years old 23 June 2004 Southside Flyers
5 Tayla Brazel 19 years old 9 April 2004 Adelaide Lightning
6 Dallas Loughridge 19 years old 23 January 2004 Southside Flyers
Five members of the Australian Gems team that competed in the FIBA Women’s under 19 World Cup 2023 held in Madrid Spain are on a main roster for the 2023/24 WNBL season – Isobel Borlase, Nyadiew Puoch, Tayla Brazel, Jayda Clark and Saffron Shiels. These Gems are the youngest five players on a main roster of a WNBL team for the 2023/24 season with 17 year old JCU Townsville Fire point guard Saffron Shiels being the youngest player in the league in 2023/24. Southside Flyers point guard Dallas Loughridge missed the FIBA Women’s under 19 World Cup 2023 due to her ACL injury and is the sixth teenager on the main roster of a WNBL team at the start of the 2023/24 season. Guard Shaneice Swain was one of the revelations of the 2022/23 season and had her 20th birthday earlier this month on 15 October. Swain joined the Sydney Flames in the off-season and will be on the sidelines at the start of the 2023/24 season with a foot injury.
Nyadiew Puoch playing defense for Southside Flyers against Shaneice Swain at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
Puoch, Shiels and Swain were members of the senior Australian women’s team, the Opals that toured China and played five games against the Chinese national women’s team in late August and early September 2023. Borlase has attended Australian Opals training camps and seems destined to make her Opals debut in the near future.
Shaneice Swain playing defense for University of Canberra Capitals against Southside Flyers forward Nyadiew Puoch at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
In their first seasons on a WNBL main roster in 2022/23 Borlase won the Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year award and the Sixth Woman of the Year award and Puoch was nominated for both awards. Borlase averaged 13.5 points per game for Adelaide and shot the ball proficiently to have a field goal accuracy of 55%. After their breakout 2022/23 seasons, wings Borlase and Puoch will have expanded roles with Adelaide and Southside respectively in 2023/24.
Isobel Borlase playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
By the time the fifth youngest player in the league this season – Tayla Brazel was born in April 2004 Lauren Jackson had won three medals with the Australian Opals at major championships (in 1998, 2000 and 2002) and had won four WNBL Most Valuable Player Awards. At 42 years of age Jackson’s amazing basketball return continues in 2023/24 as the oldest player in the league, playing her second consecutive season with the Southside Flyers. Jackson was efficient during the 2022/23 season to average 13.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 21.7 minutes court-time per game for the Flyers.
Lauren Jackson shooting a jump shot for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 9 November 2022
The WNBL’s All-Time games record holder Kelly Wilson is suiting up for Bendigo Spirit again in a 21st WNBL season in 2023/24 and will have her 40th birthday mid-season on New Years Day 2024. Starting the 2023/24 season on 431 games Wilson is within striking distance of playing the 19 games required to reach 450 games. Playing for Bendigo in 2022/23 Wilson ranked third in the WNBL with 5.8 assists per game. In the first 16 WNBL seasons of her career from 2002/03 to 2017/18 Wilson averaged more than 5.3 assists per game in a season once with 5.5 assists per game for Bendigo in 2015/16. Amazingly Wilson has averaged more than 5.3 assists per game in each of her past four seasons from 2018/19 onwards.
Kelly Wilson about to shoot a three-pointer for Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers on 22 January 2023 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville
Information on the main roster of each of the eight WNBL teams for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season is provided below. Returning players, arrivals and departures are listed for each team. In the main roster list for each club the number, position, date of birth and WNBL games played is provided for each player on the main roster as at 30 October 2023. The list of players for each club is in position order, going guard, forward, centre. A profile is included for each of the 82 players on a main roster and the Head Coach of each WNBL club. The profiles are in included in alphabetical order of the players surname.
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In the last quarter of 2023 Milestones and Misses published articles on most teams in the WNBL providing detailed player profiles and a guide to the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season. Links to the 2022/23 player profile and club season preview articles as well as the Milestones and Misses home page are below:
https://milestonesandmisses.com/category/wnbl/player-profiles-and-2022-23-wnbl-season-club-previews/
https://milestonesandmisses.com/
The profiles in the 2022/23 club preview articles are more detailed than the player profiles included later in this post for the players on the main roster of the eight clubs for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season.
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Adelaide Lightning 2023/24 main roster – 11 players
Returning (5): Brooke Basham, Ella Batish, Isobel Borlase, Lauren Mansfield, Steph Talbot
Arrivals (6): Isabelle Bourne (Canberra Nationals – NBL1 East), Tayla Brazel (Sturt Sabres – NBL1 Central), Taylor Mole (Cairns Dolphins – NBL1 North), Elizabeth Tonks (UC Capitals), Brianna Turner* (Phoenix Mercury – WNBA), Jocelyn Willoughby* (New York Liberty – WNBA)
Departed (6): Kierstan Bell, Chelsea Brook (career break), Abby Cubillo (ACL injury), Jacinta Monroe, Sam Simons, Marena Whittle (Movistar-Spain)
2023/24 Head Coach: Nat Hurst is in her second consecutive season as Adelaide Lightning’s Head Coach in 2023/24. WNBL No. Player Position Date of birth games
3 Brooke Basham Guard 16/12/1997 33
33 Lauren Mansfield Guard 18/12/1989 176
4 Elizabeth Tonks Guard 24/05/1997 16
14 Isobel Borlase Guard/Forward 12/09/2004 18
41 Tayla Brazel Guard/Forward 09/03/2004 6
7 Steph Talbot Guard/Forward 15/06/1994 183
13 Jocelyn Willoughby* Guard/Forward 25/03/1998 20
34 Isabelle Bourne Forward 21/11/2000 2
11 Taylor Mole Forward 10/06/2000 0
20 Ella Batish Forward/Centre 17/03/1999 42
21 Brianna Turner* Forward/Centre 05/07/1996 23
* =Import
Adelaide Lightning Development Players – 4 players
No. Player Position Date of birth
9 Jess Simons Guard 11/04/2004
24 Bianca Stasinowsky Guard 16/12/2004
6 Sharna Thompson Guard 07/09/2000
12 Molly Coleman Forward 07/03/2000
Five players from Adelaide Lightning’s 2022/23 main roster return for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season including three players that averaged more than 11.5 points per game – Adelaide captain Steph Talbot (14.1 points per game) along with guard/forward Isobel Borlase (13.5) and guard Lauren Mansfield (11.9). Forward Ella Batish and guard Brooke Basham each averaged between 6.0 minutes and 10.0 minutes per game as part of Adelaide’s core rotation in 2022/23 and are both playing for the Lightning again in 2023/24.
Lauren Mansfield playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Five players that were on Adelaide’s main roster at the end of the 2022/23 season and averaged more than 12.0 minutes per game wont be suiting up for the Lightning in 2023/24 – Jacinta Monroe, Marena Whittle, Chelsea Brook, Abby Cubillo and Sam Simons. Whittle is playing for Movistar in Spain, Brook is taking a career break and Cubillo will miss the entire 2023/24 WNBL season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in May playing for Brisbane Capitals in the 2023 NBL1 North season.
The Lightning’s import duo for 2023/24 each won their club’s Most Valuable Player award in their only previous WNBL season, Brianna Turner with Adelaide in 2019/20 and Jocelyn Willoughby with the Sydney Flames in 2022/23.
Two players on Adelaide Lightning’s main roster for the 2023/24 season won awards playing in the NBL1 Central Conference in South Australia during 2023 – Brooke Basham and Tayla Brazel. Basham won the NBL1 Central’s Most Valuable Player Award and Brazel won the conference’s Best Defensive Player award. After playing six games as an Adelaide Lightning development player in 2021/22 Brazel is on the main roster of a WNBL club for the first time in 2023/24. Brazel missed the entire 2022/23 WNBL season due to an ACL injury.
During the 2023 NBL1 East season Adelaide Lightning Head Coach Nat Hurst was the Head Coach of the Canberra Nationals and in the off-season has recruited two Nationals players to the Lightning for the 2023/24 WNBL season – forward Isabelle Bourne and guard Elizabeth Tonks who each averaged more than 19.0 points per game for the Nationals.
Forward Taylor Mole is the only player on Adelaide Lightning’s 11 player main roster that is making their WNBL debut in the 2023/24 season. Mole played three seasons of college basketball for University of California Santa Barbara from 2020/21 to 2022/23 and played for Cairns Dolphins during the 2023 NBL1 North season.
Steph Talbot tore her anterior cruciate ligament late in the 2022/23 WNBL season and will be on the sidelines at the start of the 2023/24 season as a Lightning Assistant Coach. With Talbot sidelined it is likely that Adelaide’s starting five will be Mansfield and Borlase in the back court along with Willoughby, Bourne and Turner in the frontcourt. In 2022/23 Borlase excelled in her first season on a WNBL main roster to win the WNBL’s Breakout Player of the Year Award. It could quite well be a case of Lightning striking twice and another Adelaide Izzy, Bourne winning the Breakout Player of the Year Award in 2023/24. At the 2023/24 WNBL River City Rebound pre-season tournament in Brisbane forward Bourne was phenomenal to lead Adelaide in points and rebounds per game whilst having an accuracy of 45.5% for three-pointers.
Steph Talbot making a lay up for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Adelaide Lightning player profiles
Guard Brooke Basham excelled in 18 games for North Adelaide Rockets to average 22.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game to win NBL1 Central’s Most Valuable Player Award. Among players that played at least five games Basham led NBL1 Central in scoring, ranked fifth for steals and ninth for assists.
Basham made her WNBL debut with Adelaide Lightning in 2020 and is playing her fourth consecutive season with the club in 2023/24. After progressing through the Rachael Sporn Lightning Academy Brooke Basham made her WNBL debut with Adelaide in 2020 as a Development Player. After another season with the Lightning as a DP in 2021/22 Basham was signed by the club as a contracted player for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season. Basham played 16 games for Adelaide in 2022/23 and in the penultimate game of the Lightning’s season made four of six field goal attempts at an accuracy of 66.7% and scored 10 points in a road game against Sydney Flames on 24 February.
Brooke Basham talking to Adelaide Lightning teammates after the game against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Ella Batish played junior basketball for Sandringham in Victoria and went on to represent the club at senior level, playing for the Sandringham Sabres in the 2019 NBL1 South season. Forward/centre Batish has played the past three NBL1 South seasons from 2021 to 2023 with the Frankston Blues. In a road game against Melbourne Tigers on 25 June 2023 Batish, made five of 10 three-pointers at an accuracy of 50%, scored a season-high 19 points, took seven rebounds and made a game-high seven assists in the Blues 88-75 road victory at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. In 2023 Batish played 23 games for Frankston and averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and a team-high 4.0 assists per game.
In 2023/24 Batish is playing her fourth consecutive WNBL season for Adelaide Lightning, having made her league debut in the 2020 hub season held in North Queensland. On 28 December 2022 in a home game against Bendigo at Adelaide Arena Batish was elevated into Adelaide’s starting line-up, made an equal game-high three three-pointers from seven attempts at 42.9% and scored a season-high 11 points. Batish played 19 games for Adelaide in 2022/23 to increase her career tally to 42 WNBL games.
Ella Batish playing defense for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Entering the season with just one game of WNBL experience Isobel Borlase was one of the revelations of the 2022/23 WNBL season and as a teenager in the number 5 singlet for Adelaide was able to remain composed and play efficient basketball despite playing against far more experienced opponents. In 2022/23 Borlase ranked in the WNBL’s top 25 for points, blocked shots and steals per game whilst having a field goal accuracy of 55.0% – ranked seventh in the league among players that had at least 10 field goal attempts. For her phenomenal season Borlase won two awards at the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL Awards – the Breakout Player of the Year Award and the Sixth Woman of the Year Award.
Isobel Borlase about to make a field goal for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
At junior level Borlase has been teammates on South Australian teams with fellow Adelaide main roster member Tayla Brazel and Lightning development player Jess Simons. This trio were all teammates on the South Australian Metro women’s under 18 team that won the gold medal at the 2021 Australian Junior Championships held in Werribee during mid-April. In SA Metro’s 76-64 victory against Vic Metro in the final Borlase scored 22 points, took a game-high 16 rebounds, made a game-high five assists and had an equal team-high two steals.
Borlase commenced a scholarship at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (BA CoE) in early 2021 and represented the BA CoE at senior level in state leagues. Borlase was a member of the Australian Gems silver medal winning team at the 2021 FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup held in Hungary from 7-15 August. As a member of the Australian Gems gold medal winning team at Under 18 Women’s Asia Cup 2022 Borlase excelled to average 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.8 steals and 25.7 minutes per game. At the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2022 Borlase ranked fourth overall for points per game, equal fourth for steals, fifth for assists, sixth for rebounds, second for field goal accuracy and was selected in the Tournament’s All-Star Five.
Borlase has signed with Adelaide for the next two WNBL seasons until the end of the 2024/25 season. On 11 September 2023 Adelaide announced that Rachael Sporn had decided to un-retire her number 14 Adelaide singlet and pass the number on to Borlase. Sporn told WNBL Media “Izzy will be able to adorn a number which already has great meaning for her and she has shown that she will have longevity in her career in the WNBL and beyond. Even at such a young age, Izzy is a wonderful role model on and off the basketball court. Izzy has many attributes that I admire, namely a great work ethic and integrity. I am so looking forward to seeing no.14 in the Lightning colours again!”5 After starting eight of her 17 WNBL games in 2022/23 Borlase will have more responsibility as a permanent member of Adelaide’s starting line-up in 2023/24.
Isobel Borlase playing for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers on 13 November 2022 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville
At senior level Isabelle Bourne made an impact at just 16 years of age by being a member of Australia’s gold medal winning team at the 2017 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup Cup held in Mongolia. Bourne scored eight points in Australia’s 21-15 victory against Malaysia and and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Bourne was a member of the Australian Gems team that won the silver medal At the FIBA Under 19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2019 held in Thailand, being defeated in the final by the United States of America 70-74 in overtime. Bourne ranked in the top five for the Gems in points and rebounds per game. From 2019/20 to 2022/23 Bourne played four seasons of college basketball for University of Nebraska and was a co-captain in her last three seasons. In her senior 2022/23 season Bourne averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
In 11 games for the Canberra Nationals with Hurst as a Head Coach 22 year-old Isabelle Bourne averaged 19.6 points (ranked ninth in NBL1 East), 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to earn selection in the 2023 Women’s NBL1 East All-Star Five. Against Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence on 8 June at the AIS Basketball and Netball Centre Bourne made 18 of 30 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 60%, scored a game-high and season-high 40 points, took a team-high nine rebounds and blocked a game-high two shots in an 84-79 victory.
As a teenager Bourne played two WNBL games for the UC Capitals as a development player. On 22 June 2023 Adelaide Lightning announced that Bourne had signed with the club for two years. Adelaide Lightning Head Coach Nat Hurst told WNBL Media “Issie was one of the most sought-after Australian collegiate players looking to turn pro this year, so we are naturally delighted that she has chosen to join the Lightning. She is a wonderful player who we believe can have an immediate impact on our team while she also continues to learn and grow. We believe she has a bright future ahead and we are thrilled that she has committed to the club for at least the next two seasons.”4 When Bourne scores her first points of the 2023/24 season she will achieve the milestone of scoring the first points points of her WNBL career, having not scored in her very brief taste of WNBL action previously, playing a total of 4.6 minutes as a DP for the University of Canberra Capitals.
With Talbot on the sidelines due to her ACL injury a spot in the Adelaide starting five alongside Mansfield, Borlase, Willoughby and Turner opens up at the start of the 2023/24 season and Bourne is likely to have this role. At the 2023/24 WNBL River City Rebound pre-season tournament in Brisbane Bourne was exceptional for Adelaide, averaging 26.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game to lead Adelaide in both categories. During River City Rebound Bourne shot the ball efficiently to have a field goal accuracy of 62% and made 10 of 22 three-pointers at an accuracy of 45.5%.
Tayla Brazel returns for her second season on Adelaide’s roster after playing six games as a development player in 2021/22 with current Adelaide Head Coach Hurst as an Assistant Coach. After missing the 2022/23 WNBL season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury 19 year-old Brazel made a successful return at state league level for Sturt Sabres in NBL1 Central. Brazel played 15 games for Sturt in 2023 and averaged 14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Brazel ranked second in the conference for steals per game and won the NBL1 Central’s Best Defensive Player Award.
At junior level Brazel has been teammates on South Australian teams with Isobel Borlase and Adelaide development player Jess Simons. At the Under 18 2021 Australian Junior Championships this trio were al members of the South Australia Metro team that defeated Vic Metro 76-64 in the final to win the gold medal. In the final Brazel made four of eight three-pointers, scored a team-high 24 points and took eight rebounds. Brazel averaged an equal tournament-high 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game and ranked equal first at the tournament in scoring and steals. At the Under 19 Women’s World Cup 2023 held in Spain Brazel and Borlase were starters on the Australian Gems team. Brazel ranked third for the Gems in assists and steals, fourth in minutes played and fifth in scoring.
South Australian guard Lauren Mansfield is playing her 10th WNBL season overall and fourth season with Adelaide Lightning in 2023/24. In four WNBL seasons Mansfield has averaged at least 13.0 points and 4.4 assists per game – 2015/16 with the SEQ Stars, 2016/17 with the University of Canberra Capitals and in the 2020 and 2021/22 WNBL seasons with the Sydney Uni Flames. Mansfield returned to Adelaide Lightning in 2022/23 and excelled to make 2.3 three-pointers and have 5.1 assists per game to rank in the league’s top seven in both categories.
Lauren Mansfield playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
At the 2017 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in the traditional five on five format held in India Mansfield played all six games for the silver medal winning Opals and was Australia’s equal leader for assists along with Katie Ebzery, ranked second for minutes played behind Ebzery and ranked equal third for steals and sixth for rebounds.
Lauren Mansfield playing for UC Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 17 December 2016
In the WNBL off-season Mansfield was teammates with fellow Lightning guard Brooke Basham at the North Adelaide Rockets and ranked second in the NBL1 Central 2023 season with 6.2 assists per game. In 2022 and 2023 Mansfield has been a regular in the Australian Gangurrus women’s 3×3 team. Mansfield was a member of the bronze medal winning Gangurrus team at the 3×3 FIBA World Cup 2023 held in Vienna, Austria in late May and early June.
23 year-old forward Taylor Mole is the only player on Adelaide Lightning’s 11 player main roster that is making their WNBL debut in the 2023/24 season. In the 2020/21 college basketball season for University of California Santa Barbara Taylor Mole played 17 games and averaged 14.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. After playing three seasons of college basketball for University of California Santa Barbara from 2020/21 to 2022/23 Mole returned to Australia.
Playing for Cairns Dolphins in the 2023 NBL1 North season Mole averaged 15.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. In an 83-80 Cairns road victory against Rockhampton on 28 May Mole scored a season-high 36 points at 52.6% from the field.
Steph Talbot is the only one of the six sole captains of a WNBL team for the 2022/23 season that have remained at the same team for 2023/24. In addition to making an impact on the scoreboard Talbot averaged 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.7 blocked shots per game in 2022/23 to rank in the WNBL’s top 10 in each category. Talbot was recognised for her brilliant 2022/23 season by winning the WNBL’s Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year award and was selected in the All-WNBL Second Team. Talbot tore her anterior cruciate ligament late in the 2022/23 WNBL season and will be on the sidelines at the start of the 2023/24 season as a Lightning Assistant Coach.
Steph Talbot playing defense for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
In addition to playing in the WNBL Talbot has played in Europe, the WNBA and has represented the Australian Opals at the past four major championships from 2016 to 2022. At the 2018 World Cup was a member of the Opals silver medal winning team, led Australia for assists and ranked third for minutes played. In the 2022 World Cup held in Sydney Talbot excelled as a starter to play an influential role in Australia winning the bronze medal. Talbot’s wide ranging skill-set was on full display at the 2022 World Cup, averaging 8.5 points, a team-high 6.9 rebounds, a team-high 5.3 assists, an equal team-high 1.4 steals per game and excelled on the defensive end to earn selection in the tournament’s All-Star Five.
Steph Talbot during the warm-up for the Australian Opals opening game of the 2018 Commonwealth Games against Mozambique at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on 6 April 2018
In 2014 Talbot at 19 years of age was selected by Phoenix Mercury with pick 33 at the 2014 WNBA draft. played for ZS PWSZ Gorzow Wielkopski in Poland during In 2016/17 Talbot played for ZS PWSZ Gorzow Wielkopski in Poland. Talbot made her WNBA debut with Phoenix in 2017 and has played 162 regular season WNBA games including 52 as starter, having played for Phoenix Mercury in 2017 and 2018, Minnesota Lynx in 2019 and Seattle Storm in 2021 and 2022 alongside fellow Opal Magbegor.
Steph Talbot playing for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 24 March 2022
In the past four WNBL seasons playing for Adelaide Lightning from 2020 to 2022/23 Talbot’s wide-ranging skill-set, consistency and outstanding level of play at both ends of the court has been recognised with All-WNBL selection in each season. On 16 June 2023 Adelaide Lightning announced they had signed Talbot for four seasons until the end of the 2026/27 WNBL season. Adelaide Lightning General Manager Reece Turner told WNBL Media “Steph is as elite as they come and to have her sign for many more years is vital for not only on-court success but what we are continually building in the community. Steph is an amazing role model to all those who want to strive to be the best at their craft. No one works harder in the WNBL and with all her success she is still an amazing human being and one we needed to keep around in Adelaide.”6
At the 2013 Under 16 Oceania Championship for Women held in Melbourne in late September Lizzy Tonks was a member of the Australian team that won the gold medal. Tonks played all three games and ranked equal second for Australia in assists. During 2015 Tonks attended the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra on a scholarship. At the 2015 FIBA 3×3 Oceania Championships Tonks was a member of the senior Australian team that won a gold medal, defeating New Zealand 14-13 in the final.
After quitting basketball and spending some time away from the game Tonks made her return and played for Canberra based teams in various leagues. Tonks played for the Canberra Nationals in the 2020 and 2021 Waratah 1 women’s seasons and the 2022 NBL1 East season with current Lightning Head Coach Nat Hurst being her Head Coach at the Nationals in all three seasons. Tonks was signed to the University of Canberra National main roster for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season. Against Adelaide Lightning in a home game at the National Convention Centre on 2 February Tonks made three of five three-pointers at 60%, scored a career-high nine points, took three rebounds and made three assists in a 97-90 overtime victory. With Hurst as the Head Coach Tonks played 20 games for the Nationals during the 2023 NBL1 East season, averaging 19.5 points (10th), 7.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists (9th) per game.
Lizzy Tonks playing for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
As a teammate of Talbot and current Lightning Head Coach Hurst in 2019/20 forward Brianna Turner excelled to average 16.8 points (ranked 4th in the WNBL), 10.7 rebounds (2nd) and 2.4 blocks (1st) per game to finish second in the WNBL’s MVP Award and earn selection in the All-WNBL First Team.
Brianna Turner playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2019
From 2014/15 to 2018/19 Turner played 139 games of college basketball for Notre Dame University and averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury Turner didn’t play in 2017/18, a season in which Notre Dame won the women’s NCAA Tournament. Turner made a successful return from injury in 2018/19 to be named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) defensive player of the year and was selected in the All-ACC Second Team.
Brianna Turner during half time of Adelaide Lightning’s game against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2019
Atlanta Dream selected Turner with pick 11 overall at the 2019 WNBA Draft and traded her to Phoenix Mercury. Turner has played five WNBA seasons for Phoenix from 2019 to 2023 and has been selected in the WNBA All-Defensive First Team twice – 2020 and 2021. Turner averaged 6.3 rebounds per game in 2023 – ranked 19th in the WNBA.
Guard/forward Jocelyn Willoughby was selected by New York Liberty with pick 10 overall at the 2020 WNBA Draft and has played 62 regular season games for the club across three seasons – 2020 and 2022-2023. Due to suffering an Achilles injury in a pre-season game Willoughby missed the entire 2021 season. Willoughby is a member of New York’s team that finished second in the 2023 regular season, won the Commissioners Cup and made it to the WNBA finals against the top seeded Las Vegas Aces.
Jocelyn Willoughby shooting a free throw for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
Willoughby is playing her second consecutive WNBL season in 2023/24, having played for Sydney Flames in 2022/23. On 12 January 2023 Willoughby scored a game-high and equal season-high 21 points, took a team-high eight rebounds, made a season-high six assists and a game-high three steals in Sydney’s 81-77 road victory against Adelaide Lightning at Adelaide 36ers Arena. Willoughby played 20 of a possible 21 games for Sydney in 2022/23 and averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game to win the club’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Jocelyn Willoughby playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
Adelaide Lightning Head Coach profile
Nat Hurst is in her second season as Adelaide Lightning’s Head Coach in 2023/24. In a WNBL career from 1999/2000 to 2019/20 point guard Hurst played 13 seasons and amassed 290 WNBL games. Hurst spent the first 11 seasons of her WNBL career playing for the Canberra Capitals who were extremely successful, winning seven WNBL Championships during this time – 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09 and 2009/10. In her first five seasons with the UC Capitals from 1999/2000 to 2005/06 Hurst averaged less than 15 minutes per game. From 2006/07 onwards Hurst’s playing time increased significantly and she averaged at least 9.0 points per game in her last six seasons with the Caps. with her last two seasons with the club being in 2013/14 and 2017/18. Hurst won the 2008/09 Grand Final MVP Award for her performance in the Capitals 61-58 victory against the Bulleen Boomers.
After the 2009/10 WNBL season Hurst spent some time playing in Europe including two seasons for French club Aix en Provence in 2010/11 and 2011/12. At international level Hurst represented the Australian Opals. Hurst played two more seasons with the Capitals, ranking second in the WNBL with a then career-high 5.6 assists per game in 2013/14 and in her final season with the Caps Nat led the league with 6.8 assists per game in 2017/18. After playing her first 11 WNBL season with the Capitals Hurst played for three different clubs in three seasons. In her penultimate WNBL season Hurst played for Bendigo Spirit in 2018/19 and won the club’s Most Valuable Player Award. In her final season as a player in the WNBL Hurst played for Adelaide Lightning in 2019/20 and was teammates with two members of the 2023/24 team – Steph Talbot and Brianna Turner.
Nat Hurst playing for UC Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 18 November 2017
In 2020 Hurst commenced a role as the Head Coach of the Canberra Nationals in the Waratah League (now NBL1 East) however due to COVID-19 only approximately one and a half seasons of basketball were played in her first three years in the role. At Adelaide Lightning Hurst was an assistant coach in 2020 and 2021/22 with Chris Lucas as the Head Coach. In May 2022 Hurst was appointed by Adelaide Lightning as the Head Coach for two years with a third year option. Adelaide finished seventh on the ladder in 2022/23 with five wins and sixteen losses. The Lightning had victories by more than 15 points against both teams that made the Grand Final, at home defeating Southside 91-72 on 3 December and were the last side to defeat Townsville, recording a 93-68 victory at home on 5 January.
Nat Hurst during a time out in Adelaide Lightning’s game against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Bendigo Spirit 2023/24 main roster – 10 players
Returning (6): Alicia Froling, Kelsey Griffin, Sophia Locandro, Abbey Wehrung, Ally Wilson, Kelly Wilson
Arrivals (4): Mehryn Kraker* (Rockingham Flames – NBL1 West), Esra McGoldrick (Casey Cavaliers -NBL1 South | Mainland Pouakai – Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand), Casey Samuels (Rockingham Flames – NBL1 West), Ruth Davis* (Barca SBS – Spain)
Departed (5): Piper Dunlop, Tessa Lavey, Anneli Maley (Perth Lynx), Megan McKay (career break), Cassidy McLean
2023/24 Head Coach: Kennedy Kereama is in his second season as Bendigo Spirit’sHead Coach.
No. Player Position Date of birth games
12 Mehryn Kraker* Guard 05/06/1994 0
13 Abbey Wehrung Guard 28/12/1995 165
4 Ally Wilson Guard 21/03/1994 204
22 Kelly Wilson Guard 01/01/1984 431
16 Casey Samuels Guard/Forward 02/08/1994 137
9 Alicia Froling Forward 31/01/1996 53
23 Kelsey Griffin Forward 02/07/1987 207
8 Sophia Locandro Forward/Centre 08/01/2001 8
3 Esra McGoldrick Forward 24/10/1999 0
44 Ruth Davis (nee Hamblin)* Centre 24/06/1994 48
* =Import
Bendigo Spirit Development Players – 3 players
No. Player Position Date of birth
5 Micah Simpson Guard 02/12/2002
18 Ella Gordon Forward/Centre 09/12/2004
Ritorya Tamilo Forward/Centre 13/12/2002
Five of the six players that averaged more than 22.5 minutes per game for Bendigo Spirit in the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season are suiting up for the club again in 2023/24 – guards Kelly Wilson, Ally Wilson and Abbey Wehrung along with frontcourt players Kelsey Griffin and Alicia Froling. Forward/centre Sophia Locandro is playing her second WNBL season after playing eight games for Bendigo in her debut 2022/23 WNBL season.
Two frontcourt players from 2022/23 aren’t returning to Bendigo Spirit this season, Anneli Maley has joined Perth Lynx and Megan McKay is taking a break from basketball during the 2023/24 WNBL season after playing for Bendigo based teams over the past 24 months – the Spirit in the WNBL and the Bendigo Braves in NBL1 South. Since 2021 guard Tessa Lavey has played two sports at the elite level, playing basketball for Bendigo Spirit and Australia rules football for Richmond in the AFLW. Due to a big toe injury Lavey was placed on Richmond’s inactive list in late June 2023 and she has not played during the 2023 AFLW home and away season.
Bendigo’s six returning players is the equal most in the league along with the Southside Flyers and UC Capitals. Bendigo’s half a dozen players that are suiting up for the club again in 2023/24 played an aggregate of 148.3 minutes per game in 2022/23 – ranked first. With a high turnover of team captains across the league in the off-season Bendigo will benefit from having both 2022/23 co-captains, point guard Kelly Wilson and forward Kelsey Griffin playing for the club in 2023/24 and continuing to provide leadership.
Kelsey Griffin in a huddle with Bendigo Spirit teammates during the game against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
In the off-season Bendigo Spirit recruited two players that have experience in the WNBL – Canadian import centre Ruth Davis (nee Hamblin) and guard/forward Casey Samuels. Davis’ most recent WNBL season was for Adelaide Lightning in 2017/18. Samuels is one of five Bendigo players with over 100 WNBL games and most recently played for the UC Capitals in 2021/22.
Ruth Davis winning the jump ball against Liz Cambage in Adelaide Lightning’s game against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 12 November 2017
Two of Bendigo’s recruits will be making their WNBL debut in 2023/24 – American import guard Mehryn Kraker and New Zealand forward Esra McGoldrick. During the 2023 NBL1 West season Kraker was teammates with fellow Bendigo recruit Casey Samuels. Kraker was selected in the 2023 NBL1 West First Team and won the conference’s Golden Hands Award. McGoldrick was a member of the New Zealand Tall ferns team that finished fourth at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023.
In late August and early September 2023 Bendigo Spirit had a tour of Korea and played five games in the WKBL tournament. Main roster members Froling, Samuels, Locandro, Davis and Kraker played on the tour. Bendigo had three wins and two losses at the tournament and Froling recorded four double-doubles. In WNBL pre-season games Bendigo Spirit have had victories against fellow Victorian teams Southside Flyers and Melbourne Boomers.
Alicia Froling shooting a free throw for Bendigo Spirit against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
Bendigo Head Coach Kereama was prepared to mix up the starting line-up throughout 2022/23 and the only two returning players that started each game they played for the Spirit were Kelly Wilson and Griffin. Froling and Ally Wilson each started 15 of their 21 games and Wehrung had 13 starts in her 18 games. The recruitment of 199 centimetres Davis with her rebounding and shot-blocking ability provides Bendigo with some more options in terms of the line-ups they put out on court. Bendigo’s full strength starting line-up is harder to predict than most other WNBL teams this season and it will be interesting to see if Kereama settles on a starting line-up or if he uses different line-ups that may provide better match-ups against the opposition.
Bendigo Spirit player profiles
Ruth Davis (nee Hamblin) ranked in the WNBL’s top 15 for rebounds & blocked shots per game in both 2016/17 for Perth and 2017/18 for Adelaide. Davis was a co-captain of Canada’s 5 on 5 women’s basketball team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Queensland, Australia. 199 centimetre tall Davis led Canada for blocked shots, ranked second for rebounds and fourth for points and minutes played.
With pick 18 at the 2016 WNBA Draft the Dallas Wings selected Davis who went on to play 20 games in the 2016 regular season. Throughout Europe Davis has played in leagues in Belgium, Russia, Poland and Spain. Most recently playing for Spanish club Barca SBS in 2022/23 Davis averaged 10.0 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds per game.
Ruth Davis shooting a free throw for Perth Lynx against Dandenong Rangers at Dandenong Stadium on 25 February 2017
Alicia Froling grew up in Townsville and as a teenager played three WNBL games for Townsville Fire as a development player. Froling represented the Australian Sapphires at the 2012 FIBA Under 17 World Championship for Women alongside current Bendigo Spirit teammate Abbey Wehrung. The Sapphires finished fifth at the tournament, Froling ranked fourth for Australia in scoring, fifth for minutes played and rebounds and led the Sapphires for field goal accuracy. During her college career with Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas from 2014/15 to 2018/19 Froling played 125 games including 117 as a starter and averaged 12.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. In 2014/15 and 2015/16 Alicia was teammates at SMU with her twin sister Keely who currently plays in the WNBL for Melbourne Boomers. Alicia “Became the first player in program history with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.”7
Alicia Froling shooting a field goal left handed for Knox Raiders in an NBL1 South game at the State Basketball Centre on 21 May 2022 against the Kilsyth Cobras
Froling’s first season on a main roster of a WNBL club was with Bendigo Spirit in the 2020 hub season. For the 2021/22 WNBL season Froling joined University of Canberra Capitals and her teammates included Kelsey Griffin and Kelly Wilson and current Bendigo Head Coach Kennedy Kereama was an assistant coach. With current Bendigo Spirit Head Coach Kereama as a Head Coach for Knox Raiders Alicia Froling had an incredible 2022 NBL1 South season to average 21.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game to win the conference’s Most Valuable Player Award. Froling’s momentum continued into the 2022/23 WNBL season averaging 11.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for Bendigo Spirit to be one of five players nominated for the WNBL’s Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award. In Bendigo’s 86-68 road victory against Adelaide Lightning on 14 January Froling made seven of 13 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 53.8%, scored a season-high and equal game-high 18 points, took nine rebounds and blocked a game-high three shots.
Alicia Froling contesting the jump ball for Bendigo Spirit against the Southside Flyers Lauren Jackson at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
Forward Kelsey Griffin was born and raised in Alaska. From 2005/06 to 2009/10 Griffin played college basketball for University of Nebraska Huskers and one of her teammates was forward Chelsea Aubrey. In 2009/10 Griffin was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, a first team All-American and was selected in the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. At the 2010 WNBA Draft Griffin was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the third pick overall, later on draft day Minnesota traded Griffin to Connecticut Sun. Griffin ranked second among rookies for rebounds and was selected in the WNBA’s 2010 All-Rookie Team. In a five season WNBA career from 2010 to 2014 Griffin played 164 regular season games for Connecticut including 71 as a starter and averaged 4.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 18.0 minutes per game.
In addition to playing in the WNBA Griffin had also played in Europe. Griffin was at the crossroads in her basketball career in 2012/13 when a sliding doors moment occurred. After receiving a phone call from Aubrey who was playing as an import for Bendigo Spirit Griffin joined Bendigo a third of the way into the WNBL 2012/13 WNBL season as the Sprit’s second import. Griffin fitted seamlessly into an extremely strong Bendigo starting line-up with fellow front-court payers Gabe Richards and Aubrey alongside guards Kristi Harrower and Kelly Wilson. Griffin played an influential role in Bendigo winning the minor premiership and the WNBL Grand Final in both 2012/13 and 2013/14. Griffin registered double-doubles in both Grand Finals – 20 points and 11 rebounds in 2012/13 followed by 28 points and 15 rebounds in 2013/14 and each time won the Rachel Sporn medal as Grand Final Most Valuable Player for her performance in the Spirit’s Grand Final victory. From 2012/13 to 2017/18 Griffin played six consecutive seasons for Bendigo Spirit. During 2014/15 Griffin played 25 games for Bendigo and averaged 16.0 points, 9.2 rebounds (4th in the WNBL) and 1.3 steals per game (equal 4th). Griffin was named in the 2014/15 All-WNBL First-team and won the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Kelsey Griffin playing for Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 23 October 2016
Griffin became an Australian citizen in November 2015. At the 2017 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in Bengaluru, India in late July Griffin played for the silver medal winning Australian Opals. In the 73-74 loss in the final against Japan Griffin scored 30 points and took 15 rebounds to set game-highs 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 5 and won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Griffin was a member of the Australian Opals team that won a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Townsville and the Gold Coast in Queensland in April. In the Opals 99-55 victory against England in the gold medal game Griffin started on the bench and scored an equal game-high 16 points and took eight rebounds – ranked second for the game.
Kelsey Griffin (number 9) in the Australian Opals team photo before their opening game of the 2018 Commonwealth Games against Mozambique on 6 April 2018 at the Townsville Entertainment Centre
From 2018/19 to 2021/22 Griffin played four consecutive seasons for the University of Canberra Capitals. The Capitals finished on top of the ladder in 2018/19 and defeated Adelaide two games to one in the Grand Final series to win the 2018/19 WNBL Championship. Griffin registered a double-double in all Grand Final games, averaging 25.3 points and 16.7 rebounds to win the Rachel Sporn Medal as Grand Final MVP for the third time in her career. During 2018/19 Griffin played 26 games for the University of Canberra Capitals and averaged 19.7 points and 12.4 rebounds per game to set new career-highs and lead the league in both categories. Griffin was named in the WNBL’s 2018/19 All Star Five and won the WNBL’s Most Valuable Player Award for the regular season. Griffin became just the third person in league history to win the WNBL’s regular season and Grand Final MVP awards in the same season along with Lauren Jackson in 2002/03 with the Canberra Capitals and Suzy Batkovic in 2017/18 with Townsville Fire. Griffin was a member of the UC Capitals team that won the 2019/20 WNBL Championships to make it back to back titles.
Kelsey Griffin playing for the University of Canberra Capitals against the Dandenong Rangers on 30 December 2018 at Dandenong Stadium
Griffin returned to Bendigo Spirit for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season and was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Week four times in the first six rounds. Due to a hamstring injury Griffin only played one game after mid-January. For Bendigo in 2022/23 Griffin played 14 games and averaged 15.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a league-leading 2.6 steals per game to win Bendigo’s 2022/23 Most Valuable Player Award. In 2023/24 Griffin is playing the her eighth WNBL season for Bendigo Spirit and 12th season in the league overall in 2023/2. Griffin has earnt All-WNBL selection four times in her career – 2012/13 and 2013/14 with Bendigo Spirit along with 2018/19 and 2019/20 with the UC Capitals.
Kelsey Griffin shooting a free throw for Bendigo Spirit against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
American import guard Mehryn Kraker gets her opportunity in the WNBL after impressing playing for the Rockingham Flames in the NBL1 West in 2022 and 2023. During both seasons for Rockingham Kraker averaged more than 18.5 points and 4.5 assists per game and in the latter season was teammates with fellow Bendigo recruit Samuels. In 2023 Kraker was selected in the NBL1 West First Team and won the conference’s Golden Hands Award.
Sophia Locandro played junior basketball for the Bulleen Boomers and progressed to represent Victorian teams at Australian Junior Championships. At the 2019 Under 20 Women’s Australian Junior Championships Locandro was a member of the gold medal winning Victorian team. From 2019/20 to 2021/22 Locandro played a total of 87 games of college basketball including 73 as a starter for UC Irvine University and during her three season college career averaged 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 blocked shots and 23.6 minutes per game. Locandro led UC Irvine for total blocked shots in all three seasons.
In the 2022 and 2023 NBL1 seasons forward/centre Locandro played for Waverley Falcons in the NBL1 South conference. In a 2023 NBL1 South preliminary final Locandro made a significant impact off the bench for the Falcons to make three of four three-pointers at an accuracy of 75% and score 17 points playing 24 minutes court time in Waverley’s 85-74 road victory against Geelong. As a member of Bendigo Spirit’s main roster in 2022/23 Locandro made her WNBL debut, playing eight games. Locandro played limited game time with less than six minutes in each game, in a road game against Melbourne Boomers on 5 February Locandro scored four points and took two rebounds.
Sophia Locandro during half-time of Bendigo Spirit’s game against Melbourne Boomers on 22 January 2023 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville
New Zealand Tall Fern forward Esra McGoldrick makes her WNBL debut with Bendigo Spirit in 2023/24. At the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney McGoldrick ranked in the Tall Ferns top five for points and rebounds per game. McGoldrick has also played 3×3 basketball on the New Zealand domestic circuit and has represented New Zealand at FIBA 3×3 Tournaments. At FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 held in Singapore McGoldrick was a member of New Zealand’s silver medal winning team that was defeated in the final by an Australian Gangurrus team that included current Bendigo Spirit teammate Ally Wilson.
From 29 April to 20 May 2023 McGoldrick played six games for Casey Cavaliers in NBL1 South and averaged 12.7 points, a team-high 10.5 rebounds and a team-high 2.2 blocked shots per game. During the 2023 Tauihi Basketball season McGoldrick averaged 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds (ranked 7th in the league) and 1.6 blocked shots (3rd) per game. McGoldrick was exceptional from long range, making 26 of 51 three-pointers at an accuracy of 51.0% to lead the league in this category.
Casey Samuels has 137 games WNBL experience and playing for the UC Capitals in 2021/22 had Kereama as an assistant coach and was teammates with Kelly Wilson, Griffin and Froling. During the 2023 NBL1 West season Samuels was teammates with fellow Bendigo recruit Mehryn Kraker and led Rockingham Flames in scoring with 19.5 points per game, just ahead of Kraker (19.4).
Throughout the 2022/23 WNBL season for Bendigo Spirit shooting guard Abbey Wehrung made 36 of 69 three-pointers at a phenomenal accuracy of 52.2% – ranked second in the league among players that had at least 10 attempts. Wehrung also ranked second for free throw accuracy, making 20 of 21 attempts at an accuracy of 95.2%. In addition to shooting the ball proficiently Wehrung played exceptional defense in 2022/23 to be one of the five nominees for the WNBL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Abbey Wehrung playing for Bendigo Spirit against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
In five of the past seven WNBL seasons Wehrung has ranked in the league’s top 12 for three-pointers made per game, achieving this feat in 2016/17, 2017/18, 2019/20, 2020 and 2022/23. In all five of these seasons Wehrung had a three-point accuracy of greater than 40% and among players that made at least 20 three-pointers for the season and ranked in the WNBL’s top seven for accuracy. Wehrung was a member of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 held in Jordan.
Abbey Wehrung about to have a long range shot for University of Canberra Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 18 November 2017
Playing in the WNBL for Townsville Fire Ally Wilson won the WNBL’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2013/14 and was a member of Townsville’s 2014/15 WNBL Championship winning team as a core rotation member. Wilson was a starter on the Sydney Flames team that won the 2016/17 WNBL Championship. In five consecutive WNBL seasons from 2016/17 to 2020 Wilson ranked in the league’s top 10 for three-pointers per game.
Ally Wilson playing for the Sydney Uni Flames against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 30 November 2019
Guard Ally Wilson will be playing her third consecutive WNBL season for Bendigo Spirit in 2023/24, having joined the club early in the 2021/22 season. For Bendigo Spirit in 2022/23 Ally Wilson averaged 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists (ranked 13th in the WNBL) per game. On 5 February 2023 in a road game against the Melbourne Boomers Wilson played the 200th WNBL game of her career and reached 500 career assists.
Ally Wilson driving to the basket playing for Bendigo Spirit against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
During a successful WNBL off-season Wilson was a member of the Australian Gangurrus team that won a bronxe medal at the 3×3 FIBA World Cup 2023 held in Vienna, Austria. During the 2023 NBL1 Central season Wilson was phenomenal for Norwood Flames to earn selection in the conference’s All-Star 5 and played a pivotal role in Norwood winning the NBL1 Central Championship. In Norwood’s 80-65 Grand Final victory against Sturt Wilson scored 23 points, took 16 rebounds and made six assists to set game-highs in all three categories and won the Finals MVP.
Wilson played 16 games for the Norwood Flames during the 2023 NBL1 Central season and ranked in the conference’s top five for points, rebounds and assists per game to earn selection in the conference’s All-Star 5. At the 2023 NBL1 National Finals Wilson was incredible in her two games for Norwood to average 46 points and 13 rebounds per game to earn selection in the Tournament’s All-Star 5.
Point guard Kelly Wilson holds the WNBL games record with 431 games and in 2023/24 will be playing her 11th season with Bendigo Spirit and 21st WNBL season overall. In her debut season with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Wilson won the 2002/03 Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award.
With Bendigo trailing Dandenong 34-44 at half-time of a 2012/13 home semi final Wilson changed the momentum of the game by making four three-pointers in the third quarter. Wilson made seven three-pointers for the game, scored 21 points and Bendigo won by seven points to progress to their first Grand Final in club history. Wilson and Kelsey Griffin were teammates on Bendigo’s 2012/13 and 2013/14 WNBL Championship winning teams. Over Bendigo’s back-to-back championship winning teams in 2012/13 and 2013/14 Wilson made 80 of 201 three-pointers at an accuracy of 39.8%. Wilson has been a member of four WNBL Championship winning teams, having also achieved this feat with Townsville Fire in 2017/18 and University of Canberra Capitals in 2018/19.
Kelly Wilson playing for Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers on 21 November 2015 at the State Basketball Centre
At state league level Wilson has won a regular season Most Valuable Player Award three times, in the (South East Australian Basketball League) SEABL in 2009 with the Bendigo Lady Braves and in 2013 with the Knox Raiders as well as in the inaugural NBL1 season with Bendigo Lady Braves in 2019. Wilson played in two SEABL Championship winning teams, with Knox Raiders in 2013 and with the Bendigo Lady Braves in 2018. At international level Wilson was a member of the Australian Opals team that won 2013 and 2015 Oceania Championships against New Zealand.
Kelly Wilson playing for University of Canberra Capitals against Perth Lynx at Selkirk Stadium in Ballarat on 19 January 2022
Wilson played 18 consecutive WNBL seasons from 2002/03 to 2019/20. Wilson missed the 2020 WNBL season as she was pregnant with her first child, son Ted was born in February 2021. In July 2021 Wilson made her basketball return with the Bendigo Lady Braves during the 2021 NBL1 South season. Playing for the UC Capitals in 2021/22 Wilson created history on 14 January 2022, becoming the first player to reach 400 WNBL games. Remarkably, in each of her past four WNBL seasons from 2018/19 onwards Wilson has averaged more than 5.3 assists per game and ranked in the league’s top three for assists per game. Wilson commenced this sequencing by averaging 6.2 assists per game in 2018/19 to lead the league in this category. Playing for Bendigo Spirit in 2022/23 Wilson ranked third in the league with 5.8 assists per game.
Kelly Wilson playing for Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers on 22 January 2023 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville
Wilson shows no signs of slowing down and in the WNBL off-season played a critical role in the Bendigo Braves going undefeated in 2023 to win both the NBL1 South Championship and NBL1 National Championship. In June 2023 the NBL1 South Golden Hands Award was named after Wilson. Playing for Bendigo Braves Wilson averaged a league leading 10.3 assists per game during the 2023 NBL1 South season, fittingly won the Golden Hands Award named after her and earnt selection in the Conference’s All-Star 5.
Kelly Wilson playing for Bendigo Braves against the Ringwood Hawks in the 2022 NBL1 South Grand Final on 3 September 2022 at the State Basketball Centre
Bendigo Spirit Head Coach profile
Kennedy Kereama is in his second season as Bendigo Spirit’s Head Coach in 2023/24 and fifth season overall as the head coach of a WNBL team. Kereama was the Head Coach of the West Coast Waves (now known as the Perth Lynx) for three seasons from 2012/13 to 2014/15.
Kelly Wilson and Kennedy Kereama during Bendigo Spirit’s game against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres, Parkville on 22 January 2023
Kereama was an Assistant Coach of the New Zealand Tall Ferns for 2008 and 2009 followed by an eight year stint as the Tall Ferns Head Coach from 2010 to 2017. In each odd numbered year from 2009 to 2015 the Tall Ferns competed in the Oceania Championship for Women which was a head to head two or three game series against the Australian Opals. In the 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015 the Tall Ferns finished runner-up in the Oceania Championships to the Australian Opals.
In between being Head Coach of the West Coast Waves in the WNBL from 2012/13 to 2014/15 and being appointed the Head Coach of Bendigo Spirit for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Kereama was an Assistant Coach in the WNBL with Dandenong Rangers (2017/18), Melbourne Boomers (2018/19) and University of Canberra Capitals (2021/22). At the Capitals in 2021/22 Kereama had four games as the caretaker Head Coach. Three of the Capitals players from 2021/22 joined the Bendigo Spirit in 2022/23 – Kelly Wilson, Kelsey Griffin and Alicia Froling. Kereama has also coached in the Big V and at State league level. From 2020 to 2022 Kereama was the Head Coach of the Knox Raiders. Current Bendigo Spirit player Alicia Froling joined Knox for the 2022 NBL1 South season and won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Kennedy Kereama speaking to the University of Canberra Capitals team during their game against Perth Lynx at Selkirk Stadium in Ballarat on 19 January 2022 when he was the caretaker Head Coach
Melbourne Boomers 2023/24 main roster – 10 players
Returning (2): Penina Davidson, Kristy Wallace
Arrivals (8): Sara Blicavs (Southside Flyers), Jordin Canada* (Los Angeles Sparks – WNBA), Monique Conti (Southside Flyers), Keely Froling (Sydney Flames), Naz Hillmon* (Atlanta Dream – WNBA), Tera Reed (Northern Kahu – Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand), Aimie Rocci (Southside Flyers), Taylah Simmons (Cinkarna Celje – Slovenia)
Departed (10): Rachel Brewster (retired), Lou Brown (Southside Flyers), Cayla George (Sydney Flames), Miela Goodchild (Perth Lynx), Tess Madgen (Sydney Flames), Leiliani Mitchell (Southside Flyers), Tiffany Mitchell* (Galatasaray – Istanbul), Mia Murray (retired), Olivia Nelson-Ododa*(Guangdong – China), Taylor Ortlepp (Playing Australian Rules football for Carlton in the AFLW), Lily Scanlon
2023/24 Head Coach: Chris Lucas is in his second season as Head Coach of the Melbourne Boomers.
WNBL
No. Player Position Date of Birth games
0 Jordin Canada* Guard 11/08/1995 0
14 Monique Conti Guard 09/12/1999 123
22 Aimie Rocci Guard 21/09/1993 219
3 Kristy Wallace Guard 03/01/1996 39
11 Tera Reed Guard/Forward 24/09/1998 0
6 Taylah Simmons Guard/Forward 03/07/1997 6
46 Sara Blicavs Forward 15/02/1993 267
21 Keely Froling Forward 31/01/1996 150
7 Naz Hillmon* Forward 05/04/2000 0
12 Penina Davidson Forward/Centre 02/09/1995 100
* =Import
Injury replacement player
4 Sherrie Calleia Guard 06/09/1999 25
Melbourne Boomers Development Players – 3 players
No. Player Position Date of Birth
2 Paige Burrows Guard 09/04/2005
24 Lily Carmody Guard 08/12/2005
42 Lilly Rotunno Guard 26/01/2004
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers had the highest player turnover in the league during the off-season with only two of their players from their 2022/23 main roster – power forward/centre Penina Davidson and guard Kristy Wallace suiting up for the club again in 2023/24.
Five players that played at least 12 games and averaged at least 10.0 minutes per game for the Melbourne Boomers in 2022/23 wont be playing for the club in 2023/24 with the players in this category being Cayla George, Mia Murray, Miela Goodchild and imports Tiffany Mitchell and Olivia Nelson-Ododa. After being limited to one game in 2022/23 due to a knee injury Tess Madgen also left the Boomers in the off-season. Murray retired, Mitchell joined Galatasaray in Istanbul and three players joined rival WNBL clubs with George and Madgen both signing with Sydney and Goodchild joining Perth.
Three of Melbourne’s off-season recruits have moved cross-town after playing for Southside in 2022/23 – Sara Blicavs, Monique Conti and Aimie Rocci, this trio were also teammates on the Flyers 2020 WNBL Championship winning team. Taylah Simmons returns to the league with the Boomers in 2023/24 after being a development player for Southside in 2021/22. After ranking in the WNBL’s top 10 for points and rebounds per game playing for Sydney in 2021/22 and 2022/23 Keely Froling has joined the Melbourne Boomers.
Aimie Rocci shooting a jump shot for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers in a pre-season game at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023
Penina Davidson is joined at the Boomers by New Zealand Tall Ferns teammate Tera Reed and the duo were also teammates on Northern Kahu’s title winning team in the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand.
Melbourne have signed American guard Jordin Canada. Canada has played six WNBA seasons and playing for Los Angeles Sparks in 2023 led the league in steals per game, ranked sixth for assists and was selected in the WNBA All-Defensive First Team.
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers are the only WNBL team in 2023/24 that possess a backcourt duo that both played in the WNBA in 2023 – Canada and Wallace. With their ball-handling, passing ability and defensive prowess Canada and Wallace provide the Boomers with flexibility in the back court. Due to a knee injury Wallace will start the season on the sidelines and is expected to return to the court in December. The Boomers have signed Sherrie Calleia as an injury replacement player. Calleia played 18 games as a member of the UC Capitals core rotation during the 2022/23 WNBL season.
Kristy Wallace playing for Melbourne Boomers against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
The Boomers signed forward/centre Jantel Lavender as an import however due to personal reasons Lavender had to withdraw from the 2023/24 WNBL season. On 4 October Melbourne announced that they had signed American forward Naz Hillmon as an import to complete the club’s main roster. Hillmon has played a total of 74 WNBA games for Atlanta Dream across the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons.
Melbourne Boomers players going to the bench for a time out during the pre-season game against Southside Flyers at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023
Melbourne are one of the two clubs along with Adelaide that don’t have a player that is at least 193 centimetres tall. At 190 centimetres tall Davidson is the Boomers tallest player followed by Blicavs (189 cm), Froling (188 cm) and Hillmon (188cm). When three players from this quartet are on the court together it will be common for the person playing the 5 to be smaller than their opponent, the 4 to be a similar size to their opponent and the 3 to have a size advantage on their opponent. When three players from this quartet are in the Boomers frontcourt it will make it easier for them to switch. How these front-court match-ups are managed and executed could be a critical factor in some games during the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season.
Keely Froling playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022 and being guarded by current Boomers teammate Sara Blicavs
Melbourne Boomers player profiles
Forward Sara Blicavs is entering her 15th consecutive WNBL season in 2023/24, having made her debut with the Australian Institute of Sport in 2009/10. Blicavs has played three seasons for the AIS, two seasons for Bendigo Spirit, five seasons for Dandenong Rangers and then after the club was rebranded four seasons for Southside Flyers from 2019/20 to 2022/23. Blicavs has played in two WNBL Championships, in 2013/14 with Bendigo Spirit and in 2020 with Southside Flyers. For Southside in 2020 Blicavs played a brilliant season to rank equal ninth in the WNBL for rebounds per game, 10th for steals and 15th for scoring. Blicavs was a weapon from long-range, making 24 three-pointers at an accuracy of 57.1% during the regular season. Blicavs was recognised for her 2020 season with selection in the All-WNBL second team.
Sara Blicavs playing for Dandenong Rangers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 31 October 2016
In the first WNBL game of 2023 Blicavs had the highest scoring game of the season, reaching rarified air by scoring 40+ points in a game. Playing for Southside Blicavs scored 41 points in a road game against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 4 January. In an extraordinary shooting exhibition Blicavs made 15 of 17 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 88%, all six three-pointers and all five free-throws. From 2019/20 to 2022/23 Blicavs played four seasons for Southside and averaged more than 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in each season.
Sara Blicavs making a free-throw for Southside Flyers game against Melbourne Boomers on 4 January 2023 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville
Like new Melbourne Boomers teammate Froling, Blicavs has represented Australian at senior level in both 3×3 and 5 on 5 basketball. At the inaugural FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Championships 2012 hosted by Greece Blicavs was a member of the Australian team that won the bronze medal. In 5 on 5 Blicavs has represented Australia at the past two major championships – the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney. Blicavs was a member of the Opals bronze medal winning team at World Cup 2022 and started for her nation in the last five games of the tournament.
Sara Blicavs shooting a three pointer for Southside Flyers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 4 March 2023
The past two American import guards to play for the Melbourne Boomers – Tiffany Mitchell and Lindsay Allen both earnt All-WNBL selection during their time with the club. Given her skill-set and proven WNBA form Boomers 2023/24 American import guard Jordin Canada is well placed to earn All-WNBL selection this season. Canada was selected with pick 5 by Seattle Storm at the 2018 WNBA draft and played in two Championships with the Storm – 2018 and 2020. Canada played the first four WNBA seasons of her career from 2018 to 2021 with Seattle and during this time led the WNBA for steals per game in 2019 and was selected in the 2019 WNBA All-Defensive First Team.
Canada joined the Los Angeles Sparks in February 2022. In her second season with the Los Angeles Sparks Canada played 38 games for the Sparks in 2023, all as a starter and finished second in the WNBA’s 2023 Most Improved Player Award. Playing for the Los Angeles Sparks Canada excelled in 2023 to average 13.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists (ranked 6th in the WNBA) and 2.3 steals (ranked 1st in the WNBA) per game and earnt selection in the WNBA All-Defensive First Team.
From juniors through to the elite level Monique Conti has played two sports – basketball and Australian rules football. At the 2016 under 17 World Championships held in Spain Conti played off the bench for the Australian Sapphires. In the final the Australian Sapphires defeated Italy 62-38 to win the gold medal and be crowned world champions. Throughout the tournament Conti made a significant impact with her speed, agility and ball handling skills to be named in the All-Star five. Conti represented the Australian Gems at the 2017 FIBA Under 19 World Cup in Italy and ranked in Australia’s top three for assists and steals.
Monique Conti playing for Melbourne Boomers against Dandenong Rangers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 January 2017 with current Boomers teammate Aimie Rocci playing defense against her
Conti made her WNBL debut with the Melbourne Boomers in 2016/17 and impressed to win the league’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award. From 2016/17 to 2019/20 Conti played four consecutive WNBL seasons for the Melbourne Boomers which included being a member of the team that made the 2017/18 Grand Final. In 2020 and 2022/23 Conti played as a guard off the bench for the Southside Flyers. Along with fellow Boomers off-season recruits Sara Blicavs and Aimie Rocci Conti was a member of Southside’s 2020 WNBL Championship winning team. For Southside in 2022/23 Conti played tenacious defense and averaged 4.7 points, and 2.3 assists in 15.9 minutes per game. In 2023/24 Conti returns to the Boomers for her second stint with the club, power forward/centre Davidson is the only remaining from her first stint with the club.
Monique Conti playing for Southside Flyers against UC Capitals at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
Conti is a duel sport athlete and after nine Rounds of the 2023 AFLW season is averaging 27.9 disposals per game playing as a midfielder for Richmond. Conti won the AFL Players’ Association Season 7 (second season of 2022) AFLW MVP Award and in her debut AFLW season with the Western Bulldogs played in the 2018 premiership and won the medal for best afield in the Grand Final. In each of her past five AFLW seasons Conti has won her club’s best and fairest award comprised of the 2019 Western Bulldogs best and fairest and the past four Richmond b & f’s from 2020 onwards. Conti is currently playing the 2023 AFLW season for Richmond and has polled 52 votes in the AFL Coaches Association 2023 AFLW Champion Player of the Year to be in equal fourth place after Round 8. Richmond are in 12th place, one win and percentage behind Sydney in eighth place with one round of the 10 round AFLW season remaining. To make the finals Richmond would need to defeat Collingwood by at least 10 goals in Round 10 and have a couple of other results go their way. There is an overlap between the 2023 AFLW season and the 2023/24 WNBL season which may result in Conti missing the Melbourne Boomers two games in Round 1 of the WNBL season.
Monique Conti in kicking motion during Richmond’s AFLW game against Gold Coast Suns at Ikon Park on 8 October 2023
Penina Davidson will be playing her fifth consecutive season with the Boomers and sixth WNBL season overall. Davidson made her WNBL debut as a member of the 2018/19 Adelaide Lightning that made the Grand Final, was teammates with Boomers off-season recruit Aimie Rocci and had current Melbourne Boomers Head Coach Chris Lucas as the Lightning Head Coach. Davidson joined the Boomers in 2019/20 and has ranked in the league’s top 15 for field goal accuracy in each of the past three WNBL seasons from 2020 to 2022/23. Davidson was a member of the Deakin Melbourne Boomers WNBL Championship winning team in 2021/22. In a home game against the UC Capitals at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022 Davidson made a significant impact off the bench to shoot the ball exceptionally to make nine out of nine field goal attempts, scored a season-high 19 points, took five rebounds and make two steals in 23 minutes court-time to earn selection in the WNBL’s Team of the Week for Round 3.
Penina Davidson playing for Melbourne Boomers against JCU Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 7 December 2022
As a teenager Davidson made her debut for New Zealand’s senior women’s basketball team, the Tall Ferns in 2013. Davidson is a fixture in the New Zealand Tall Ferns team and plays a more prominent role for her national team then she does with the Boomers. At the Boomers Davidson has been joined by fellow Tall Fern Tera Reed with the duo having been teammates on the New Zealand team that finished fourth at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney. Davidson excelled at Asia Cup 2023 with 13.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game to earn All-Star five selection. Davidson and Reed were teammates on Northern Kahu’s title winning team in the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand. In the 2023 Tauihi season Davidson averaged 15.3 points and 11.6 rebounds (ranked second in the league) per game.
Penina Davidson playing for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
In the off-season Melbourne recruited forward Keely Froling from the Sydney Flames. Froling grew up in Townsville and as a teenager played four WNBL games for Townsville Fire. Keely played two seasons of college basketball in 2014/15 and 2015/16 at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas alongside twin sister Alicia who currently plays in the WNBL for Bendigo Spirit. 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.
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, was a co-captain in 2021/22 and the sole captain in 2022/23. In 2021/22 Froling ranked in the WNBL’s top 10 for points, rebounds, and free-throws made per-game to be a joint winner of the Sydney Flames 2021/22 MVP Award along with point guard Heal. During 2022/23 Froling averaged 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to rank in the WNBL’s top five in both categories among players that played at least five games. Froling ranked second in the league with 4.0 free-throws made per game.
Keely Froling shooting a free throw for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
At international level Froling has represented Australia in both formats of the game, the traditional five on five format with the Opals and the newer 3×3 format with the Gangurrus. In 3×3 Froling was a member of Australian teams that won a bronze medal at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2018 and finished fourth at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2019. Froling was a member of the Opals bronze medal winning team at the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup and 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. At both tournaments Froling ranked third for Australia in points and rebounds per game.
During her college career with University of Michigan forward Naz Hillmon excelled in whatever role she was required to play for the team. In her freshman 2018/19 season Hillmon commenced all 34 games that she played on the bench and was named the 2019 Big Ten Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year. From 2019/20 to 2021/22 Hillmon played 85 games for Michigan including 84 as a starter.
In 2020/21 Hillmon played 22 games for Michigan as a starter and averaged 23.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game to be named the 2021 Big Ten Player of the Year. Hillmon is the “Only player – man or woman – in Michigan history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds” and “Holds Michigan single-game scoring record with 50 points (at Ohio State, Jan. 20, 2021).”8
Hillmon was selected by Atlanta Dream with pick 15 at the 2022 WNBA Draft. Across her first two WNBA seasons with Atlanta Dream in 2022 and 2023 Hillmon played 74 of a possible 76 regular season games and has averaged 4.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 16.4 minutes per game. In her rookie 2022 WNBA season Hillmon ranked fourth at Atlanta for rebounds per game and was teammates with current Boomers teammate Kristy Wallace. Atlanta finished fifth in the 2023 regular season standings and in the first round of the playoffs were defeated by Dallas Wings two games to nil. During the 2023 regular season Hillmon led the Dream in 2023 with a field goal accuracy of 50.9%.
Tera Reed after being teammates with Penina Davidson on the New Zealand national team and in the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand in 2023 now joins Davidson in the WNBL at the Melbourne Boomers. Davidson and Reed were members on the New Zealand team that finished fourth at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 and the duo were also teammates on Northern Kahu’s title winning team in the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand. Guard/forward Reed played 13 games for Northern Kahu and averaged 18.3 points (ranked 8th in the league), 7.8 rebounds (9th), 3.1 assists (equal 11th) and 1.5 steals (12th) per game. At Asia Cup 2023 Reed ranked in the Tall Ferns top three for points and rebounds per game.
In the United States of America Reed played 135 games of college basketball comprised of 111 games for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) from 2017/18 to 2020/2021 and 24 games for University of Southern California Trojans in 2021/22. Reed “is fifth on the all-time list of games played by a Kiwi woman in Division I hoops. She also amassed 1,624 points, just 24 points shy of eclipsing Erin Rooney’s all-time record of 1,647 points.”9 During 2022/23 Reed played in Finland for Pyrinto and put on a shooting exhibition against FoA on 15 February 2023 to make 17 of 26 field goals at an accuracy of 65.8%, 7 of 10 three-pointers at 70% and all seven free throws to score a game-high and season-high 48 points. Reed played 27 games for Pyrinto and averaged 20.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Tera Reed playing for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers in a pre-season game at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023
Guard Aimie Rocci has 219 games WNBL experience, having predominantly played for the Boomers cross-town rivals, commencing with seven seasons for the Dandenong Rangers from 2010/11 to 2016/17. Rocci progressed from being a development player in 2010/11 and 2011/12 to being a Rangers co-captain along with Steph Blicavs (nee Cumming) in 2015/16 and 2016/17. In 2017/18 and 2018/19 Rocci played for Adelaide Lightning and had current Melbourne Boomers Head Coach Chris Lucas as the Lightning Head Coach. Rocci returned to the Dandenong based club which was rebranded as the Southside Flyers and from 2019/20 to 2022/23 played four seasons for the Flyers. Rocci played in WNBL Championships for Dandenong Rangers in 2011/12 and Southside Flyers in 2020.
Aimie Rocci playing for the Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 4 November 2019
In 2022/23 Rocci was the Southside Flyers captain but due to a back injury was limited to seven games. Rocci has ranked in the WNBL’s top 20 for assists per game in five seasons including her last three seasons with Southside from 2020 to 2022/23. With a new look roster at Melbourne Rocci’s leadership ability will be important and she will be able to draw on the experience of having been teammates with fellow Boomers recruits Sara Blicavs, Conti and Simmons at Southside previously.
Aimie Rocci playing for Southside Flyers against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
Guard/forward Taylah Simmons played two seasons of college basketball for Wagner in 2017/18 and 2018/19. Simmons transferred to Southeastern University in 2019/20 and had a phenomenal season to average 24.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Simmons was named the 2019-20 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Player of the Year and was named to the All-America First-Team.
Taylah Simmons shooting a jump shot in warm up before Southside Flyers game against Melbourne Boomers on 11 December 2021 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville
Simmons had a taste of the WNBL in 2021/22 with six games as a development player for Southside Flyers with current Boomers Kristy Wallace, Sara Blicavs and Aimie Rocci as teammates. In 2022/23 Simmons played 30 games for Cinkarna Celje in Spain and averaged 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. During the past three WNBL off-seasons Simmons has played in an NBL1 Conference, playing in NBL1 West for Cockburn Cougars in 2021 and in NBL1 South for Geelong Supercats in 2022 and the Casey Cavaliers in 2023. At the Supercats in 2022 Simmons was teammates with Aimie Rocci and Sara Blicavs. In all three NBL1 seasons from 2021 to 2023 Simmons averaged at least 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Taylah Simmons shooting a jump shot for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers in a pre-season game at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023
Kristy Wallace grew up in Logan and represented South Queensland at Australian Junior Championships. Wallace had a decorated junior career which included being captain of the bronze medal winning Australian Gems at the 2015 Under 19 FIBA World Championships held in Chekhov, Russia. Wallace led the Gems for assists and ranked second in scoring and minutes played. From 2014/15 to 2017/18 Wallace played four seasons of college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears and at the end of her career she ranked in the top five on Baylor’s all-time list for assists and three-point field goals made. In each of Wallace’s first three seasons at Baylor the Lady Bears made the elite eight of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. In Baylor’s final game of the 2017/18 regular season on 26 February 2018 Wallace tore the ACL in her right knee, ending her senior season and college career. In Wallace’s senior year she was selected in the 2017/18 All-Big 12 First team and the All-Defensive team.
Wallace had a right knee reconstruction which ruled her out for the 2018 WNBA season. Despite this Atlanta Dream selected Wallace with pick 16 at the 2018 WNBA Draft which highlights how impressive Wallace’s performances at junior level for Australia and at college with Baylor had been. After rehabilitating her right knee Wallace returned to the court in her home country, Australia on 21 December 2018 during the 2018/19 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season with the University of Canberra Capitals. In her second game with the Capitals Wallace injured her right ACL and required a second knee reconstruction within 12 months.
After the 2019/20 WNBL season concluded Wallace moved to Melbourne and during her rehabilitation process worked closely with the Victorian Institute of Sport. On 16 May 2021 Wallace made her basketball return with the Melbourne Tigers in NBL1 South. In a season cut short due to COVID-19 restrictions Wallace played five games off the bench for the Melbourne Tigers. Despite playing very little basketball in the previous three years due to her knee injuries Wallace made her Australian Opals debut at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, playing six games off the bench for the bronze medal winning Opals team. At FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney Wallace was a member of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team.
Kristy Wallace playing for the Jayco Southside Flyers against the Perth Lynx at Dandenong Stadium on 27 January 2022
In her first full WNBL season Wallace won the league’s Sixth woman of the Year in 2021/22 playing for the Southside Flyers And was teammates with three of the Boomers off-season recruits, Sara Blicavs, Aimie Rocci and Tayla Simmons. Wallace had a breakout 2022/23 season as the Melbourne Boomers starting point guard to average 15.7 points (ranked 7th in the WNBL), 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists (4th) and 1.4 steals per game. Wallace was selected in the 2022/23 All-WNBL First Team and was one of five nominees for the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award which highlights the high quality basketball, that she played at both ends of the court.
Kristy Wallace making a lay up for Melbourne Boomers against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Four years after being selected by Atlanta Dream with pick 16 at the 2018 WNBA Draft Wallace made her debut in the league with Atlanta in 2022 and played 29 regular season games including 18 as a starter. Boomers off-season recruit Naz Hillmon was a fellow rookie with Wallace at Atlanta in 2022. In her second WNBA season in 2023 Wallace played for Indiana Fever and made 37 of 85 three-pointers at an accuracy of 43.5% – ranked fifth in the WNBA.
On Monday 23 October the Melbourne Boomers announced that “Kristy Wallace injured her right knee on September 2 while playing for the Indiana Fever in a WNBA game against the Dallas Wings and has undergone knee surgery upon her return to Australia. Her injury rehab is progressing well, and she is expected to return to the court for the Deakin Melbourne Boomers in December.”10
Kristy Wallace playing for Melbourne Boomers against JCU Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 7 December 2022
Injury replacement player profile
With Kristy Wallace on the sidelines at the start of the 2023/24 season due to a knee injury, guard Sherrie Calleia has been signed as an injury replacement player by the Melbourne Boomers. Calleia made her WNBL debut in 2020, playing seven games for the Sydney Flames. As a member of the UC Capitals core rotation in 2022/23 Calleia played 18 games. Shooting accuracy was a strength of Calleia’s, having a field goal accuracy of 47.6% and she was even more effective from long range to have a three-point accuracy of 52.6% – ranked first at the Caps.
Sherrie Calleia playing for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022 being guarded by current Boomers teammate Kristy Wallace
From 2021 to 2023 Calleia has played three consecutive seasons for Mount Gambier Pioneers in NBL1 South and has signed with the club for 2024. Calleia has averaged more than 4.5 assists per game in all three seasons and in 2023 ranked in the conference’s top five for assists per game.
Sherrie Calleia playing for Melbourne Boomers game against Southside Flyers in a pre-season game at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023
Melbourne Boomers Head Coach profile
In 2023/24 Chris Lucas is in his second season as Head Coach of the Melbourne Boomers and 16th season overall as a Head Coach in the WNBL. Lucas was Head Coach of Adelaide Lightning for nine seasons across two stints, three seasons from 2004/05 to 2006/07 and six seasons from 2016/17 to 2021/22. Adelaide made the finals five times with Lucas as the Head Coach and in 2018/19 were defeated in the Grand Final one to game two by the University of Canberra Capitals. During a five-season stint as Townsville Fire Head Coach the club made the finals in all five seasons from 2011/12 to 2015/16. Townsville won road preliminary finals in 2012/13 and 2013/14 against Dandenong Rangers to progress to the Grand Final. In both seasons Bendigo at home defeated Townsville in the Grand Final by more than 10 points. At home Townsville defeated Bendigo 75-65 in the 2014/15 Grand Final. In the first ever best of three WNBL Grand Final series in 2015/16 Townsville Fire defeated Perth Lynx two games to nil, winning each game by at least 10 points.
Chris Lucas coaching Adelaide Lightning against Dandenong Rangers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 November 2017
Lucas was appointed the Head Coach of the Deakin Melbourne Boomers for the 2022/23 WNBL season. Melbourne finished third on the ladder with 15 wins and six losses. In a thrilling semi final series against cross-town rivals Southside Flyers the home side won each game in the series and the Boomers lost a pulsating game 3 by one point, 72-73.
In addition to his vast experience as a Head Coach in the WNBL Boomers Head Coach Chris Lucas also has experience as an Assistant Coach of the Australian Opals and as a Head Coach of the Emerging Opals. At the 2017 World University Games held in Taipei Lucas was the Head Coach of a gold medal winning Emerging Opals team that included three current Melbourne Boomers players – Froling, Rocci and Wallace. In Rocci’s two WNBL seasons at Adelaide Lightning in 2017/18 and 2018/19 Lucas was the Head Coach.
Perth Lynx 2023/24 main roster – 10 players
Returning (3): Amy Atwell, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, Chloe Forster#
Arrivals (7): Alex Ciabattoni (South West Slammers – NBL1 West), Miela Goodchild (Melbourne Boomers), Stephanie Gorman (Cockburn Cougars – NBL1 West), Ashlee Hannan (Albury Wodonga Bandits – NBL1 East), Anneli Maley (Bendigo Spirit), Aari McDonald* (Atlanta Dream- WNBA), Emily Potter* (Panathinaikos-Greece)
Departed (8): Chloe Bibby (Gorzow – Poland), Tayah Burrows (Ostersund Basket – Sweden), Jessie Edwards, Emma Gandini, Robbi Ryan* (Lulea Basket – Sweden), Lauren Scherf (Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes – France), Alex Sharp (UC Capitals), Sami Whitcomb (JCU Townsville Fire)
2023/24 Head Coach: Ryan Petrik is in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Perth Lynx.
WNBL
No. Player Position Date of Birth games
6 Chloe Forster# Guard 07/05/2003 8
1 Miela Goodchild Guard 04/06/2000 22
2 Steph Gorman Guard 18/04/2000 0
3 Aari McDonald* Guard 20/08/1998 0
25 Amy Atwell Guard/Forward 30/06/1998 23
8 Alexandra Ciabattoni Guard/Forward 01/06/1994 90
12 Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard Forward 29/10/1998 38
24 Anneli Maley Forward 01/09/1998 87
5 Ashlee Hannan Forward/Centre 21/03/2001 0
10 Emily Potter* Centre 10/10/1995 0
* =Import
#Elevated from being a development player in 2022/23 to being a main roster player in 2023/24
Perth Lynx Development Players – 4 players
No. Player Position Date of Birth
33 Emma Klasztorny Guard 04/10/1994
34 Amy Jacobs Guard 24/04/2001
15 Grace Foster Guard 04/07/2005
7 Teige Morrell Forward 08/12/1995
There has been high player turnover at Perth Lynx in the off-season with guard/forward Amy Atwell being the only one of six Perth players that averaged more than 20 minutes per game in 2022/23 that is suiting up for the club again in 2023/24. Joining Atwell in returning to Perth are forward Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard and guard Chloe Forster with the latter elevated from being a Lynx development player in 2022/23 to being on the main roster in 2023/24.
Amy Atwell playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023
After having a son Elijah in January 2023 and missing the 2022/23 season guard/forward Alexandra Ciabattoni returns to Perth Lynx for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Ciabattoni has played three seasons for Perth including two seasons with Ryan Petrik as Head Coach in 2020 and 2021/22.
The five players that averaged more than 20 minutes per game in 2022/23 and have left Perth Lynx in the off-season are Lauren Scherf, Sami Whitcomb, Chloe Bibby, Robbi Ryan and Alex Sharp. Whitcomb and Sharp have joined rival WNBL teams JCU Townsville Fire and UC Capitals respectively. Four players on Perth’s 2022/23 roster are playing in Europe in 2023/24 with Scherf playing in France, Bibby playing in Poland and guards Tayah Burows and Ryan both playing in Sweden.
On constructing a roster Petrik commented to WNBL Media in an article published on 22 September “Every team I’ve coached has been a little bit different depending on the personnel, but they’ve all played relatively similar in the style. I’ve got an idea in my head of how I want my team to play, and then it’s about going to get the players for that which is the best plan. But it’s also about who the best player is on the table that we can get, and if they don’t fit at all, then I have to change the plan. So this year with the Lynx, you’ll see us play very differently because we have a genuine point guard (Aari McDonald), but last year, we had Lauren Scherf in that role. Everyone freaked out about that until it started working and then everyone thought it was genius, but we were just working with what we had.”11
Both of Perth’s off-season recruits from rival WNBL clubs, Maley and Goodchild complement the style of play that Lynx Head Coach Petrik likes to implement. Maley, Atwell and Goodchild are all members of the Australian 3×3 squad and have attended Australian Gangurru training camps together. Maley, Atwell and Goodchild have all represented the Australian Gangurrus in 2023 but not at the same tournament. Maley and Atwell were teammates on the Australian Opals team that won a bronze medal at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney. Earlier this week Perth Lynx announced Maley as captain and Atwell as vice-captain for the 2023/24 season.
Miela Goodchild playing for Melbourne Boomers against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Four players on Perth Lynx’s main roster will be making their WNBL debuts in 2023/24 – the most of any club. This includes import duo, point guard Aari McDonald and 195 centimetre tall Canadian centre Emily Potter as well as two Australians – guard Steph Gorman and forward/centre Ashlee Hannan.
Perth Head Coach Petrik spoke about the adjustments required with having a pure point guard in McDonald and saying “Now this season, I’ve never had a small, jet-quick point guard like I have with Aari, but she was the best player available, so it’s all about how I can make that work. Anyone who is a Perth Lynx fan will watch us play and think it’s roughly the style they remember. On one hand, we’ve obviously built a team based on her speed, so we tried to get as many matching pieces for that as we could, but the overall style and philosophy is pretty well set.”12
At the 2023/24 WNBL River City Rebound pre-season tournament in Brisbane from October 12 to 15 Perth won all three games that they played, defeating Sydney 94-93, Townsville 86-80 and Adelaide 98-90. Perth were close to full strength with Ashlee Hannan being the only member of the club’s 10 player roster that didn’t play a game at the tournament. For all three games Perth’s starting line-up was Aari McDonald, Miela Goodchild, Amy Atwell, Anneli Maley and Emily Potter. In Perth’s last game all five starters were in double figures for points.
Perth Lynx player profiles
Amy Atwell grew up in South Perth and represented Western Australia at Australian National Championships. In five seasons at University of Hawaii Atwell experienced the highs and lows of 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. After rehabilitating from her knee injury and returning to play basketball it understandably took time for Atwell to regain confidence in her body and as a basketball player. Atwell was named the 2019/20 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. 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 to be named the Big West Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first University of Hawaii player to receive this award. 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.
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. Atwell played four regular season games for the Sparks before being waived. In her debut WNBL season 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 17th in the WNBL) per game. In a Round 12 road game against the Melbourne Boomers Atwell scored a game-high and season-high 27 points, making seven of 14 three-pointers in Perth’s 91-82 victory at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January. In the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season 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
During the 2023 NBL1 season Atwell was a starter on the Bendigo Braves team that went undefeated during the NBL1 South season to win the conference championship and also won all three games at the NBL1 National Finals to win the national title. In 17 games for Bendigo Braves Atwell averaged 25.8 points (ranked second in NBL1 South) and 7.4 rebounds per game. In the Bendigo Braves second game of the 2023 NBL1 National Finals held in Joondalup, Western Australia Atwell made eight of 15 three-pointers at an accuracy of 53.3% and scored 44 points against the Northside Wizards in a 112-73 victory. Atwell was selected in the 2023 NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five. Atwell and Perth off-season recruit Anneli Maley were teammates on the bronze medal winning Australian Opals team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney and were also teammates on the Opals five game tour against the Chinese National women’s team in late August and early September.
With so much player turnover at Perth Lynx over the past two seasons the return of Alexandra Ciabattoni will be invaluable. Ciabattoni can draw on her experiences of being coached by Petrik for two seasons in 2020 and 2021/22 and also being a Head Coach herself of the South West Slammers in NBL1 West during the 2023 season. Ciabattoni is one of only two players on the Perth Lynx roster that have played over 50 WNBL games along with Maley who is playing her first season for the club.
Alexandra Ciabattoni paying for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022
On the return of Ciabattoni to the Lynx Head Coach Petrik told wnbl.basketball in September 2023 “She’s just rejoined us on the court, and when you try to catch her up on things, we can talk in the language we used two years ago, and she knows what we’re talking about immediately. “The longer we do it, the more we learn and this system does require pretty smart players and Chiba’s as smart a player as I’ve ever coached. She just knows how to play basketball, knows the timing of things and having IQ players who can make reads and play multiple positions are just invaluable. Getting her back and having Elijah on the side of the court as well is great, I love the fact she’s involved again.”13
Alexandra Ciabattoni in a Perth Lynx team huddle listening to Perth Head Coach Ryan Petrik during the game against the Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022
As a development player Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard played five WNBL games for Perth Lynx in 2020 followed by 10 games for the Lynx team that made the 2021/22 WNBL Grand Final. Clinch Hoycard was elevated to Perth’s main roster for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season. In 2022/23 Clinch Hoycard played 23 games for Perth Lynx and averaged 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 11.4 minutes per game. Forward Clinch Hoycard made 16 of 33 three-pointers in 2022/23 at an accuracy of 48.5% – ranked fifth in the league among players that had at least 10 three-point attempts.
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard shooting a free throw for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023
From 2021 to 2023 Clinch Hoycard has played in NBL1 West for the Warwick Senators and been teammates with fellow Perth Lynx player Chloe Forster. The Warwick Senators won 18 of their 20 regular season games in 2022 to finish on top of the NBL1 West ladder. In the NBL1 West Grand Final the Senators defeated Willetton Tigers 87-61 with Clinch Hoycard registered a double-double comprised of 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. A week after winning the NBL1 West Grand Final the Warwick Senators won all three games at the NBL1 National Finals to be crowned NBL1 National Champions. During the 2023 NBL1 West season Mackenzie averaged a double-double for Warwick with 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard during half time of the Perth Lynx game against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023
Chloe Forster has been teammates with Clinch Hoycard playing in NBL1 West with Warwick Senators from 2021 to 2023 which included being teammates on the Senators team that won the 2022 NBL1 West Championship and 2022 NBL1 National Finals. In the Senators 83-75 victory against the Ringwood Hawks at the State Basketball Centre in the 2022 Championship game of the National NBL1 Finals Forster scored a team-high 18 points and had five assists. During the 2023 NBL1 West season guard Forster played 22 games for Warwick and averaged 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game to win the 2023 NBL1 West Women’s Youth Player of the Year Award.
After being a training player at Perth Lynx in 2021/22 Forster played eight games as a development player for the Lynx in 2022/23. In a road victory against the UC Capitals on 4 March 2023 Forster made four of seven field goal attempts at an accuracy of 57.1%, scored 12 points, took three rebounds and made three assists to set season-highs in all three categories. Forster has continued her progression at Perth Lynx and in the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season is a member of the club’s 10 player main roster, following in the footsteps of Warwick teammate Clinch Hoycard who was elevated from being a Lynx DP to a main roster player a season earlier.
Chloe Forster playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023
During 2022/23 Perth made 9.6 three-pointers per game – ranked first in the WNBL. Perth further strengthened their three-point shooting during free agency with the recruitment of guard Miela Goodchild. After joining the Melbourne Boomers during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season and making her club debut in Round 3 Goodchild became a member of the core rotation, averaging 6.1 points and 18.2 minutes per game. Goodchild averaged 1.5 three-pointers made per game and had a three-point accuracy of 44.6% – ranked equal ninth in the WNBL among players that had at least 10 attempts.
Miela Goodchild playing for Melbourne Boomers against UC Capitals at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
In the 2023 NBL1 South season Goodchild played 21 games for Mount Gambier Pioneers and averaged 24.2 points (ranked fifth in NBL1 South), 7.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. The Pioneers had 17 wins and five losses to finish second on the ladder. In a preliminary final against Perth Lynx teammate Amy Atwell’s Bendigo Spirit, Mount Gambier lost a thrilling high quality game 96-97. Goodchild’s outstanding 2023 season was recognised with selection in the NBL1 South All-Star Five. Goodchild has been a member of the squad for the Australian Gangurrus 3×3 team. In May 2023 Goodchild made her Gangurrus debut as a member of the team that were undefeated and won all three games to finish first at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier 2023 held in Eilat, Israel.
Steph Gorman finished her college career at University of San Diego in 2021/22. At senior level playing in West Australia for Cockburn Cougars during the 2023 NBL1 West season Gorman made a significant impact to rank fifth in the conference for steals per game and won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. In the Cougars seven point NBL1 West Grand Final victory against Willetton Tigers Gorman excelled to score a team-high 19 points and won the NBL1 West Women’s Finals MVP Award.
Ashlee Hannan was a member of the Australian Sapphires bronze medal winning team at the FIBA Under 17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 held in Belarus. Hannan played 23 games for the Albury Wodonga Bandits during the 2023 NBL1 East season and averaged 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Ashlee’s mother Fiona Hannan (nee Robinson) had a 10 season WNBL career including five seasons for the Perth Lynx (then known as the Perth Breakers) and was a member of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
On 23 June 2023 Perth Lynx announced that they had signed 2021/22 Suzy Batkovic Medal winner Anneli Maley for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Perth Lynx Head Coach Petrik commented “Anneli is the best rebounder I’ve seen in my time in the WNBL, but there’s way more to her game than that. The tenacity and intensity she plays with, each and every possession, is infectious, and lifts everyone around her to play harder for longer. But it’s also the rate of improvement that’s scary, every season she comes back with new weapons to her game because she puts in the work. The way Anneli likes to play, inside our pace and space styled system, should be a match made in heaven, and we cannot wait to start working with her.”14
Anneli Maley taking a rebound for Bendigo Spirit against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
Forward 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. 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. At 18 years of age Maley made her WNBL debut with Adelaide Lightning in 2016/17. Maley played 47 games of college basketball comprised of 37 games for the Oregon Ducks in 2017/18 and 10 games for Texas Christian University in 2018/19. Maley returned to Australia during the Christmas break of the 2018/19 season.
During the 2019/20 WNBL season Maley played 25 games off the bench for the Southside Flyers. In the 2020 WNBL hub season Maley flourished in a starting role with the Sydney Uni Flames. 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.
Anneli Maley shooting a free throw for Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 6 March 2022
Maley joined Bendigo Spirit for the 2021/22 season and had a goal of developing into an offensive threat. Anneli achieved this in emphatic fashion in 2021/22 – 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. 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. During 2022/23 Maley averaged 16.2 points (ranked 6th in the WNBL) and 11.0 rebounds (2nd) per game playing for Bendigo Spirit.
Anneli Maley shooting a jump shot for Bendigo Spirit against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
One of the key factors in Maley improving her offensive prowess was playing domestic 3×3 basketball tournaments in Australia and being a member of the Australian national 3×3 squad. From July 2022 onwards Maley has had success competing for the Australian Gangurrus and has won a gold medal at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023, a silver medal at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 and a bronze medal at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 held in late May and early June in Vienna, Austria.
Maley was named in the Team of the Tournament for the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in both 2022 and 2023. Maley has attended WNBA team Chicago Sky’s training camp in 2022 and 2023. Both times Maley was waived late in the pre-season. In 2022 Maley was signed as a hardship exception player due to several of Chicago’s players being injured or overseas due to other playing commitments. In 2022 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 Japa at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. Maley has been a member of both Australian Opals that have won a bronze medal at a FIBA Tournament held in Sydney since then, World Cup 2022 and Asia Cup 2023.
Aari McDonald played her freshman season of college basketball at University of Washington in 2016/17 before transferring to the University of Arizona Wildcats. McDonald excelled in 93 games for Arizona, all as a starter and averaged 21.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. In her last two seasons of college basketball for University of Arizona in 2019/20 and 2020/21 McDonald was a Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. McDonald was also named the 2020/21 Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year.
McDonald was selected by Atlanta Dream with pick 3 at the 2021 WNBA Draft and has played three seasons for the club which included earning selection on the 2021 WNBA All-Rookie Team. In three seasons with Atlanta Dream from 2021 to 2023 McDonald has played 90 regular season games, averaging 8.6 points, 2.5 assists and 21.5 minutes per game throughout her WNBA career.
In a college basketball career with University of Utah from 2013/14 to 2017/18 Emily Potter played 116 games and averaged 12.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game. At the conclusion of her 2017/18 senior season of college basketball with Utah Potter had become the “sixth player in program history to have 1,500+ points and 1,000+ rebounds in a career.”15
Potter has represented Canada, including being a member of the bronze medal winning team at the FIBA AmeriCup 2023. In 2022/23 Potter played five games for Greek club Panathinaikos and averaged 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game whilst having a field goal accuracy of 49.2%.
Perth Lynx Head Coach profile
From 2005 to 2008 Ryan Petrik was an assistant coach of the Rockingham Flames men’s team in the WA State Basketball League. In December 2008 Petrik was appointed the head coach of the Rockingham Flames women’s team in the WA State Basketball League. Petrik coached the Rockingham Flames women’s team for 10 seasons from 2009 to 2018. Rockingham had 20 wins and two losses in both the 2014 and 2015 regular seasons. In the 2014 Grand Final Rockingham Flames defeated Lakeside Lightning 80-75 to win the club’s first ever State Basketball League Championship. In 2015 Rockingham defeated Willetton Tigers 68-63 in the Grand Final to win back-to-back State Basketball League Championships.
Since 2019 Petrik has been the Head Coach of the Rockingham Flames in the men’s State Basketball League. In 2021 the competition was rebranded as the NBL1 West. The Flames men’s team made the Grand Final for the first time in their history in 2021 but lost to Perry Lakes Hawks 82-92. Rockingham finished second on the ladder in 2022 and defeated minor premiers Geraldton Buccaneers 91-79 in the Grand Final to win the NBL1 West Championship. During the NBL1 National Finals held at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna, Victoria Rockingham won all three games to be NBL1 National Champions.
Ryan Petrik and Perth Lynx players at the end of a time-out during the game against Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022
From 2015/16 to 2019/20 Petrik was an assistant coach of Perth Lynx with Andy Stewart as the head coach. Perth were WNBL runners-up in 2015/16 and were defeated in the semi finals for three consecutive seasons from 2016/17 to 2018/19. Petrik has been the Perth Lynx Head Coach for four seasons from 2020 to 2023/24. Due to border restrictions in Western Australia Perth Lynx didn’t start their 2021/22 WNBL season until Round 5 and then faced an extended time on the road based in Victorian country town Ballarat. Perth finished second on the ladder and were runners-up, being defeated in the Grand Final by Melbourne Boomers two games to one. Petrik was named the WNBL Coach of the Year for the 2021/22 season. Perth finished fourth at the end of the 2023/24 regular season and lost in the semi finals to eventual champions JCU Townsville Fire, being defeated in both games.
Ryan Petrik on the sideline during Perth Lynx’s game against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023
Southside Flyers 2023/24 main roster – 11 players
Returning (6): Bec Cole, Carley Ernst, Lauren Jackson, Dallas Loughridge, Nyadiew Puoch, Maddison Rocci
Arrivals (5): Lou Brown (Melbourne Boomers), Jasmine Dickey (Dallas Wings – WNBA | Mainland Pouakai – Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand), Leiliani Mitchell (Melbourne Boomers), Mercedes Russell* (Seattle Storm – WNBA), Klara Wischer (Sandringham Sabres – NBL1 South)
Departed (5): Abby Bishop (CB Jairis – Spain), Sara Blicavs (Melbourne Boomers), Monique Conti (Melbourne Boomers), Aimie Rocci (Melbourne Boomers), Kayla Thornton*
2023/24 Head Coach: Cheryl Chambers is in her fifth consecutive season as Head Coach of the Southside Flyers.
WNBL
No. Player Position Date of Birth games
1 Bec Cole Guard 19/03/1992 237
20 Jasmine Dickey* Guard 23/02/2000 0
7 Dallas Loughridge Guard 23/01/2004 0
5 Leilani Mitchell Guard 15/06/1985 176
9 Maddison Rocci Guard 01/06/1998 128
4 Lou Brown Forward 23/07/1995 27
13 Nyadiew Puoch Forward 23/06/2004 25
12 Klara Wischer Forward 09/04/1991 20
11 Carley Ernst Forward/Centre 01/08/1994 262
15 Lauren Jackson Forward/Centre 11/05/1981 186
21 Mercedes Russell* Centre 27/07/1995 24
* =Import
Southside Flyers Development Players – 5 players
No. Player Position Date of Birth
3 Emma Nankervis Forward 09/06/2000
6 Nikita Young Guard 04/08/2002
8 Emily Fisher Guard 27/01/1999
10 Isis Lopes Guard 12/03/2001
17 Georgia Booth Guard 17/01/2003
Six players from the Southside Flyers 2022/23 roster are suiting up for the club again in 2023/24 including three players that started every game they played for the club in 2022/23 – Maddison Rocci, Bec Cole and Lauren Jackson. Returning from the Flyers 2022/23 Grand Final team are forwards Carley Ernst and Nyadiew Puoch. After suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a 2022/23 WNBL pre-season game for Southside Flyers 19 year-old point guard Dallas Loughridge made her return roughly 12 months later in a 2023/24 pre-season game and is set to make her much anticipated WNBL debut. A Southside feisty backcourt starting duo were officially appointed to leadership roles for 2023/24 with Cole as captain and Maddison Rocci as vice-captain.
During the off-season three players from the Southside Flyers 2022/23 main roster joined a rival WNBL team and the Flyers recruited two players from another WNBL team, in all five instances the other team involved in the player move was cross-town rivals the Melbourne Boomers. Forward Sara Blicavs and guards Aimie Rocci and Monique Conti left the Flyers and joined the Boomers whilst guard Leilani Mitchell and forward Lou Brown have moved in the opposite direction from Melbourne to Southside. These players wont be able ease into it and get used to playing for their new team before playing against their former team as in Round 1 of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season on Saturday night 4 November Southside host Melbourne at the State Basketball Centre in a blockbuster clash.
Two players that played in Southside’s front court in 2022/23 wont be playing in the WNBL in 2023/24 – Kayla Thornton and Abby Bishop. American import Thornton averaged 15.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game to lead Southside in both categories and was selected in the All-WNBL First Team. After ranking third at Southside for rebounds per game in 2022/23 Bishop is playing for CB Jairis in Spain during 2023/24.
Two constants for the Southside Flyers from their inaugural 2019/20 season through to the upcoming 2023/24 season have been Cheryl Chambers as the Head Coach and guard Bec Cole as a player. In the off-season Southside have recruited a duo that were teammates at the Flyers in the club’s inaugural 2019/20 season and both earned All-WNBL selection – American import centre Mercedes Russell and point guard Leilani Mitchell.
Leilani Mitchell playing for Southside Flyers against UC Capitals at Dandenong Stadium on 1 March 2020
Chambers having coached seven members of Southside’s 2023/24 main roster in the WNBL for the Flyers previously will make it easier for the club to build team chemistry, however individual roles will need to be adjusted based on the composition of the roster. Rocci and Mitchell have won club MVP Awards at the Flyers as the dominant point guard and will now be teammates at the club. Rocci and Mitchell can draw on their experience from being teammates on the University of Canberra Capitals 2018/19 WNBL Championship winning team.
Forward Klara Wischer plays her second WNBL season in 2023/24, having made her debut eight seasons ago in 2015/16 with Perth Lynx and was teammates with Carley Ernst. In July 2019 the Dandenong Rangers were rebranded as the Southside Flyers. 2023/24 will be the first time that Southside will have two imports in a season, having signed American import point guard Jasmine Dickey. In the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season in New Zealand Dickey ranked in the league’s top 10 for points, rebounds and steals per game. Dickey is one four players on Southside’s roster with WNBA experience along with fellow guard Leilani Mitchell and frontcourt duo Lauren Jackson and Mercedes Russell who between them have played in all four of Seattle’s WNBA Championships. Jackson played in Seattle’s 2004 and 2010 titles, winning the finals Most Valuable Player Award in the latter season. Russell was a member of Seattle’s 2018 and 2020 WNBA Championship winning teams.
Southside Flyers players after the pre-season game at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023 against Melbourne Boomers. From left to right Lauren Jackson, Dallas Loughridge, Mercedes Russell, Maddison Rocci (partly obscured), Jasmine Dickey, Nikita Young, Carley Ernst and Nyadiew Puoch
One player that will take on greater responsibility in 2023/24 is 19 year old forward Nyadiew Puoch who averaged 18.9 minutes per game in 2022/23 playing off the bench for Southside behind fellow forwards Sara Blicavs and Kayla Thornton who both left the club in the off-season. Puoch impressed with her athleticism and shot blocking ability during the 2022/23 season. Puoch made her Australian Opals debut on a tour against the Chinese national women’s team in late August and early September 2023 with Chambers as the Opals Head Coach.
Seven players on a main roster of a WNBL club are over 193 centimetres tall with Southside having three players in this category – Russell (198 centimetres tall), Ernst (196) and Jackson (195). Three clubs – Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney don’t have a player over 193 centimetres tall, providing Southside with a point of difference and a size advantage in the frontcourt. Having adequate defensive match-ups for both Russell and Jackson will be a difficult proposition for rival WNBL teams.
Southside Flyers player profiles
Forward Lou Brown played most of her junior basketball for the Nunawading Spectres in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and has also represented the club at senior level, including during the 2021 NBL1 South season. As a member of the Australian Gems team that won a bronze medal at the FIBA Women’s 2013 under 19 World Championships Brown’s Gems Head Coach was current Southside Flyers Head Coach Cheryl Chambers.
Lou Brown playing for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
Brown played 16 games for the Melbourne Boomers in her debut 2021/22 WNBL season, won the Boomers Most Improved Player of the Year award and was a member of Melbourne’s WNBL championship winning team. In 2022/23 Brown played 11 games for Melbourne and averaged 2.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game. In the past two NBL1 seasons Brown has ranked in the conference’s top five for rebounds per game playing for the Casey Cavaliers in 2022 followed by the 2023 season with the Frankston Blues. Brown played 23 games for Frankston as a starter in 2023 and averaged 16.6 points and 14.9 rebounds per game. Brown recorded a double-double in 21 of her 23 NBL1 South games in 2023 and had season-highs of 27 points against the Ballarat Miners on 7 May and 21 rebounds against the Eltham Wildcats on 17 June.
Lou Brown playing for Melbourne Boomers against UC Capitals at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
Bec Cole made her WNBL debut playing as a point guard with the Australian Institute of Sport in 2009/10 and after three seasons with the AIS joined the Boomers. Before Cole had reached 100 WNBL games she faced considerable adversity, having reconstructions on both of her knees. After her second knee reconstruction Cole played two seasons for the Boomers before joining the Dandenong Rangers for the 2018/19 season and making a positional shift to shooting guard. In four seasons from 2018/19 to 2021/22 comprised of a season for the Rangers followed by three seasons for the Southside Flyers Cole averaged more than 15.0 points per game to rank in the WNBL’s top eight for scoring in each season. With the Rangers in 2018/19 Cole finished second in the WNBL’s MVP award and was selected in the All-WNBL first team. With Southside in 2019/20 Cole earnt selection in the All-WNBL second team. Cole was a member of Southside’s 2020 WNBL Championship winning team.
Bec Cole shooting a free-throw for Dandenong Rangers against the Melbourne Boomers at Dandenong Stadium on 2 November 2018
From 2017 to 2021 Cole was a regular in the Australian women’s 3×3 team. In both the 2018 and 2019 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup Cole was named in the Team of the Tournament, also being named the Most Valuable Player in the 2019 edition where Australia won the gold medal.
Bec Cole playing for the Southside Flyers against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 11 December, 2021
After winning Southside’s 2021/22 MVP award guard Bec Cole had a different role on the Flyers 2022/23 team which resulted in her scoring output dropping to 10.7 points per game – ranked fifth for Southside. Cole is a proven big game performer and this came to the fore again during the 2022/23 Grand Final series against Townsville when she led all scorers with a total of 46 points in the two game series and shot the ball proficiently to make 20 of 28 field goal attempts at a superb accuracy of 71.4%.
Bec Cole shooting a jump shot for Southside Flyers against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023
Guard Jasmine Dickey played112 games of college basketball for University of Delaware Blue Hens from 2018/19 to 2021/22. In her junior and senior seasons Dickey was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) women’s basketball Player of the Year. Dickey was selected by the Dallas Wings with pick 30 at the 2022 WNBA Draft and played a total of 34 regular season games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons before being waived on 28 June.
Later in 2023 Dickey played 10 games for Mainland Pouakai during the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season in New Zealand and averaged 24.0 points (ranked 2nd in the league), 8.0 rebounds (7th) and 1.8 steals (4th) per game.
Carley Ernst (nee Mijovic) was born in Melbourne and grew up in Narre Warren, a suburb approximately 40 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. Power forward/centre Ernst played her junior basketball with the Dandenong Rangers. Impressive performances for the Dandenong Rangers resulted in Ernst having the opportunity to accept a scholarship at 15 years of age and move to the AIS. Mijovic made her WNBL debut for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) at 15 years of age on 19 December, 2009 in a home game against the Jayco Rangers. Ernst played four games in 2009/10 and missed the entire 2010/11 season due to knee injuries. In her first full season of WNBL basketball with the AIS in 2011/12 Ernst won the WNBL’s Rookie of the Year Award.
Carly Ernst playing for Perth Lynx against Melbourne Boomers on 22 January 2017 at the State Basketball Centre
Throughout her career 196 centimetre tall Ernst’s greatest strengths have been her outside shooting, athleticism and shot blocking. Throughout her WNBL career Ernst has ranked in the league’s top 10 for three-pointers made per game in five seasons including three consecutive seasons from 2015/16 to 2017/18. Ernst has ranked in the league’s top 20 for blocked shots per game in a season nine times.
Ernst has been extremely durable during the last decade of her basketball career. From 3 March 2013 until the end of the 2020 hub season Ernst played 177 consecutive WNBL games. During this streak Ernst had eight consecutive WNBL seasons playing every game possible for her WNBL club, commencing in 2013/14. Ernst finished in the top 10 of the 2016/17 WNBL MVP Award playing for Perth Lynx and won back-to-back club MVP Awards playing for Bendigo Spirit in 2019/20 and 2020. Ernst has averaged at least 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in four seasons, 2017/18 with Dandenong Rangers as well as 2016/17, 2019/20 and 2020.
On 8 September 2021 Ernst had her first child, son Kylan. Four months later Ernst made her WNBL return with the Melbourne Boomers in January 2022 playing off the bench and went on to be a member of the Boomers team that won the 2021/22 WNBL Championship in April.
Carly Ernst shooting a three-pointer for Melbourne Boomers against Sydney Flames on 20 February 2022 at the State Basketball Centre
Playing a role off the bench for Southside in 2022/23 forward Ernst made an impact to average 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.6 minutes court-time per game. Ernst made 28 of 67 three-pointers at an accuracy of 41.8%. Among players that averaged more than 4.5 points per game in 2022/23 Ernst played the least amount of court time per game. In the off-season Ernst played alongside Southside teammate Cole for Waverley Falcons and they were part of the team that made the NBL1 South Grand Final.
Carly Ernst shooting a three-pointer for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers on 22 February 2023 at the State Basketball Centre
Lauren Jackson is Australia’s greatest ever basketball player and achieved just about everything you could possibly dream of in the WNBL, WNBA and with the Australian Opals from her WNBL debut with the Australian Institute of Sport in 1997 to her initial retirement on 31 March 2016. Jackson won the WNBL’s Grand Final MVP Award four times which is the league’s All-time record and won the WNBL’s regular season MVP Award four times – ranked second on the All-time list behind Suzy Batkovic (who the medal is now named after) with six. Jackson played in six WNBL Championships comprised of one for the AIS and five for the Canberra Capitals. Jackson played 12 consecutive WNBA seasons from 2001 to 2012 with the Seattle Storm, won three WNBA MVP Awards – 2003, 2007 and 2010 and won Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2007. Jackson played in the Storm’s first two WNBA championships in 2004 and 2010 alongside point guard Sue Bird and won the 2010 WNBA Finals MVP Award.
For all of her incredible achievements during an illustrious basketball career spanning two decades from 1997 to 2016 Jackson was unable to finish her basketball career on the terms that she wanted. Just over six years after her initial injury forced retirement Jackson made her return as a basketball player with the Albury Wodonga Bandits in a Round 3 NBL1 East road game on 23 April 2022. Albury Wodonga play their home games at a venue named in LJ’s honour – the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and in the first game of her comeback on this court Jackson dominated with 31 points and 24 rebounds in a 97-80 victory against Manly Warringah. The Bandits won the NBL1 East Grand Final and Jackson won the league’s regular season Most Valuable Player Award. Including finals Jackson played 14 games for the Bandits during the 2022 NBL1 East season, averaging 31.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.
From 1998 to 2012 Jackson represented the Opals with distinction at eight consecutive major championships comprised of four Olympic Games and four World Championships. Jackson won seven medals at major championships with the Australian Opals including gold at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil where she finished runner-up in the tournament’s MVP Award to teammate Penny Taylor. A decade after her previous appearance at a major championship Jackson made her Opals return on home soil at the 2022 FIBA World Cup held in Sydney. 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% from the field in 21 minutes court-time to star in the Opals 95-65 victory to win the bronze medal.
In 2022/23 Jackson made her WNBL return with the Southside Flyers and started all 14 games that she played. In addition to Jackson’s on-court performances for the Southside Flyers in the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season her return to the league also generated more mainstream media coverage and was a huge hit with fans post-game. After Southside Flyers games, both at home and on the road there were been massive queues of fans post-game seeking an autograph and/or photo with Jackson. in the opening minute of Southside Flyers home game at John Cain Arena on 4 February 2023 against Sydney Flames Jackson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Jackson played 14 games for Southside in 2022/23, and averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 21.7 minutes per game. Of all the players in the WNBL that averaged more than 9.0 points per game in 2022/23 Jackson played the least amount of game-time.
Lauren Jackson playing for Southside Flyers against Bendigo Spirit at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
On 2 October 2023 Jackson said “I’m not done yet” and signed with the Southside Flyers for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Jackson will also be suiting up again for the Albury Wodonga Bandits during the 2024 NBL1 East season. In an article published on 13 October 2023 Jackson told nbl1.com.au “Someone asked me, ‘What’s the greatest thing in your career?’ and I said last year was. This whole comeback has been. Because I’ve had to work so hard for it and commit to a process, which is every single day. Regardless of how I’m feeling, if I’m sick, if the kids are sick. I’m not playing because I miss it, or I want to be doing it or creating some bigger legacy or something like that.
I’m playing because I love being with my teammates and I know in 10 years’ time if I look back and regret it, I’ll be very mad. So I’m not going to.”16
Fans getting a photograph with Lauren Jackson after Southside Flyers game against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 10 December 2022
Dallas Loughridge and Flyers teammate Nyadiew Puoch have been teammates on teams at under—age level for the Dandenong Rangers, Victoria in the under 20’s and Australia as well as at senior level with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in NBL1. At the 2021 FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup held in Hungary from 7-15 August Loughridge was a member of the Australian Gems silver medal winning team alongside Puoch. Loughridge played all seven games at the tournament and ranked fifth for the Gems in scoring. Loughridge played 16 games for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence during the 2022 NBL1 season in wildcard games. In four games Loughridge scored more than 19 points.
For the 2022/23 season Loughridge signed with the Southside Flyers as one of 10 main roster players. In a Southside Flyers practice game against Bendigo Spirit on 22 October Loughridge injured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) which forced her to miss the entire season. In an article ACL Update published by the WNBL on 18 August 2023 Loughridge commented on her rehabilitation, saying “I’ve been back doing controlled contract and I’ve just started 1-on-1 which is super exciting. I’ve been in the gym getting strong so I can lower that risk and be ready for contact. I think I’m now on the home stretch and hopefully this will all now start to speed up. I just can’t wait to be back playing so this is another step that brings me closer to that.”17 Loughridge made her basketball return in Southside’s pre-season game against Bendigo Spirit in Ballarat on 14 October.
Dallas Loughridge playing for the Southside Flyers in a practice game against New Zealand at the State Basketball Centre on 15 October 2022
Leilani Mitchell played for Southside in the team’s first two WNBL seasons in 2019/20 and 2020 and returns to play her third season with the club in 2023/24. In the Flyers inaugural season Mitchell won the team’s MVP Award. Mitchell was a member of Southside’s 2020 WNBL championship winning team and scored a game-high 31 points in the Grand Final to win the Rachael Sporn medal for the second time in her career. Mitchell also won the Rachael Sporn medal in Sydney’s 2016/17 WNBL Championship winning season. In each of Mitchell’s first seven WNBL seasons from 2013/14 to 2020 she averaged more than 5.0 assists per game and led the league in this category three times including the 2020 season with the Jayco Southside Flyers. During this time Mitchell was selected in the All-WNBL First team (previously known as the WNBL All-Star 5) four times – 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2019/20.
Leilani Mitchell in action playing for the Southside Flyers against the University of Canberra Capitals in Game 1 of the 2019/20 Grand Final at Dandenong Stadium on 1 March 2020
In a 13 season WNBA career comprised of six seasons for New York Liberty, four seasons for Phoenix Mercury and three seasons for Washington Mystics Mitchell has played 398 regular season games and is the only player in league history to win the Most Improved Player Award twice. Mitchell ranks in the WNBA’s top 25 on All-Time lists for three-pointers made (equal 17th) and total career assists (24th). Mitchell was a member of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at the 2014 World Championships. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo Mitchell was an Opals starter. At both of the Olympic Games Mitchell ranked in the Opals top four in scoring and the top two in assists.
Leilani Mitchell had a daughter Elle in 2022 and on 22 February 2023 returned to the WNBL, playing for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers. It was Mitchell’s first WNBL game since playing for Bendigo Spirit in December 2021. Mitchell played a total of six games for Melbourne in 2022/23 including four games between the cross-town rivals with Southside defeating Melbourne two games to one in a thrilling semi final series. For the Boomers in 2022/23 Mitchell averaged 4.5 points, 2.7 assists and 20.6 minutes per game. Playing for Inner West Bulls during the 2023 NBL1 East season alongside partner Mikaela Dombkins, Mitchell averaged 19.9 points (ranked 8th in NBL1 East), 5.6 rebounds and 6.5 assists (3rd) per game.
Leilani Mitchell playing for Melbourne Boomers against Sydney Flames at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 5 March 2023
After watching her older brothers play basketball at Dandenong Nyadiew Puoch began playing the sport. Nyadiew played junior basketball for the Dandenong Rangers from Under 12s to Under 18s and has also represented the club at senior level in NBL1 South. Puoch and Southside Flyers teammate Dallas Loughridge have been teammates on teams at under—age level for the Dandenong Rangers, Victoria in the under 20s and Australia as well as at senior level with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in NBL1. At the 2022 Australian Under 20 Championships Puoch represented Victoria and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, averaging 16 points and seven rebounds per game. At the 2021 FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup held in Hungary from 7-15 August Puoch was a member of the Australian Gems silver medal winning team alongside Loughridge. Puoch ranked equal first for the Gems in blocked shots, second for the Gems in scoring and rebounds, equal third for steals and fourth for minutes played.
Nyadiew Puoch shooting a three-pointer for Southside Flyers against Bendigo Spirit at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
In her debut WNBL season playing off the bench for Southside in 2022/23 Nyadiew Puoch averaged 5.8 points, 0.6 blocked shots (ranked equal 10th in the WNBL), and 18.9 minutes per game to be nominated for the WNBL’s Sixth Woman of the Year Award and the Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award. During the 2023 NBL1 season Puoch excelled in 17 games for the Dandenong Rangers to average 24.5 points (ranked 4th in NBL1 South) and 7.9 rebounds per game to win the conference’s Youth Player of the Year award. Puoch made her Australian Opals debut on the five game tour against the Chinese National women’s team in late August and early September 2023 with Southside Head Coach Chambers as the Opals Head Coach.
Nyadiew Puoch playing for Southside Flyers against Bendigo Spirit at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
In 2017/18 guard Madison 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. 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 the 2020 WNBL season Rocci took her basketball to another stratosphere, excelling with her speed, reading of the play and quick hands to rank in the top 10 of the WNBL for scoring, assists and steals. 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.
Maddison Rocci playing for the University of Canberra Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 18 November 2017
Rocci joined the Southside Flyers in 2021/22 and was teammates with sister-in-law Aimie Rocci. With Southside in 2021/22 Rocci ranked sixth in the WNBL for assists per game. In her second season with the Southside Flyers in 2022/23 point guard Maddison Rocci played all 26 games and averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, a career-high 4.9 assists (ranked 7th in the WNBL), 1.6 steals (equal 11th) and 28.8 minutes per game to win Southside’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. As a member of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney Rocci impressed to lead the Opals for assists and steals per game, ranked third for minutes and fourth for points.
Maddison Rocci playing for Southside Flyers against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023
After Mercedes Russell signed with Southside Head Coach Chambers commented “Mercedes was fantastic for us when she was here in our first season and has been keen to come back. We are really looking forward to her returning to the Flyers. She will be awesome inside, and her WNBA experience will be invaluable for the team.”18
Playing for Southside in 2019/20 centre Russell averaged 16.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game to rank in the league’s top five in both categories among players that played at least five games. Russell won the WNBL’s 2019/20 Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award and was selected in the All-WNBL Second Team.
Mercedes Russell playing defense for Southside Flyers against Kelsey Griffin in the game against UC Capitals at Dandenong Stadium on 7 November 2019
At the 2018 WNBA Draft Russell was selected by New York Liberty with pick 22. After playing two games for New York Russell was waived. Russell signed with Seattle Storm and has played six consecutive seasons, playing a total of 150 regular season games for the Storm from 2018 to 2023.
Mercedes Russell playing for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2020
Russell was a member of Seattle’s 2018 and 2020 WNBA Championship winning teams. Russell played 37 regular season games for Seattle in 2023 and averaged 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 19.1 minutes per game.
After a break of eight seasons forward Klara Wischer returns to the WNBL to play her second season in the league. In 2015/16 Wischer played 21 games as a member of the Perth Lynx team that made the 2015/16 WNBL Grand Final and was teammates with current Southside Flyers teammate Carley Ernst.
Wischer has played at state league level in Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. During the 2023 NBL1 South season Wischer played 22 games for Sandringham Sabres and averaged 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Klara Wischer shooting a free throw for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers in a pre-season game at Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre on 7 October 2023
Southside Flyers Head Coach profile
Cheryl Chambers has extensive experience as a player and head coach in the WNBL, having played a total of 267 WNBL games for Nunawading, Coburg, Bulleen and Melbourne Tigers. Chambers has 15 seasons experience as a WNBL head coach are comprised of eight seasons with the Bulleen (now Melbourne) Boomers from 2001/02 to 2008/09, three seasons with the Sydney Uni Flames from 2016/17 to 2018/19 and the past four seasons with the Southside Flyers from 2019/20 to 2022/23.
Cheryl Chambers with Bec Cole at the pre-game presentation for Cole’s 200th WNBL game against Townsville Fire at Dandenong Stadium on 23 December 2021
In between her first and second stint as a WNBL Head Coach Chambers spent some time as an Assistant Coach to Guy Molloy at the Melbourne Boomers. Chambers has been the Head Coach of two WNBL teams that have won Championships – the Sydney Uni Flames in 2016/17 and the Southside Flyers in 2020. Chambers has won the WNBL’s Coach of the Year Award three times comprised of twice with the Bulleen Boomers in 2004/05 and 2008/09 and once with the Sydney Uni Flames in their Championship winning 2016/17 season.
Chambers has experience as a Head Coach of Australian representative sides at under-age level including an Australian Gems team including current Southside Flyers forward Lou Brown that won a bronze medal at the FIBA Women’s 2013 under 19 World Championships.
Between 2005 and 2007 Chambers was an Assistant Coach of the Opals and commenced a second stint in this role in May 2017 with Sandy Brondello as the Opals Head Coach. In the past six and a half years with Chambers as an Assistant Coach the Opals won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, silver at the 2018 World Cup and bronze at the 2022 World Cup. The Opals have also won medals at the Asia Cup in 2017 (silver), 2019 (bronze), 2021 (bronze) and 2023 (bronze). On a five game tour of China in late August and early September 2023 Chambers was the Head Coach of an Australian Opals team including Southside Flyer forward Nyadiew Puoch for a series against the Chinese national women’s team.
Cheryl Chambers being interviewed by Candy Hertz at half time of game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final between Southside Flyers and Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March 2023
Sydney Flames 2023/24 main roster – 10 players
Returning (3): Emma Clarke, Vanessa Panousis, Kiera Rowe
Arrivals (7): Paige Bradley (Hobart Chargers – NBL1 South | Southern Hoiho – Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand), Cayla George (Melbourne Boomers), Tess Madgen (Melbourne Boomers | Northern Kahu – Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa New Zealand), Lara McSpadden (JCU Townsville Fire), Lauren Nicholson (JCU Townsville Fire), DiDi Richards (New York Liberty – WNBA), Shaneice Swain (UC Capitals)
Departed (7): Madelyn Allen, Stephanie Bairstow, Keely Froling (Melbourne Boomers), Tiana Mangakahia (retired), Kalani Purcell, Hannah Sjerven*, Jocelyn Willoughby* (Adelaide Lightning)
2023/24 Interim Head Coach: Guy Molloy is in his first season as interim Head Coach of Sydney Flames.
WNBL
No. Player Position Date of birth games
22 Paige Bradley* Guard 15/02/1994 0
9 Tess Madgen Guard 12/08/1990 247
1 Lauren Nicholson Guard 26/03/1993 142
5 Vanessa Panousis Guard 23/02/1995 64
6 Shaneice Swain Guard 15/10/2003 23
2 DiDi Richards* Guard/Forward 08/02/1999 0
10 Kiera Rowe Guard/Forward 09/01/1999 107
7 Emma Clarke Forward 18/03/2000 48
13 Cayla George Forward/Centre 01/05/1989 330
14 Lara McSpadden Centre 02/04/1999 91
Injury replacement player
3 Ahlise Hurst Guard 06/01/2000 9
* =Import
Sydney Flames Development Players – 3 players
No. Player Position Date of birth
15 Caitlyn Martin Guard 16/09/2005
4 Carla Pitman Guard/Forward 19/01/2004
8 Abigail Curtin Forward 18/10/1997
Amateur player
35 Isla Juffermans Centre 18/04/2005
Three players that each averaged between 16.0 and 23.0 minutes per game for Sydney in 2022/23 have returned to the club for 2023/24 – guard/forward Kiera Rowe, guard Vanessa Panousis and forward Emma Clarke. Rowe played all 21 games for Sydney in 2022/23 and Clarke and Panousis each played 20 games.
For aggregate minutes played in 2022/23 by players returning to the team in 2023/24 Sydney ranked sixth in the WNBL with 58.1 minutes. Sydney’s three returning players for the 2023/24 WNBL season ranked equal second lowest with Perth Lynx, ahead of the Melbourne Boomers with two returning players. Of the 10 players on Sydney’s main roster for 2023/24 Rowe is the only one that remains from two seasons ago in 2021/22 which highlights the level of player turnover at the Flames during the past two off-seasons.
Kiera Rowe about to shoot a three-pointer for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 5 March 2023
Four players that were on Sydney’s roster at the end of the 2022/23 season and averaged more than 20.0 minutes per game for the club wont be playing for the Flames in 2023/24 – Keely Froling, Jocelyn Willoughby, Tiana Mangakahia and Hannah Sjerven. Two Sydney Flames club MVP award winners Froling (joint 2021/22 MVP) and Willoughby (2022/23 MVP) have joined rival WNBL teams Melbourne Boomers and Adelaide Lightning respectively.
In 2022/23 guard Tiana Mangakahia played 20 games for Sydney including 19 as a starter and led the Flames for total assists and steals, ranked second for three-pointers made, third for points and fifth for rebounds. In Sydney’s Round 13 road game against Southside Flyers on 4 February at John Cain Arena in front of a WNBL all-time record crowd of 7,681 fans Mangakahia was exceptional, scoring 26 points and made six assists to set game-highs in both categories. After Sydney trailed 63-65 with two minutes and 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter Mangakahia scored the Flames final five points of the game comprised of a driving lay-up and three free-throws to propel the club to a thrilling 68-67 victory. For her brilliant performance against Southside Mangakahia was named the WNBL’s Player of the Round for Round 13.
Mangakahia had signed with the Flames and was set to be the club’s starting point guard for the 2023/24 season but was forced to retire from basketball in early June 2023 due to having been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. An excerpt from Mangakahia’s retirement announcement is below:
“While my basketball journey on the court has come to a close, this won’t be the last time you see me involved with the sport.
Even though my journey is uncertain, what I am certain about is my passion for life and bringing greater awareness throughout the community about this nasty disease.
I am looking forward to pursuing a career in coaching and giving back to the sport that has given so much to me.”
“Cancer does scare me but not living life to its full potential scares me even more.”19
Tiana Mangakahia playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
Mangakahia has achieved her goal of pursuing a career in coaching with the Sydney Flames announcing on 30 October 2023 that Tiana has signed to be a member of the club’s coaching staff for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season.
During Shooting the Breeze podcast Episode 132: Clubland with Chris Pongrass, CEO Sydney Flames & Kings published on 15 September 2023 Pongrass spoke about achieving a goal of having several players sign multi-year contracts with Sydney during free-agency for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Pongrass commented “For us what really helped is the players we went after on multi-year contracts, so you are looking at Cayla (George) on a three year contract, Tess (Madgen), Shaneice (Swain) and Lauren (Nicholson). All on multi-year contracts, they all bought into the idea of a, playing alongside one another, as each domino fell they were more incentivised to want to come and play with you know Opals and build something. Players want to win, they want to be part of a winning program, they want to be part of a reset as well. Something that we really focused on this roster is to ensure we build a level of continuity year on year and the players bought into it.”
Cayla George shooting a free throw for Melbourne Boomers against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 20 February 2022
George, Madgen, and Nicholson have all earnt All-WNBL selection multiple times in their careers, have each captained a WNBL team and in the past 18 months have all represented the Australian Opals in at least one of the two FIBA Women’s Tournaments held in Sydney. Madgen was the captain of both of the Opals teams that won a bronze medal at a tournament held in Sydney in this period – World Cup 2022 with George as a teammate and Asia Cup 2023 with Nicholson as a teammate. At 20 years of age Swain made her Australian Opals debut on a five game tour of China against the Chinese national women’s team from late August to early September 2023. In addition to signing George, Madgen, Nicholson and Swain on multi-year deals Sydney recruited centre Lara McSpadden from rival WNBL club JCU Townsville Fire on a one season deal.
Lauren Nicholson playing for JCU Townsville Fire against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 10 December 2022
When the 2023/24 WNBL pre-season officially commenced on Monday 11 September Sydney were the only club that hadn’t announced the signing of an import for the upcoming season. Later that week Sydney announced the signing of two American imports, guard Paige Bradley on 13 September and forward DiDi Richards on 15 September. Bradley averaged a league-leading 7.8 assists per game during the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand. Playing college basketball for Baylor Richards was named the 2019/20 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Sydney were successful in breaking the cycle of having the vast majority of the players on their main roster on one-year deals. With George, Nicholson, Madgen, Swain and Rowe all on multi year deals commencing in 2023/24 Sydney will have greater continuity. With the team they have assembled Sydney are well placed to return to the WNBL finals and make their first appearance since 2017/18 when they made the semi finals.
Sydney Flames player profiles
American import point guard Paige Bradley played in NBL1 South for Hobart Chargers in 2022 and 2023 and averaged more than 13.5 points and 5.0 assists per game in each season. During the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand Bradley played 14 games for Southern Hoiho and averaged 14.6 points, 5.5 points and 7.8 assists per game. Bradley led the Tauihi for total assists with 109 and was selected in the 2023 Tauihi All-Star 5.
In Sydney’s second game at the 2023/24 River City Rebound pre-season tournament in Brisbane on 14 October Bradley made four of seven three-pointers at an accuracy of 57.1%, scored 20 points, made a game-high eight assists and an equal game-high two steals in a 72-69 victory against Adelaide.
During Shooting the Breeze Ep 132 Co-host Jacinta Govind asked “What was it about Paige Bradley that made you guys commit that that is going to be the pg for you? Pongrass responded “When we looked at complementary pieces because we have got some star-studded names on our roster and when you say finding someone that is a true point guard it is spot on. It is someone that can come in and run the offense but is a good teammate, I think being a facilitator is important. Again making sure that Tess, Cayla, Loz and Shaneice they’re getting going, I think that is really important. What excited us about Paige is she understands the game, she has played a number of years but also played a role, she is a facilitator, her assists to turnover ratio is elite. How she was playing in the New Zealand league is she was scoring but she was running things for her players, she is great out of the pick and roll which is going to be vital with Cayla and how Cayla can pop.”
Emma Clarke played junior basketball for Perry Lakes Hawks in Western Australia. Clarke had a scholarship at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in 2017. At the 2017 FIBA Under 17 Women’s Oceania Championship held in Guam from July 10-15 Clarke was a member of the Australian Sapphires gold medal winning team. Clarke ranked third at the tournament for assists, fourth in points per game, equal seventh in rebounds and was recognised for her brilliant all-round performance with selection in the tournament’s All-Star Five for the 2017 FIBA Under 17 Women’s Oceania Championship.
Emma Clarke playing for the Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022
In 2020 Emma Clarke made her WNBL debut with Perth Lynx and played two seasons for the club which included being a member of the Perth team that made the 2021/22 WNBL Grand Final. Clarke joined the Sydney Flames in 2022/23 and played 20 games including six as a starter, averaging 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 16.9 minutes per game. Clarke ranked fifth for Sydney in rebounds per game and sixth for points. During Sydney’s first game at the 2023/24 River City Rebound tournament in Brisbane on 12 October Clarke scored a game-high 28 points and took a game-high 11 rebounds in a brilliant performance against Perth. Clarke made five of seven three pointers at an accuracy of 71.4% and in a scintillating third quarter was in video game mode to make seven of eight field goal attempts at a phenomenal accuracy of 87.5%, score 19 points, and take four rebounds.
Emma Clarke playing for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 5 March 2023
Clarke is a member of Australia’s 3×3 squad and earlier this year she made her 3×3 debut for national team in this format, the Australian Gangurrus. Clarke was a member of the Gangurrus team that finished second at two stops on the FIBA 3X3 Women’s Series 2023, Wuhan Stop in May and Yichang Stop in August. During the 2023 NBL1 West season Clarke played 17 games for the Perry Lake Hawks and averaged 19.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Among players that played at least five games Clarke ranked ninth for points per game.
In her debut WNBL season with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 2005/06 forward/centre Cayla George won the WNBL’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award. From her second WNBL season in 2006/07 to her 15th WNBL season in 2022/23 George has been incredibly consistent to average more than 8.0 rebounds per game in each season and averaged at least 12.5 points per game in 12 of 14 seasons. George has played in four WNBL Championships comprised of three for Townsville Fire in 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2017/18 along with one as the Melbourne Boomers captain in 2021/22 with current Sydney Flames teammate Tess Madgen a fellow starter.
Cayla George playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017
George is the only player to represent the Australian Opals at all five major championships from 2014 to 2022. At four of these five major championships George ranked in the top three for the Opals in rebounding with the exception being the 2016 Olympic Games. The Opals finished on the podium at all three World Cups during this time, winning the silver medal in 2018 and the bronze medal in 2014 and 2022. George played a significant role in the Opals defeating host nation Spain in the semi final at the 2018 World Cup. With scores tied at 64 apiece with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter George scored the next five points of the game comprised of two free-throws and a corner three to gain the ascendancy for the Opals who went on to win the semi final 72-66. George represented Australia at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games and was a member of the Opals gold medal winning team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Queensland. At the 2022 World Cup held in Sydney George ranked second for the Opals in rebounds per game and fifth in points. In October 2022, Cayla and her husband Kailou became parents to a daughter, Pearl.
Cayla George playing for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre in a pre-season game on 5 October 2019
Entering the 2022/23 season George had played 306 WNBL games and had set an incredibly high benchmark with her level of performance to earn All-WNBL selection four times in her career. Amazingly George raised the bar even higher during her 15th WNBL season in 2022/23 to deliver the best season of her phenomenal WNBL career and set new career-highs for points, assists and steals per game. As the Melbourne Boomers captain in 2022/23 George averaged 18.5 points (ranked 2nd in the WNBL), 11.3 rebounds (1st), 4.4 assists (10th), 1.7 steals (equal 9th), 1.1 blocked shots (3rd), and 36.9 minutes (1st) per game. George won the Suzy Batkovic Medal as league MVP, was selected in the All-WNBL First Team and was a joint winner along with Tiffany Mitchell of the Michele Timms medal for being the Boomers MVP.
Cayla George taking a rebound for Melbourne Boomers in the fourth quarter against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
Since debuting in the WNBL during the 2005/06 season George has played 15 of a possible 18 seasons. In the three Australian summers that George didn’t play in the WNBL she played in Europe, playing for French clubs Nantes Rezé and Pay d’Aix Basket in 2012/13 and 2013/14 respectively and played in a Hungarian Championship with Uniqa Sopron in 2016/17. In all three seasons playing in Europe George averaged more than 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. From 2015 to 2018 George spent three seasons playing in the WNBA. In 2015 and 2017 George played for Phoenix Mercury and was coached by fellow Australian and current Australian Opals head coach Sandy Brondello. George played one season for the Dallas Wings in 2018.
George returned to the WNBA to play for reigning champions Las Vegas Aces in 2023. George played 32 regular season games for Las Vegas who finished first in the 2023 standings with 34 wins and six losses. Las Vegas progressed to the WNBA Finals against second seeded New York Liberty who have Sandy Brondello as their Head Coach. The home side won the first three games of the WNBA Finals resulting in Las Vegas leading two games to one. Two of the Aces starters – point guard Chelsea Gray and centre Kiah Stokes each missed game 4 due to foot injuries. George had the first playoff start of her WNBA career in game 4. On the road against New York on 18 October in game 4 of the WNBA Finals George scored a WNBA playoff career-high 11 points, had 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a game-high 3 steals in the Aces 70-69 road victory. George became the 11th Australian to be part of a WNBA Championship winning team.
After signing a three year deal with the Sydney Flames Cayla George commented in an article published on wnbl.basketball on 8 June 2023 “Coming to Sydney, at this stage of my career, just felt right – especially getting the chance to play alongside Tess [Madgen], who is someone I’ve known since we were 13 years of age and she makes everyone around her better on and off the court. We’re both extremely excited to have the chance to play elite-level basketball together again in the WNBL, in a place like Sydney that is really trying to bridge that gap between men’s and women’s basketball in this country. I can’t wait to play in double-headers alongside the Kings at Qudos Bank Arena and do what I can to continue to build interest and those crowds at Flames games next season. Mix in the high-performance training facility being built at Auburn and there’s a lot of momentum around basketball in Sydney right now and I’m excited to be a part of that shift. Not only that but a big part of my decision was also based on what would give me the best preparation for selection for the Paris Olympic Games next year – to ensure I’m continuing to get better every time I step on the court and continuing to grow as a leader.”20
Tess Madgen grew up in Williamstown, a small town in the Barossa Valley, South Australia and played her junior basketball with the Eastern Mavericks. Guard 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. From 2008/09 to 2015/16 Madgen played eight consecutive WNBL seasons. After graduating from the AIS Madgen played two seasons for Bendigo Spirit in 2010/11 and 2011/12 followed by four seasons for the Melbourne Boomers from 2012/13 (when they were known as Bulleen) to 2015/16. In all six seasons from 2010/11 to 2015/16 Madgen averaged more than 13.5 points per game including three seasons from 2013/14 onwards with current interim Sydney Flames Head Coach Guy Molloy as the Boomers Head Coach. In 2014/15 playing predominantly as a point guard for Melbourne Madgen excelled to average 16.0 points (ranked 8th in the WNBL), 4.8 assists (2nd) and 1.7 three-pointers made (6th) per game to earn selection in All-WNBL First team.
Tess Madgen playing for Melbourne Boomers against SEQ Stars at the State Basketball Centre on 8 November 2015
In 2015 Madgen had a short stint in the WNBA playing eight games with Phoenix Mercury alongside current Sydney teammate Cayla George with current Australian Opals Head Coach 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.
Madgen returned to the WNBL in 2018/19 and played two seasons for Townsville Fire followed by three seasons for the Melbourne Boomers. Playing mainly as a point guard for the Melbourne Boomers in the 2020 WNBL season Madgen averaged 6.2 assists per game to rank second in the WNBL in this category. In the 2020 WNBL season Madgen averaged more than 13.0 points per game for the seventh time of her career to earn selection in the All-WNBL second team. In 2021/22 with Molloy as the Head Coach, Madgen and George were starters on the Boomers team that won the 2021/22 WNBL Championship. Due to a knee injury Madgen was restricted to just one game for the Melbourne Boomers in the 2022/23 WNBL season.
Tess Madgen playing for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
At the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championships against New Zealand Madgen made her Australian Opals debut. Madgen made her major championships debut as part of the Australian Opals silver medal winning team at the 2018 World Cup in Spain. Madgen has represented Australia at three consecutive major championships, also playing for the Opals at the 2020 Olympic Games and World Cup 2022. Madgen was the captain of the bronze medal winning Opals team at the 2022 World Cup held in Sydney and ranked third for Australia with 2.9 assists per game. At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney Madgen made a successful return from her knee injury as captain of the bronze medal winning Opals. At the tournament Madgen averaged 8.7 points (ranked 5th for the Opals), 4.0 assists (2nd), 1.3 steals (2nd) and 23.6 minutes (2nd) per game.
After joining Northern Kahu mid-season in the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand Madgen set a single game scoring record for the Tauihi league in the final round of the 2023 regular season with 37 points. Madgen was a member of Northern Kahu’s 2023 Tauihi championship winning team. In the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Australian Opals captain Madgen will be playing her 14th season in the league and first for the Sydney Flames.
Lara McSpadden played junior basketball club for the Newcastle Hunters in New South Wales, she has also represented the Hunters at senior level in the Waratah League including in 2019. McSpadden was a member of the Australian Sapphires team that won a gold medal at the 2016 Under-17 FIBA World Championships held in Zaragoza, Spain. At the 2019 World University Games McSpadden was a member of the Emerging Opals team that won the gold medal, defeating the United States of America 80-72 in the final.
Lara McSpadden playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
At 17 years of age McSpadden made her WNBL debut in 2016/17 with the Sydney Uni Flames and in her debut season was a member of the club’s WNBL Championship winning team alongside current Sydney teammate Lauren Nicholson. McSpadden played her first four WNBL seasons from 2016/17 to 2019/20 with Sydney. In 2018/19 McSpadden played all 21 games for Sydney and averaged 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. From 2020 to 2022/23 McSpadden played three seasons for JCU Townsville Fire with Nicholson as a teammate, culminating in winning the Championship in the latter season. Playing off the bench for Townsville in 2022/23 McSpadden averaged 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 9.3 minutes per game. Throughout 2022/23 McSpadden shot the ball efficiently to make 32 of her 50 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 64% – ranked second in the league among players that had at least 10 attempts.
Lara McSpadden playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 7 December 2022
The 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season will be McSpadden’s eighth season overall and fifth for Sydney. During Sydney’s second game at the 2023/24 River City Rebound tournament in Brisbane on 14 October McSpadden scored 29 points and took 22 rebounds to set game-highs in both categories to play a critical role in Sydney’s 72-69 victory against Adelaide. McSpadden shot at 50% from the field and made seven of eight free throws at an accuracy of 87.5%.
Lauren Nicholson commenced her junior basketball career with the Sutherland Sharks in New South Wales. 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. During a 110 game career with St Mary’s Nicholson averaged 12.5 points per game and was named in the All-West Coast Conference First-team in 2014/15 and 2015/16.
Lauren Nicholson playing for Sydney Uni Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 5 February 2017
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. 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.
Lauren Nicholson playing defense for Adelaide Lightning against Dandenong Rangers at Traralgon Basketball Stadium on 24 November 2018
For the 2020 WNBL season Nicholson signed as a marquee player with JCU Townsville Fire. Nicholson ranked second in the WNBL with 18.9 points per game in 2020 and also ranked in the league’s top 10 for minutes played, free-throws made and steals, leading Townsville in all four categories. 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. In 2021/22 Nicholson was limited to playing 12 games for Townsville in 2021/22 due to suffering a season ending ankle injury in the third quarter of a road game against the University of Canberra Capitals on 19 February 2022. As the captain of JCU Townsville Fire’s 2022/23 WNBL Championship winning team Nicholson averaged 15.2 points per game, had an accuracy of 50% for three-pointers – ranked third in the league among players that had at least 10 attempts and was selected in the All-WNBL Second Team.
Lauren Nicholson playing for Townsville Fire being against Southside Flyers in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March 2023
At international level Nicholson has been a member of the Australian Opals team that has won a bronze medal at three consecutive Asia Cups – 2019, 2021 and 2023 with the latter tournament having been held in Sydney. At the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in Jordan Nicholson started for the Opals in all six games, ranked second for Opals in minutes played and sixth for scoring.
In 2022 Nicholson returned to represent her junior club Sutherland Sharks at senior level in the inaugural NBL1 East season. Playing for Sutherland in 2022 and 2023 Nicholson averaged more than 25.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game in each season Nicholson won the NBL1 East’s Women’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and earnt selection in the NBL1 East All-Star Five in both seasons.
Vanessa Panousis grew up in Sydney and her junior basketball association was the Sydney Comets. At 17 years of age Panousis played two WNBL games as a development player for the Sydney Flames in 2012/13. Panousis was the captain of the Australian Sapphires team that finished fifth at the 2012 FIBA Under 17 Women’s World Championship for Women. Guard Panousis was a member of the Australian Gems that won a bronze medal at the 2013 FIBA Under 19 World Championship for Women and was teammates with Tiana Mangakahia. From 2013/14 to 2016/17 Panousis played four seasons of college basketball for Virginia Tech. During her college career with Virginia Tech Panousis played 127 games and averaged 10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Vanessa Panousis playing for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 5 March 2023
During the 2017/18 WNBL season Panousis was a member of Adelaide Lightning’s core rotation and played all 21 games. 2023/24 will be Panousis’ second consecutive season and third season overall on the Flames main roster, having also played for the club in 2018/19. Panousis played 20 games for Sydney in 2022/23 and ranked fourth at the club for total three-pointers made. In a four game stretch from 4 February to 26 February Panousis scored at least eight points in each game and made 11 of 24 three-pointers at an accuracy of 45.8%. In a road game against Southside Flyers on 4 February at John Cain Arena Panousis scored a season-high 15 points at a field goal accuracy of 54.5% in the Flames one point win. Earlier this year Panousis returned to her junior club to represent the Sydney Comets in the 2023 NBL1 East season. Panousis averaged 22.3 points per game for the Comets to rank fifth in the league for scoring.
Vanessa Panousis playing for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 5 March 2023
During a four season college career from 2017/18 to 2020/21 guard/forward DiDi Richards played 131 games with Baylor University Lady Bears. Richards was a starter on Baylor’s team which won the 2019 NCAA Women’s Tournament, defeating Notre Dame 82-81 in the final. Richards was named the 2019/20 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
At the 2021 WNBA Draft New York Liberty selected Didi Richards with pick 17. In her rookie WNBA season Richards played 31 regular season games for New York and was selected on the 2021 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Hampered by hamstring injuries Richards played 14 regular season games for the Liberty in 2022 and Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello was New York’s Head Coach. After playing two WNBA pre-season games in 2023 New York waived Richards.
Sydney Flames president Victoria Denholm commented on Richards to WNBL Media ““Didi is an incredible athlete, who’s proven she can bounce back, and we’re excited to see her play her first international stop in Sydney. She’s versatile and has the ability to play multiple positions which fits well with what we’re trying to do on the court. Off the court, everyone we’ve spoken to raves about her including Opals coach Sandy Brondello and we’re so excited to have her in the program.”21
At the under 17 World Championships held in Spain during June and July 2016 Kiera Rowe was a member of the Australian Sapphires team that won a gold medal. Kiera played all six games at the World Championships, ranking fifth for the Sapphires for points and rebounds per game and fourth for minutes played. Rowe also represented the Australian Gems at the under 19 World Championships in 2017. At 18 years of age Kiera Rowe made her WNBL with the Dandenong Rangers in the opening game of the 2017/18 season against the Melbourne Boomers. From 2017/18 to 2019/20 Rowe played a total of 57 games for the WNBL’s Dandenong based club with the Dandenong Rangers being rebranded as the Southside Flyers in July 2019. In her debut season Rowe finished third in the WNBL’s 2017/18 Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award.
Kiera Rowe playing defense for Dandenong Rangers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 30 December 2017
Rowe joined the Sydney Flames in 2020 and is playing her seventh consecutive season in the WNBL in 2023/24 and fourth in a row for Sydney. Rowe started 15 of Sydney’s 17 games in 2021/22, averaged 27.5 minutes per game and was nominated for the WNBL’s 2021/22 Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award. In 2022/23 Rowe played all 21 games for Sydney and started nine games. Late in the season Rowe played increased court-time, in Sydney’s penultimate game of the season on 26 February Rowe scored nine points and made six assists in a road game against Townsville.
Kiera Rowe playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
Shaneice Swain was born and raised in Cairns, North Queensland. After playing junior basketball at the Cairns Basketball Association Swain represented Queensland North at Australian Junior Championships from 2017 to 2019. As a bottom-age player for the Queensland North under 18’s team at the 2019 Australian Junior Championships Swain ranked first at the tournament with 25.8 points per game and ranked in the top five for three-pointers made and steals per game. At 16 years of age Swain suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury. After spending considerable time on the sidelines and completing the rehabilitation process Swain played for the BA CoE at senior level during the 2021 Waratah league season. Swain was a starter on the Australian Gems silver medal winning team at the 2021 FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup held in Hungary. Swain ranked second for the Gems in steals, fourth in scoring and assists and fifth for minutes played per game.
Shaneice Swain playing for UC Capitals against the Deakin Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
During the 2021/22 season Swain made her WNBL debut, playing five games for University of Canberra Capitals. After playing less than 45 minutes court-time throughout the 2021/22 WNBL season Swain had a breakout 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season playing 18 games for the UC Capitals including 13 as a starter. In 2022/23 Swain ranked fourth in the WNBL for steals per game and in the top 15 for three-pointers made, field goals made and points per game. Swain scored more than 20 points in five of her last 10 games of the 2022/23 WNBL season with the UC Capitals and was selected by Los Angeles Sparks with pick 14 at the 2023 WNBA Draft.
Shaneice Swain playing for University of Canberra Capitals against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
In addition to representing Cairns as a junior Swain has also represented the Cairns Dolphins at senior level in state leagues, having played for Cairns in the 2019 Queensland Basketball League season and the 2023 NBL1 North season. During the 2023 NBL1 North season Swain played 17 games for Cairns Dolphins, led the club with 19.5 points per game and ranked second with 4.4 assists. Swain made her Australian Opals debut during a five game tour of China in late August and early September 2023 against the Chinese national women’s team.
On 11 October 2023 the Sydney Flames announced that “Shaneice Swain, fresh off making her Australian Opals debut in China, will be sidelined for an extended period due to a stress fracture in her foot.”22
Sydney Flames injury replacement player profile
Guard Ahlise Hurst has been signed by the Sydney Flames as a development player but will commence the 2023/24 WNBL season as an injury replacement player for Shaneice Swain. As a development player for Bendigo Spirit in 2017/18 Hurst played nine WNBL games.
In the 2023 Tauihi season in New Zealand Hurst was a teammate of fellow Sydney Flames guard Paige Bradley at Southern Hoiho. Hurst played 13 games for Southern Hoiho and averaged 18.6 points (ranked 7th in the Tauihi league) and 1.2 steals per game.
Sydney Flames Interim Head Coach profile
On 18 April 2023 the Sydney Flames announced that Guy Molloy had been appointed interim head coach. Molloy has 14 seasons experience as a Head Coach in the WNBL and returns to the league after having coaching commitments in New Zealand during the 2022/23 WNBL season. Molloy coached the Canberra Capitals for one season in 1989 and the WAIS Breakers (now known as Perth Lynx) for four seasons from 1993 to 1996. Molloy was Head Coach of the Deakin Melbourne Boomers for nine consecutive seasons from 2013/14 to 2021/22 and during this time coached Sydney off-season recruits Madgen and George for five seasons and four seasons respectively. With Molloy as Head Coach and George and Madgen as starters the Boomers won the 2021/22 WNBL Championship. After being defeated by Perth in game the Boomers won game 2 on the road by one point and game 3 at home in convincing fashion to win the title.
Guy Molloy and Melbourne Boomers players during a time out in the game against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
In addition to coaching in the WNBL Molloy has experience coaching the Cairns Taipans in the NBL from 2001 to 2005, coaching the under 17 Australian men’s team, the New Zealand national women’s team and has coached men’s teams during the 2022 and 2023 New Zealand NBL seasons. Molloy has been the head coach of the New Zealand Tall Ferns since 2018. In April 2018 the Tall Ferns won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Queensland. At the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney New Zealand finished fourth to progress to a FIBA Olympics Qualifying Tournament 2024 to be held in China in February.
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
JCU Townsville Fire 2023/24 main roster – 9 players^
Returning (4): Zitina Aokuso, Steph Reid, Mikaela Ruef, Courtney Woods
Arrivals (5): Cassandra Brown* (Mt Gambier Pioneers), Alice Kunek (Sopron Basket – Hungary), Jessica McDowell-White (Southern Districts Spartans – NBL1 North), Saffron Shiels (BA Centre of Excellence – NBL1 East), Sami Whitcomb (Perth Lynx)
Departed (8): Tianna Hawkins* (injured), Shyla Heal (AZS UMCS Lublin – Poland), Kate Gaze (pregnancy), Krystal Leger-Walker, Lara McSpadden (Sydney Flames), Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames), Karlie Samuelson (London Lions – England), Morgan Yaeger
2023/24 Head Coach: Shannon Seebohm will be having his fifth consecutive season as the Head Coach of JCU Townsville Fire in 2023/24, having commenced the role in 2019/20.
WNBL
No. Player Position Date of birth games
4 Jessica McDowell-White Guard 23/08/2000 0
3 Steph Reid Guard 22/07/1996 62
2 Saffron Shiels Guard 18/01/2006 0
17 Sami Whitcomb Guard 20/07/1988 117
7 Courtney Woods Guard 24/03/1997 54
22 Cassandra Brown* Forward 16/06/1992 0
1 Alice Kunek Forward 06/01/1991 220
15 Zitina Aokuso Forward/ Centre 23/11/1998 87
33 Mikaela Ruef Forward/ Centre 20/10/1990 118
* =Import
JCU Townsville Fire Development players – 2 players
No. Player Position Date of Birth
0 Indiah Bowyer Guard 16/04/2003
14 Ella Tofaeono Centre 11/03/1998
^ Note that Townsville had completed their 10 player main roster but on 30 October stated that “The Townsville Fire wish to announce that Tianna Hawkins will not be joining the team for the upcoming 2023/24 WNBL season due to injury. We wish Tianna all the best in her recovery.”23 With Hawkins being unable to play due to injury JCU Townsville Fire are down to nine players on their main roster currently.
Two starters – Steph Reid and Mikaela Ruef from JCU Townsville Fire’s 2022/23 WNBL Championship team are suiting up for the club again in 2023/24. Core rotation members Courtney Woods and Zitina Aokusu who each averaged more than 16.0 minutes each per game in 2022/23 have also returned.
Nine games into the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Townsville had a record of five wins and four losses and few people would have predicted what was about to unfold. For the remainder of the season Townsville were an unstoppable force and won their last 12 games of the regular season. In the process Townsville set a new club record for the longest winning sequence in the club’s history. Townsville had their best regular season of all-time to record a winning ratio of 80.1%. Townsville’s dominant late regular season form carried over to the finals and they swept the semi final series against Perth and Grand Final against Southside two game to nil to increase their winning streak to 16 games and won the 2022/23 WNBL Championship in convincing fashion.
JCU Townsville Fire players and staff with the WNBL Championship trophy after defeating Southside Flyers in game 2 of the WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 Match 2023
In just his sixth season as a WNBL Head Coach Shannon Seebohm won the WNBL’s Coach of the Year Award for the third time and was Head Coach of a WNBL Championship winning team for the first time. With incredible results like this it no surprise that in the off-season Townsville extended Seebohm’s contract by three years until the end of the 2026/27 season
Four players that averaged more than 20 minutes per game and played more than 10 games for Townsville in 2022/23 will not be suiting up for the club in 2023/24 – three starters, Tianna Hawkins, Lauren Nicholson and Karlie Samuelson along with guard Shyla Heal. In the off-season two Townsville players joined WNBL rival Sydney Flames – Nicholson and Lara McSpadden. Samuelson joined English club London Lions and Heal is playing in Poland for AZS UMCS Lublin. Guard Kate Gaze had signed with Townsville for 2023/24 and will continue to have a role with JCU Townsville Fire but it will now be off the court rather than on it. An article published by the Fire on 5 July 2023 stated:
“The JCU Townsville Fire are so excited for Fire legend Kate Gaze and her partner Jeff about the announcement they are expecting their first child in December. This does mean Kate will not take part in the 2023/24 season on the court, but we are so happy to announce she will remain apart of the club and has taken a role within the administration.”24
American import Hawkins was brilliant for JCU Townsville Fire throughout the 2022/23 regular season, averaging 17.2 points (ranked 5th in the WNBL), 8.1 rebounds (6th), 2.0 steals (3rd), 0.6 blocked shots (equal 10th) and 30.8 minutes (equal 17th) per game. For her brilliant season Hawkins was named in the 2022/23 All-WNBL First Team, won the Rachel Sporn Medal as Grand Final Most Valuable Player (MVP) and also won JCU Townsville Fire’s MVP Award.
Tianna Hawkins playing for JCU Townsville Fire in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March
In the off-season Townsville recruited two Australian Opals – guard Sami Whitcomb and forward Alice Kunek. Playing for the Opals this duo have both earnt selection in a FIBA Women’s Asia Cup All-Star five with Whitcomb earning this honour at the 2021 Asia Cup in Jordan and Kunek earning selection at Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney with Townsville Head Coach Seebohm as the Australian Opals Head Coach. Two players on Townsville’s 2023/24 roster earnt All-WNBL selection in their most recent WNBL season. Whitcomb playing for Perth earnt All-WNBL First team selection in the 2022/23 season and in Kunek’s most recent WNBL season with Sydney Flames in 2019/20 she was named in the All-WNBL Second team. In 2022/23 Whitcomb ranked third in the WNBL for points per game and Reid ranked second for assists per game. Point guard Reid and shooting guard Whitcomb joining forces in Townsville’s backcourt will maximise their respective strengths and be a difficult prospect for opposition teams to contain.
Two point guards will make their WNBL debuts with Townsville Fire in 2023/24 – Jessica McDowell-White and Saffron Shiels. Playing for Southern Districts Spartans McDowell-White averaged 6.9 assists per game to rank fifth in NBL1 North. At 17 years of age Shiels is the youngest player on a WNBL main roster for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Playing for the Australian Sapphires at the FIBA Women’s Under 17 Oceania Championship 2023 Shiels earnt selection in the tournament’s All-Star Five. Shiels made her Australian Opals debut during a five game tour of China in late August and early September against the Chinese national women’s team. Shiels was one of four Townville players that represented the Opals on the tour along with Aokuso, Kunek and Reid.
Canadian forward Cassandra Brown makes her WNBL debut in 2023/24 after playing for Mount Gambier in the 2022 and 2023 NBL1 South seasons. In the latter season Brown was teammates with fellow Townsville frontcourt player Aokuso.
Hawkins was a major part of Townsville’s planning and her missing the season due to injury increases the degree of difficulty to win back to back WNBL Championship. JCU Townsville Fire are searching for a replacement import to fill a position in the frontcourt. A spot in the Fire’s starting line-up alongside Reid, Whitcomb, Kunek and Ruef opens up. Townsville would ideally like to fill this spot with another import. Highlighting Townsville’s depth they have another two frontcourt players on their roster with international experience – Aokuso for Australia and Brown for Canada that can take on more prominent roles.
Townsville Fire player profiles
Zitina Aokusu will be on Townsville Fire’s roster for the seventh season in a row in the upcoming 2023/24 season, having made her league debut with the team in 2017/18. Among players on a 2023/24 main roster Aokuso ranks first for most consecutive seasons on the roster of their current team.
Zitina Aokuso was born in Penrith, New South Wales and is from a large Samoan family, being the second youngest of eight children. Growing up Zitina’s primary sport to play was volleyball, she commenced her junior basketball career at around 15 years of age with her high school team at Runcorn High School in Brisbane, Queensland. Aokuso rapidly progressed through the basketball ranks and attended the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra and played for the BA CoE in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 2016 and 2017. As a junior Aokuso represented Australia at several tournaments including at the 2016 under 18 Oceania Championships where she was a member of the Australian Gems gold medal winning team and was named the MVP of the Gold Medal game against New Zealand.
Zitina Aokuso shooting a free throw for Townsville Fire against Dandenong Rangers at Dandenong Stadium on 13 January 2019
Aokuso made her WNBL debut at 18 years of age with Townsville Fire in their championship winning 2017/18 season. After playing limited game-time in her debut season Aokuso impressed with her athleticism as a member of Townsville’s core rotation and averaged 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a power forward/centre off the bench in 2018/19. Three weeks before the 2019/20 season commenced Aokuso injured her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and required a knee reconstruction which ruled her out for the season.
Zitina Aokuso playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
Playing off the bench Aokuso made an impact for Townsville in 2020 to WNBL’s top 10 for field goal accuracy and top 20 for rebounds per game to contribute to Townsville making the Grand Final. Aokuso won the WNBL’s 2020 Sixth Woman of the Year Award. During the 2021/22 WNBL season Aokuso played all 17 games for Townsville including 14 as a starter and ranked 12th in the WNBL for rebounds per game and equal 10th for blocked shots – leading Townsville in both categories. Aokuso suffered a foot injury early in the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season and 18 of a possible 25 games for the club. Aokuso was a member of Townsville’s 2022/23 WNBL Championship winning team.
Zitina Aokuso playing for JCU Townsville Fire in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March
At the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in Amman, Jordan from 27 September to 3 October 2021 Aokuso made her Australian Opals debut and was a member of the Opals starting line-up for all six games. At the tournament Aokuso ranked fourth for the bronze medal winning Australian Opals with 4.8 rebounds per game. Aokuso was a member of the Opals team for a five game tour against the Chinese national women’s team in late August and early September 2023.
Canadian import forward Cassandra Brown makes her WNBL debut with JCU Townsville Fire in 2023/24. Brown has represented Canada at junior and senior level. Brown was a member of the Canadian team that won a bronze medal at the FIBA Women’s Under 18 America’s Championship 2010. At the 2019 Pan American games Brown played all four games for Canada. Throughout her career Brown has played in several European leagues. In 2016/17 and 2018/19 Brown played 25 games in each season for Greek club Dafni Agioy and averaged more than 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in both seasons.
Brown has played the past two NBL1 South seasons with Mt Gambier Pioneers and in 2023 was teammates with fellow Townsville Fire frontcourt player Zitina Aokuso. Against Gelong United Brown put on a long range shooting exhibition to make 11 of 15 three-pointers at an accuracy of 73.3%, scored 39 points and took seven rebounds in Mount Gambier’s home victory on 23 June 2023 at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre. In the 2022 and 2023 NBL1 South seasons Brown averaged more than 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the Pioneers.
Alice Kunek made her WNBL debut with the Australia Institute of Sport in 2007/08 and played three seasons for the AIS followed by three seasons for the Bulleen (now known as Melbourne) Boomers. In 2010/11 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.
Alice Kunek playing for Perth Lynx against Townsville Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017
From 2013/14 to 2017/18 Kunek played two seasons for Dandenong Rangers, followed by two seasons for Melbourne Boomers and concluded by playing the 2017/18 season for Perth Lynx alongside current Townsville teammate Sami Whitcomb. Inall five seasons Kunek averaged more than 11.5 points per game. 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 to earn selection on the All-WNBL Second team. Among players that played at least five games for the season Kunek ranked second in the WNBL for points per game and 17th for assists.
Alice Kunek playing for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 30 November 2019
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.
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 that won a thrilling third place game against the Ukraine 18-17 to win the bronze medal and finish on the podium. Kunek has also won medals at several tournaments playing for the Australian Opals including the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Kunek was a member of the Opals team that won a silver medal at Asia Cup 2017. Earlier this year Kunek was recalled to the Opals team and made a significant impact at Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney with Townsville Fire Head Coach Shannon Seebohm as the Opals Head Coach. Kunek led the bronze medal winning Opals with 12.0 points per game and 1.8 three-pointers made per game to earn selection in the tournament’s All-Star 5.
Forward Alice Kunek has played 220 WNBL games and has signed with JCU Townsville Fire in 2023/24, returning to the league for her first season since 2019/20. 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.
Alice Kunek playing defense for Melbourne Boomers against Perth Lynx against at the State Basketball Centre on 5 December 2015
Point guard Jessica McDowell-White was a member of Australia’s gold medal winning team at the FIBA Under 17 Women’s Championship 2017 held in Guam and ranked fourth at the tournament with 4.2 assists per game. McDowell-White played two college seasons with Eastern Washington for two seasons from 2018/19 to 2019/20 followed by three seasons for University of San Francisco from 2020/21 to 2022/23. In her last two seasons of college basketball for University of San Francisco McDowell-White started all 65 games that she played across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons and averaged more than 3.5 assists per game to lead her team for total assists in both seasons.
After playing five season of college basketball career in the USA point guard Jessica McDowell-Whitehas returned to Australia played in the NBL1 South Conference for Southern Districts Spartans. McDowell-White started 14 games for Southern Districts Spartans in NBL1 North in 2023 and averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 assists per game to rank fifth in the conference in the latter category among players that played at least five games.
Steph Reid grew up on the Mornington Peninsula in Mount Eliza, Victoria, started playing basketball at five years of age with the Frankston Blues, progressed through the entire junior pathway at Frankston and later represented the club at senior level. Although Reid regularly made junior Vic Metro squads of 25 players she never made the final Vic Metro team and was told she was too small and wasn’t athletic enough.
From 2014/15 to 2017/18 Reid spent four seasons playing College basketball in the USA with University of Buffalo. In overtime of the Mid-American Conference championship game on 12 March 2016 Reid made a banked buzzer-beating two point field goal to break a tie and secure eighth seeds University of Buffalo a 73-71 win over second seeds Central Michigan in dramatic fashion. The number eight seeded University of Buffalo became the lowest seed to ever win the Mid-American Conference Women’s tournament. It was the first time that Buffalo had won the tournament in their history, Reid was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Reid ended her college career ranked first on the Buffalo Bulls all-time list for career assists.
After graduating from the University of Buffalo Reid returned to the Frankston Blues and represented the club at senior level in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 2018 and in the NBL1 during the league’s inaugural season in 2019. In an NBL1 game for the Frankston Blues in May 2019 Reid set a new league record, scoring 50 points against Launceston Tornadoes in a home game, making 19 of 25 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 76% and was even more impressive from long range, making seven of eight three-pointers at an accuracy of 87.5%.
Steph Reid shooting a free-throw for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 5 October 2019
Reid made her WNBL debut as a development player with the Dandenong Rangers in 2018/19 and played limited minutes in seven games across her first two WNBL seasons for the Dandenong based club who were re-branded as the Southside Flyers in 2019/20. In 2020 Reid joined JCU Townsville Fire as a main roster player. Playing as a back-up point guard Reid was a member of the JCU Townsville team that made the 2020 WNBL Grand Final and were defeated by the Southside Flyers. Due to injuries to her Townsville Fire teammates Reid took on more responsibility in the second half of the 2021/22 WNBL season and after playing over 30 minutes court-time in just one of Townsville’s first nine games of the season played over 30 minutes in each of the Fire’s last eight games of the season. Reid was one of the revelations of the 2021/22 WNBL season, ranked equal fourth in the league for assists per game, won Townsville’s Most Valuable Player Award and was nominated for the WNBL’s Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award.
During the 2022/23 regular season Steph Reid led the WNBL for assists per game, ranked equal fourth for steals and eighth for free-throws made. Reid won the league’s 2022/23 Golden Hands Award and was a nominee for the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second consecutive season. Reid received the WNBL’s 2022/23 Cygnett Community Award, being recognised for her work in the Community, including with Brighter Lives which is the official charity partner of Townsville Hospital and Health Service. Reid displayed composure and skill during the 2022/23 final series to lead her team in scoring in two of Townsville’s four finals, scoring a game-high 24 points in game 1 of the semi final series against Perth and a team-high 20 points in game 2 of the Grand Final series against Southside Flyers.
Steph Reid shooting a jump shot for JCU Townsville Fire against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 10 December 2022
Playing for Townsville Flames Reid earnt NBL1 North All-Star Five selection in 2022 and 2023. In 2022 Townsville Flames defeated the previously undefeated Logan Thunder two games to nil in the 2022 NBL1 North Grand Final to win the Championship. Reid won the Grand Final MVP Award after averaging 24.5 points and 9.5 assists per game in the Grand Final series. In the 2023 NBL1 season Reid played 11 games for Townsville Flames and averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists (ranked 2nd in NBL1 North) and 2.4 steals per game. Reid made her Opals debut during a three-game friendly series against Japan held in New South Wales in late May 2022. Reid was a member of the Opals team for a five game tour against the Chinese national women’s team in late August and early September 2023.
Steph Reid playing for Townsville Flames against Albury Wodonga Bandits at the State Basketball Centre on 10 September 2022 in the NBL1 National Finals
Mikaela Ruef was born and grew up in Dayton, Ohio, United States of America. From 2009/10 to 2013/14 Ruef played 133 games of College basketball for Stanford University including 65 as a starter. During 2013/14 Ruef averaged 7.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, setting new career-highs in both categories. Stanford made the NCAA Final Four four times in Ruef’s five seasons including a runner-up finish in 2009/10.
Ruef commenced her WNBL career as an American import with current Townsville Fire Head Coach Shannon Seebohm as her head coach at the Sydney Uni Flames in 2014/15. In both the 2015/16 WNBL season with Adelaide Lightning and 2016/17 season with the UC Capitals Ruef averaged a double-double. In each of her first three WNBL seasons Ruef ranked in the league’s top five for rebounds per game, being sixth in 2014/15 (7.8 rebounds per game), second in 2015/16 (11.8) and first in 2016/17 (11.0). After becoming a permanent Australian resident Ruef played the 2020 and 2021/22 WNBL seasons with the University of Canberra Capitals. In 2021/22 Ruef averaged 9.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 22.9 minutes per game. Ruef ranked 10th in the league for rebounds per game and was the only player in the top 10 that averaged less than 27 minutes per game.
Mikaela Ruef shooting a free throw for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 17 December 2016
Power forward/centre Mikaela Ruef started all 25 games for Townsville in 2022/23 with Seebohm as Head Coach and averaged 9.4 rebounds per game in 2022/23 which ranked fourth in the WNBL among players that played at least five games. Ruef recorded eight double-doubles including 26 points and 12 rebounds in a road victory against the Sydney Flames on 15 January to set game-highs in both categories.
Mikaela Ruef playing for JCU Townsville Fire in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March
During 2017/18 playing for Toulouse in France Ruef ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). In her return season to basketball after the knee injury Ruef was exceptional for Logan Thunder in the 2019 Queensland Basketball League season, leading the QBL with 19.6 rebounds per game and won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. Ruef’s performances for Logan Thunder from 2021 to 2023 earnt her selection in the NBL1 North All-Star Five in all three seasons. Ruef was a member of the Logan Thunder team that won the 2021 NBL1 North Grand Final series against Southern District Spartans two games to nil. In 2023 Ruef played 16 games for Logan Thunder and averaged 23.1 points (ranked 7th in NBL1 North), 22.6 rebounds (ranked 1st) and 5.0 assists per game. In 2023/24 Ruef will be playing her seventh WNBL season overall and second consecutive season for JCU Townsville Fire.
Mikaela Ruef taking a rebound for JCU Townsville Fire in game 2 of the 2022/23 WNBL Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March
At the FIBA Under 16 Women’s Asian Championship 2022 point guard Saffron Shiels averaged 11.0 points, (ranked equal second for the Sapphires), 7.7 rebounds (2nd), 5.0 assists (1st) and 25.8 minutes (3rd) per game. In 2023 Shiels represented the Australian Gems at the FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup 2023 held in Spain in July and the Australian Sapphires at the FIBA Women’s Under 17 Oceania Championship 2023. Shiels excelled at the Oceania Championship for the gold medal winning Sapphires to average 19.5 points (ranked 2nd at the tournament), 8.5 rebounds (4th) and 2.8 (4th) assists per game to earn selection in the tournament’s All-Star Five.
At senior level Shiels played 14 games for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence during the 2023 NBL1 East season. Later in 2023 Shiels made her Australian Opals debut during a five game tour of China in late August and early September against the Chinese national women’s team. Shiels was one of Townsville Fire players on the team along with fellow point guard Steph Reid, Alice Kunek and Zitina Aokuso. At 17 years of age Shiels is the youngest player on a main roster for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. At 188 centimetres tall Shiels is very tall for a point guard. In Townsville’s second game of the 2023/24 WNBL pre-season River City Rebound tournament Shiels took a team-high nine rebounds.
During three seasons with Townsville Fire from 2020 to 2022/23 shooting guard Courtney Woods has predominantly started on the bench but has proven that she can be very effective when required to start. After playing limited minutes early in the 2021/22 WNBL season Woods relished the opportunity as a starter for Townsville late in the season to be Townsville’s leading scorer in four consecutive games. With Townsville hit by injuries Woods started both of the Fire’s Round 13 road games in 2022/23 against Perth last season and scored at least 20 points in each game whilst shooting a combined 16 of 26 from the field at an accuracy of 51.5% to earn selection in the WNBL’s Round 13 Team of the Week. Woods was a member of Townsville’s 2022/23 Championship winning team, played 24 games for the season, had a field goal accuracy of 49.2% and averaged 6.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 19.7 minutes per game.
Courtney Woods playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
During the 2022 NBL1 North season Woods playing for Townsville Flames, averaged 23.3 points per game – ranked fifth in the conference. Woods was a starter on the Townsville Flames team that won the 2022 NBL1 North Championship. Playing in the unfamiliar role of a point guard during the 2023 NBL1 North season with Northside Wizards Woods excelled to average 24.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game to win the conference’s Most Valuable Player Award. Among players that played at least five games Woods led NBL1 West in scoring and ranked sixth for assists. Northside had 16 wins and three losses during their regular season to finish on top of the ladder. The Wizards defeated Rockhampton Cyclones two games to nil in the Grand Final series to win the NBL1 North Championship and Woods won the Grand Final MVP Award. In Northside’s 70-59 game 2 victory Woods made three of six three pointers at an accuracy of 50%, scored a game-high 23 points, made a game-high 10 assists and had seven rebounds in a brilliant all-round performance. Incredibly Woods has played on a championship winning team in three consecutive basketball seasons, having won the 2022 NBL1 North Championship with Townsville Flames, the 2022/23 WNBL Championship with JCU Townsville Fire and the 2023 NBL1 North Championship with the Northside Wizards.
Courtney Woods shooting a free-throw for Townsville Flames against Albury Wodonga Bandits at the State Basketball Centre on 10 February 2022
Sami Whitcomb was born and raised in California in the United States of America. Without previous WNBA experience Whitcomb commenced her amazing Australian basketball journey playing as an import in the West Australian State Basketball League for the Rockingham Flames in 2013. Whitcomb excelled for the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League in Western Australia from 2013 to 2015. Whitcomb was named in the league’s All-Star five and won the Most Valuable Player Award in all three seasons from 2013 to 2015. The Flames won the state championship in 2014 and 2015 with Whitcomb winning the Grand Final MVP award in each season.
In May 2015 Whitcomb signed as an import to play with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL. Whitcomb playing as a shooting guard made a total of 201 three-pointers across her first two WNBL seasons in 2015/16 and 2016/17, setting a league single season record for most three-pointers made with 105 in 2016/17. In each of Whitcomb’s first three seasons from 2015/16 to 2017/18 she earnt selection in the All-WNBL First team and led the league for steals and three-pointers made per game. Whitcomb finished third in the 2015/16 MVP Award and was runner-up in 2016/17, averaging more than 19.0 points per game in each season.
Sami Whitcomb shooting a three-pointer for Perth Lynx against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017
Phenomenal performances for the Perth Lynx in the WNBL contributed to Whitcomb making her WNBA debut with Seattle Storm in 2017, seven years after going undrafted at the 2010 WNBA draft. In four seasons with Seattle from 2017 to 2020 Whitcomb was a member of the Storm’s core rotation and ranked in the WNBA’s top 25 for three-pointers made in three regular seasons. Whitcomb was a member of Seattle’s 2018 and 2020 WNBA Championship winning teams. Playing as a starter for New York Liberty Whitcomb made 76 of 179 three-pointers during the 2021 regular season at a WNBA career best accuracy of 42.5% to rank second in the WNBA for three-pointers made during the regular season. Playing predominantly off the bench for New York during the 2022 regular season Whitcomb ranked 14th in the WNBA for three-pointers made. Whitcomb returned to Seattle for the 2023 WNBA season and playing all 40 regular season games made 89 three-pointers to rank equal seventh in the league. During a seven season WNBA career Whitcomb has played 224 regular season games.
On 1 February 2018 Whitcomb became a naturalised Australian citizen. Whitcomb has been a member of two Australian Opals teams that have won a World Cup medal, winning silver at Tenerife, Spain in 2018 and a bronze medal at Sydney, Australia in 2022. At the 2018 and 2022 World Cups Whitcomb ranked in the top three for Australia in scoring and steals. Whitcomb captained the Australian Opals at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup held in Amman, Jordan and the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in in Belgrade, Serbia. Whitcomb had a phenomenal Asia Cup to be ranked first overall at the tournament for scoring per game, second in assists, sixth for steals, seventh in rebounds and was selected in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup All-Star Five.
Sami Whitcomb playing for Perth Lynx against University of Canberra Capitals at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022
For the 2021/22 WNBL season Whitcomb returned to Perth Lynx to play her fourth season with the club and was a member of the Perth team that made the 2021/22 Grand Final. In 2021/22 Whitcomb ranked third in the WNBL for steals per game and equal fourth for three-pointers made. On 16 November 2022 Whitcomb played her 100th WNBL game. For Perth Lynx in 2022/23 Whitcomb averaged 18.3 points (ranked 3rd in the WNBL), 4.8 assists (8th) and 2.3 three-pointers made (equal 4th). Whitcomb was selected in the 2022/23 All-WNBL First Team, the fourth selection of her career. 2023/24 is Whitcomb’s sixth WNBL season overall and first for JCU Townsville Fire.
Sami Whitcomb shooting a three-pointer for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023
JCU Townsville Fire Head Coach profile
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. Seebohm made his NBL debut with Melbourne based club South Dragons in 2007/08. During a training session in his rookie NBL season with South Dragons Seebohm suffered a cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated. 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.
Seebohm was appointed as the Head Coach of the Sydney Flames at 26 years of age for the 2014/15 season. Seebohm coached Sydney for two seasons, in his first season in charge Sydney made the finals and Shannon won the WNBL’s 2014/15 Coach of the Year award. Seebohm had success in several coaching roles outside the WNBL including being Head Coach of the Australian Sapphires 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.
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. 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. In his second season as Townsville’s Head Coach the club made the Grand Final and were defeated by Southside Flyers, Seebohm was named the WNBL Coach of the Year. During the 2022/23 WNBL season Townsville concluded the season with a club record 16 game winning streak to win the WNBL Championship in convincing fashion, defeating Southside two games to nil in the Grand Final. 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
During 2022 Seebohm was the Head Coach of a Townsville Flames team in NBL1 North which included current Townsville Fire players Steph Reid and Courtney Woods. Townsville Flames won the 2022 Grand Final series against Logan Thunder two games to nil to win the NBL1 North Championship.
Shannon Seebohm instructing Townsville Flames players against Albury Wodonga Bandits at the State Basketball Centre on 10 September 2022
Seebohm has been an Assistant Coach of the Australian Opals. With Australia Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello having WNBA commitments with New York Liberty Seebohm was the Head Coach of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney. Townsville Fire off-season recruit Alice Kunek led the Opals in scoring and was selected in the Tournament’s All-Star Five.
On 9 August 2023 JCU Townsville Fire announced that Seebohm’s contract as Head Coach of the club had been extended by three years until the end of the 2026/27 season. Townsville Fire General Manager Sam Pascoe told WNBL Media “We are delighted to extend the contract of Coach Seebohm, who has proven time and again that he possesses the skills and vision required to lead the Townsville Fire to success,” said Townsville Fire General Manager Sam Pascoe “His passion for the game, strategic acumen, and commitment to our team’s values make him an invaluable asset to our organisation. We look forward to a further three years under his leadership.”25
UC Capitals 2023/24 main roster – 11 players
Returning (6): Alex Bunton, Jade Melbourne, Nicole Munger*, Rebecca Pizzey, Gemma Potter, Chloe Tugliach#
Arrivals (5): Jayda Clark (BA Centre of Excellence -NBL1 East), Alex Fowler (Townsville Flames – NBL1 North), Monica Okoye* (Geelong United – NBL1 South), Alex Sharp (Perth Lynx), Tahlia Tupaea (Penrith Panthers – NBL1 East)
Departed (8): Rae Burrell*, Sherrie Calleia, Dekeiya Cohen*, Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger (retired), Brittany Smart, Shaneice Swain (Sydney Flames), Elizabeth Tonks (Adelaide Lightning), Emilee Whittle-Harmon
2023/24 Head Coach: Kristen Veal is in her second season as Head Coach of the University of Canberra Capitals.
WNBL
No. Player Position Date of birth games
19 Jayda Clark Guard 19/07/2005 0
5 Jade Melbourne Guard 18/08/2002 49
33 Nicole Munger* Guard 19/08/1997 16
10 Gemma Potter Guard 27/02/2002 23
4 Tahlia Tupaea Guard 01/06/1997 145
9 Alex Sharp Guard/Forward 04/02/1997 56
13 Chloe Tugliach# Guard/Forward 09/06/1998 11
12 Alex Fowler Forward 21/07/2001 6
99 Monica Okoye* Forward 07/02/1999 0
8 Rebecca Pizzey Forward/Centre 27/01/1999 77
43 Alex Bunton Centre 13/10/1993 133
*Import
#Elevated from being a development player in 2022/23 to being a main roster player in 2023/24
UC Capitals Development players – 3 players
No. Player Position Date of Birth
Callie Bourne Guard 30/05/1999
7 Abby Solway Guard 24/03/2003
11 Shakera Reilly Guard/Forward 08/09/1999
Six players from the University of Canberra Capitals 2022/23 team are signed for 2023/24 including three players that each started at least a dozen games last season – Jade Melbourne, Nicole Munger and Alex Bunton. Also returning are Rebecca Pizzey, Gemma Potter and Chloe Tugliach with the latter having been elevated from being a development player in 2022/23 to a main roster player in 2023/24. After missing the 2022/23 season guard Tupaea returns to the UC Capitals, having played the 2020 and 2021/22 seasons with the club.
Alex Bunton giving Head Coach Kristen Veal a high five during the introductions for UC Capitals game against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
Six players that averaged more than 12.0 minutes per game and were on the UC Capitals roster at the end of the 2022/23 season wont be on the club’s 2023/24 main roster – Rae Burrell, Shaneice Swain, Brittany Smart, Emilee Whittle-Harmon, Sherrie Calleia and Elizabeth Tonks. Swain and Tonks are on the main rosters of rival WNBL teams Sydney Flames and Adelaide Lightning respectively. Calleia is an injury replacement player for the Melbourne Boomers. With Smart and her partner Shan expecting their first child around Christmas time Smart wont be playing in the WNBL during 2023/24 and will focus on becoming a mother.
In 2022/23 the UC Capitals ranked seventh in the WNBL with 31.6 rebounds per game. Two of the Capitals’ off-season recruits, guard/forward Alex Sharp and Japanese import forward Monica Okoye will improve the Caps rebounding. In two of the past three seasons Sharp has ranked in the WNBL’s top dozen for rebounds per game. At international level Okoye has won several medal’s representing Japan. At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney Okoye ranked in Japan’s top three for points and rebounds per game.
2023/24 will be forward Alex Fowler’s firs season on the main roster of a WNBL team. At 18 years of age Fowler played six WNBL games for Townsville Fire as a development player in 2018/19. Fowler returns to the WNBL after a successful college career with Portland Pilots and averaged a double-double for Townsville Flames during the 2023 NBL1 North season.
At 18 years of age guard Jayda Clark makes her WNBL debut with the UC Capitals in 2023/24. At under-age level Clark has represented Australia at several tournaments. As a member of the Australian Sapphires gold medal winning team at FIBA Women’s Under 16 Asian Championships 2022 held in Jordan Clark ranked in the Sapphires top three for points, assists, steals and minutes per game.
UC Capitals player profiles
During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season centre Alex Bunton is playing the 11th WNBL season of her career and the eighth season for a team based in the Australian Capital Territory. Bunton played the first five WNBL seasons of her career in the ACT comprised of three seasons with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) from 2009/10 to 2011/12 and two seasons with the Canberra Capitals in 2012/13 and 2013/14. During 2014/15 playing for Adelaide Lightning Bunton shot the ball superbly to have a field goal accuracy of 58.1% to lead the WNBL in this category among players that had at least 10 field goal attempts for the season. Playing for Sydney Flames in 2018/19 Bunton averaged 16.1 points (ranked 8th in the WNBL) and 9.6 rebounds (3rd) to set new WNBL career-highs in both categories. At the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2018 held in Tenerife, Spain Bunton was a member of the Australian Opals silver medal winning team and ranked fourth for the silver medal winning Opals in rebounds per game.
Alex Bunton taking a rebound for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 19 March 2022
Bunton had her 11th knee operation in 11 years in May 2019 and announced in July 2019 that she was retiring from basketball due to her knee injuries. After retiring from basketball Bunton had a daughter named Opal. In the time away from basketball Bunton’s body was able to recover. Bunton made her WNBL return with the UC Capitals in 2021/22 and is playing her third consecutive season and fifth season overall with the club in 2023/24. Bunton made 47 of 89 field goal attempts for the UC Capitals in 2021/22 at an accuracy of 52.8% – ranked fifth in the WNBL among players that had at least 10 field goal attempts. During the first nine rounds of the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Bunton was the UC Capitals starting centre, playing all 12 games. A lower body injury kept Bunton on the sidelines for most of the remainder of the season. Bunton’s only game after Round 9 was off the bench in a Round 14 home game against Adelaide Lightning. Among players that played at least five games Bunton led the UC Capitals with 6.6 rebounds per game, ranked second with 0.4 blocked shots and fourth with 26.4 minutes per game. In late August and early September 2023 Bunton played for the Australian Opals on a five game tour of China and was teammates with fellow UC Caps player Alex Sharp.
Alex Bunton playing for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
At FIBA Women’s Under 16 Asian Championships 2022 held in Jordan, guard Jayda Clark was a member of the Australian Sapphires gold medal winning team. At the tournament Clark averaged 11.0 points (ranked equal 2nd for the Sapphires), 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists (2nd), 1.0 steals (equal 2nd) and 26.5 minutes (2nd) per game. At senior level Clark played 24 games for the BA CoE during the 2023 NBL1 East season. At the 2023 FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup 2023 held in Spain in July Clark both played all seven games at the tournament for the Australian Gems. In a classification game against Brail Clark made two of three three-pointers at an accuracy off 66.7%, shot at 50% from the field, scored 12 points, took five rebounds and blocked two shots.
On the Australian Gems silver medal winning team at the FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup 2019 Alex Fowler was teammates with current UC Capitals teammate Gemma Potter. Fowler averaged 9.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game to lead Australia in both categories. In four seasons playing college basketball for Portland Pilots in the United States of America from 2019/20 to 2022/23 Fowler amassed a total of 2,132 career points to rank first for the Pilots for points scored in Division 1. After returning to Australia Fowler averaged a double-double in 11 games for Townsville Flames during the 2023 NBL1 North season.
Less than three months after her 18th birthday point guard Jade Melbourne made her WNBL debut as a starter in the University of Canberra Capitals opening game of the 2020 season on 11 November. In Melbourne’s fourth WNBL game she scored a game-high 20 points and in her seventh game against Perth she made a match-winning three-pointer for UC Capitals with just seven seconds remaining in the last quarter. During the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in Jordan Melbourne was one of nine Australian’s along with UC Capitals off-season recruit Alex Sharp that made their debut for the bronze medal winning Opals. At the 2021/22 WNBL Awards Melbourne finished third in the Sixth Woman of the Year Award and third in the Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award, with current Seattle teammate Ezi Magbegor winning the latter award.
Jade Melbourne playing for UC Capitals against Perth Lynx at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022
Entering her third WNBL season with the UC Capitals in 2022/23 Melbourne had career-highs of six rebounds and six assists in a game. During the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Melbourne took her game to another stratosphere to take more than six rebounds in a game six times and had made more than six assists in a game eight times. In a home game against Adelaide Lightning at the National Convention Centre on 18 February 2023 Melbourne scored a team-high 19 points, took a team-high and career-high 12 rebounds and made a game-high and career-high 14 assists. With her phenomenal game Melbourne became the first player to record a triple double during regulation of a WNBL game in more than 10 years.
Jade Melbourne playing for UC Capitals against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
During the 2022/23 WNBL season Melbourne averaged 13.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 33.1 minutes per game. Jade led the WNBL for assists per game, ranked sixth for steals and seventh for minutes. Melbourne was one of the five nominees for the Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award and earnt the first All-WNBL selection of her career, being named in the All-WNBL Second team. In the WNBL off-season Melbourne played 29 games for Seattle Storm during her debut 2023 WNBA season, had fellow Australians Magebgor and Sami Whitcomb as teammates and was the youngest player in the league.
Jade Melbourne playing for UC Capitals against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
On the eve of the UC Capitals final game of the 2022/23 season point guard Melbourne signed with the club for two WNBL seasons. UC Capitals Head Coach Kristen Veal told WNBL Media “I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Jade over the next 2 years. Jade has been the pulse of our season and has an incredible ability to draw her team, the league and our community in. To help her build on an amazing WNBL season and her first WNBA opportunity will make for a fun and rewarding couple of seasons. Jade is a key piece to our evolution and her signing before free-agency speaks to her commitment and belief in the UC Caps organisation and our fans.”26
Mid-way through the 2022 NBL1 East season in Australia, American import Nicole Munger joined the Newcastle Falcons. On 30 July 2022 Munger dominated for the Falcons to score an NBL1 record 53 points, took seven rebounds, made a game-high five assists and an equal game-high six steals in a 110-49 victory against the Inner West Bulls in a road game at ELS Hall Park. Munger put on a shooting exhibition to make 20 of 25 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 80% and six of nine three-pointers at 66.7%. During the 2023 NBL1 East season Munger excelled playing 23 games for Newcastle and averaged 19.1 points, 13.4 rebounds (ranked 2nd in NBL1 East), 4.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game to win the NBL1 East Most Valuable Player Award. Munger recorded a triple double comprised of 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a road victory against the Inner West Bulls on 24 June. Munger scored at least 20 points and took at least 15 rebounds in eight NBL1 East games in 2023.
Nicole Munger playing for UC Capitals against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
After signing with the UC Capitals between Round 3 and Round 4 of the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season American import guard Nicole Munger played 16 games for Canberra including 15 as a starter and scored at least nine points in her first 15 games of the season. In the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Munger averaged 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 30.9 minutes per game. Among players that played at least five games for the season Munger ranked 13th in the WNBL for rebounds per game, equal 17th for minutes and equal 22nd for steals.
Nicole Munger playing for UC Capitals against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
Less than a week after the 2022/23 season concluded the UC Capitals announced on 10 March 2023 that Munger had signed with the club for the 2023/24 season. Munger told wnbl.basketball “There was no hesitation. There are really special things going on here in Canberra and I think that’s starting with Vealy and everybody in the organisation through to the players. I’m really excited I get to play for her again, she’s probably one of the best coaches I’ve ever played for. She cares for you as a person and as a player, and then mixed with her basketball knowledge and expertise, she’s great. I have had such great experience in the league, it’s been wonderful to really have fun and play with some of my best friends.”27
Monica Okoye creates history in 2023/24 by becoming the first Japanese player to play in the WNBL. In the 2023 NBL1 South season Okoye played 13 games for the Geelong Supercats. At 24 years of age Okoye has already played at three major championships which includes being a member of Japan’s silver medal winning team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Okoye represented Japan at the 2018 and 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup and averaged more than 7.5 points per game at each tournament.
At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 held in Jordan Okoye was a member of Japan’s gold medal winning team. In a semi final Okoye was on the opposing team to current UC Capitals teammate Jade Melbourne with Okoye’s Japanese team defeating Melbourne’s Opals 67-65. At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney Okoye ranked in Japan’s top three for points, rebounds and three-pointers made per game and was a member of Japan’s silver medal winning team.
Forward/centre Bec Pizzey was a scholarship holder at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra and played for the BA CoE in the 2016 and 2017 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) seasons. Pizzey was a member of the Australian Sapphires team that won the gold medal at the 2016 FIBA Under 17 World Championships held in Zaragoza, Spain. At the tournament Pizzey ranked third for the Sapphires in blocked shots and sixth for rebounds. During 2017/18 Pizzey made her WNBL debut with the Dandenong Rangers. Pizzey played a total of four seasons for the Dandenong based WNBL club who were rebranded as the Southside Flyers in July 2019. Pizzey played all 15 games for the Southside Flyers in their 2020 WNBL championship winning season.
Rebecca Pizzey playing defense for UC Capitals against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022
Pizzey is playing the seventh consecutive WNBL season of her career and second with the UC Capitals in 2023/24, having played for Sydney Flames in 2021/22.Pizzey was the only player that played all 21 games for the UC Capitals in 2022/23. With starting centre Bunton out injured Pizzey had the first start of her WNBL career on 11 January 2023 in a home victory against Bendigo Spirit at the National Convention Centre. Pizzey retained her position in the Caps starting line-up for the remainder of the season, ranked seventh in the WNBL with 0.8 blocked shots per game in 2022/23 and had a field goal accuracy of 49.4% – ranked 17th in the WNBL among players that had at least 10 field goal attempts. At the UC Capitals 2022/23 Awards Pizzey was named the Kelly Abrams Best Defensive Player.
Rebecca Pizzey playing for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
At the FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup 2019 held in Thailand from 20-28 July guard Gemma Potter was the youngest member of the Australian Gems silver medal winning team. Throughout the tournament Potter made 10 of 21 three-pointers at an accuracy of 47.6% to lead Australia for three-pointers made and three-point accuracy. Potter excelled throughout the 2019 FIBA Under 17 Oceania Championship for the gold medal winning Sapphires, scoring at least 13 points in each game and averaging 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Potter was selected in the Tournament’s All Star Five and ranked second overall for points per game and first for the Sapphires. Potter graduated from the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in December 2019.
At 17 years of age Potter made her WNBL debut in 2019/20 with the University of Canberra Capitals in the club’s opening game of the season on 13 October 2019. Potter played 22 games for the season but suffered a leg injury late in the season and was unable to play for the Capitals in the finals. The Capitals defeated Southside Flyers two games to nil in the Grand Final to win the 2019/20 WNBL Championship.
At the 2020 Australian Under 20 Championships Potter and Melbourne were teammates on the gold medal winning Victorian team, defeating Queensland 69-56 in the final. Potter led the tournament overall with 16.1 points per game, had 7.3 rebounds (ranked equal 6th) and 3.0 assists (ranked equal 9th) per game. At the 2021 Australian Under 20 Championships held in Mackay Potter and Melbourne were teammates on the Victorian team that made the final against New South Wales Blue. Potter tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during the final on 7 May.
Gemma Potter playing for Dandenong Rangers in an NBL1 game against Eltham Wildcats on 14 August 2022
Potter returned from her ACL injury and made a significant impact with the Dandenong Rangers in the NBL1 South 2022 season. Potter displayed tremendous composure and skill to make two game winning baskets for Dandenong in the first two months of the season. In the UC Capitals opening game of the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season on 6 November 2022 against Bendigo at the National Convention Centre Potter started in the backcourt alongside Melbourne. 41 seconds into the first quarter Potter made a lay-up to register the UC Capitals first points of the season. Late in the first quarter Potter tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee, ending her season after eight minutes playing time.
Gemma Potter supporting her UC Capitals teammates against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
On 27 April 2023 the UC Capitals announced that Potter had signed with the club for the 2023/24 WNBL season. Potter told wnbl.basketball “I am just focusing on the WNBL and getting back. I will not be stepping on the court until Caps start and going back to where I feel comfortable. My safe place is Canberra, the girls and Vealy. With our home game attendance numbers increasing, it is something you want to get back to being a part of. We’re building something so special, and that’s obviously showing in the numbers that are coming to the games.”28
During the off-season the University of Canberra Capitals recruited one player from a rival WNBL team – guard/forward Alex Sharp from Perth Lynx. Sharp made her WNBL debut with Perth Lynx in 2020 and played three consecutive seasons with the club. As a starter for the Lynx during the 2020 hub season Sharp averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds (ranked 7th in the WNBL) per game to lead Perth in the latter category. Sharp predominantly played off the bench in 2021/22 and was a member of the Perth Lynx team that finished on top of the ladder at the end of the regular season and progressed to the Grand Final. Playing for Perth in 2022/23 Sharp averaged 8.2 points, 6.7 rebounds (12th) and 25.9 minutes per game. Sharp shot the ball efficiently to have a field goal accuracy of 47.6%.
Alex Sharp playing for the Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022
In three seasons playing for Willetton Tigers from 2021 to 2023 Sharp won the NBL1 West Conference MVP Award twice – 2021 and 2023, and was the Grand Final MVP in Willetton’s 2021 NBL1 West Championship winning season. Sharp scored 13 points, took 15 rebounds and had four assists in Willetton’s 65-54 Grand Final victory against Joondalup Wolves. In 2023 Sharp played 23 games for Willetton and averaged 21.5 points per game, 13.3 rebounds (ranked 1st in NBL1 West) and 3.7 assists per game.
Alex Sharp playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023
Sharp and current UC Capitals teammate Jade Melbourne both made their Australian Opals debut at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup in Jordan. Sharp ranked fifth for the bronze medal winning Opals in scoring and sixth in rebounds. In late August and early September 2023 Sharp played for the Australian Opals on a five game tour of China and was teammates with fellow UC Caps player Alex Bunton.
In an article publish on 12 October 2023 Sharp commented to WNBL Media on joining the Caps and the pre-season to date, saying “I’m having a lot of fun. It’s been my first season out of Perth, so it’s a lot of learning new things and getting to know new people. At the same time, I’ve played with a lot of these guys before, so it’s been exciting to find our identity as a team together. When I looked at the Caps last season, I always saw a team that was really together. I could see that they had a strong team culture and honestly, that was something that I felt like I’d love to be part of. Coming here, I’ve just felt like a lot of things have aligned. I’m in the right place at the right time.”29
During 2016 guard/forward Chloe Tugliach played for the Queensland women’s under 20’s team at the 2016 Australian National Championships and represented the Brisbane Spartans at senior level in the 2016 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) season. During the 2017 and 2018 SEABL seasons Tugliach played for the Canberra Capitals Academy and worked as “one of Basketball ACT’s development officers running school visits, 8 and Unders and Aussie Hoops programs.”30
After a break from playing basketball Tugliach made her return with the Canberra Nationals during the 2022 NBL1 East season. In the lead up to the 2022/23 WNBL season Tugliach impressed at a Caps DP & Futures Day which resulted in the club signing her as a development player. In her debut WNBL season Tugliach played 11 games for the UC Capitals in 2022/23 as a DP and averaged 12.5 minutes per game. Against Bendigo in a road game at Red Energy Arena on 19 January 2023 Tugliach made two of two three-pointers, three of four field goal attempts at 75% and made both free-throws to score 10 points – ranked equal third for the UC Capitals and made three assists in 17 minutes and 1 second court time. On 11 August 2023 the UC Capitals announced that Tugliach had been elevated on to the club’s 11 player main roster for the 2023/24 season.
Chloe Tugliach during the introductions for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
At 15 years of age guard Tahlia Tupaea made her WNBL debut with the Sydney Flames in 2012/13 and went on to play eight consecutive seasons for the club. Tupaea was a member of Sydney’s 2016/17 WNBL Championship winning season. Tupaea averaged more than 13.0 points and at least 3.0 assists per game in two seasons for Sydney – 2015/16 and 2018/19, in the latter season Tupaea ranked in the WNBL’s top 15 in both categories.
Tahlia Tupaea shooting a free throw for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 8 December 2019
Tupaea joined the UC Capitals for the 2020 season and averaged 4.2 assists per game to rank seventh in the league. 2023/24 will be Tupaea’s 11th WNBL season overall and third season with the UC Capitals, having also played in 2021/22 when the Caps made the finals.
Tahlia Tupaea playing for UC Capitals against Perth Lynx at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022
In the inaugural Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship season held in New Zealand in 2022 Tupaea played all 14 games for Northern Kahu and averaged 18.2 points (ranked 4th in Tauihi league), 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists (2nd) and 2.8 steals (1s) per game. Tupaea was recognised for her exceptional season by winning the 2023 Tauihi league’s Most Valuable Player award. Playing for the New Zealand Tall Ferns at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney Tupaea averaged 7.8 points (ranked fourth for New Zealand), 2.2 assists (3rd) and 22.0 minutes (5th) per game. In the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand Tupaea was a member of Northern Kahu’s Championship winning team.
UC Capitals Head Coach profile
Kristen Veal is in her second season as Head Coach of the University of Canberra Capitals in 2023/24. From 1997 to 2015/16 point guard Veal played 372 WNBL games – the sixth most in league history. Veal holds the record for most career assists in the WNBL with 1,617 dimes and is more than 500 assists ahead of the fourth ranked player in this category, highlighting how impressive Veal was in this facet of the game. Veal won back-to-back WNBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards playing for the AIS in 1999 and the Canberra Capitals in 1999/2000. In a five season span from 1999 to 2002/03 Veal was a member of four WNBL Championship winning teams, also winning back-to-back titles with the Canberra Capitals in 2001/02 and 2002/03. In 2002/03 Veal led the WNBL with 5.4 assists per game and ranked equal third with 1.4 three-pointers made her game to earn selection in the WNBL All-Star 5 (now known as the All-WNBL First Team).
Kristen Veal playing for Melbourne Boomers against SEQ Stars at the State Basketball Centre on 8 November 2015
Before being appointed the UC Capitals Head Coach Veal was the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence Women’s Program Head Coach, which included being the Head Coach of the Women’s BA CoE team which competed at senior level in state leagues. Veal also gained experience as an assistant coach of the Gems Under 19 team and the Emerging Opals at international tournaments. In 2019/20 Veal was an assistant coach of the University of Canberra Capitals in the WNBL with Paul Goriss as Head Coach. The Capitals finished second on the ladder with 15 wins and six losses and defeated minor premiers Southside Flyers two games to nil in the 2019/20 Grand Final to win the WNBL Championship. At Asia Cup 2021 Veal was an assistant coach of the bronze medal winning Australian Opals team with Goriss as the Head Coach. Two members of the Opals 2021 Asia Cup team are playing for the Capitals in 2023/24, point guard Jade Melbourne and off-season recruit Alex Sharp.
Kristen Veal talking to UC Capitals players before the game against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 20 November 2022
Veal faced a difficult initiation as a WNBL Head Coach with the University of Canberra Capitals in 2022/23 with the Caps losing their first 12 games of the season. The UC Capitals broke through for their first victory of the season in a home game at the National Convention Centre with a 92-85 victory against Bendigo Spirit on 14 January. In a post-game interview on ESPN after the Capitals defeated Bendigo Veal was asked about recording her first win as a WNBL Head Coach and responded “It is not even about the first win, it is just about these girls persisting, playing some really good basketball and getting some reward for that. Just so excited for them and so proud of them. I am glad we got our first win at home, it is a credit to the support and people say that all the time but their positivity when we haven’t won a game all year has been so calming and so reassuring.” Later in the season the Caps had a seven point victory at home against Adelaide and a one point loss on the road against eventual champions JCU Townsville Fire.
The University of Canberra Capitals announced on 17 October 2023 that Paul Goriss was returning to the club to be an assistant coach in 2023/24. Goriss was the head coach of the UC Capitals for six seasons from 2016/17 to 2021/22 and the Caps won back-to-back WNBL Championships in 2018/19 and 2019/20. Goriss has been a WNBA Assistant Coach for Atlanta Dream in 2022/23. On Goriss Caps Head Coach Veal commented “I’m super excited to have him on board, not only for myself, but for the team as well. We are so fortunate to have his quality of knowledge, wisdom and experience. I think coming into a second year, invariably there’s going to be a little bit more pressure and expectation to perform better than we did last year. And I think having Goz here will relieve some of that and carry some of the load and definitely helps me make some better decisions as we go through the season.”31
Article and photographs by Dean Andrews
Twitter – @DeanAndrews7777
References
1 https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/23-24-free-agency-period-coming-soon/
2 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/petrik-excited-how-new-look-lynx-are-shaping-up/
3 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/lauren-jackson-is-back-with-the-flyers/
5 https://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/news/rachael-sporns-no-14-jersey-returns-with-isobel-borlase/
6 https://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/news/steph-talbot-re-signs/
7 https://smumustangs.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alicia-froling/8320
8 https://mgoblue.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/naz-hillmon/22275
9 https://tauihi.basketball/northern-kahu-2023-roster/
10 https://wnbl.basketball/melbourne/news/roster-and-injury-update-23-october-2023/
11 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/petrik-excited-how-new-look-lynx-are-shaping-up/
12 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/petrik-excited-how-new-look-lynx-are-shaping-up/
13 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/petrik-excited-how-new-look-lynx-are-shaping-up/
15 https://utahutes.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/emily-potter/4888
16 https://nbl1.com.au/news/jackson-reveals-greatest-achievement/east/
17 https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/acl-update/
18 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/flyers-welcome-back-dual-wnba-champion/
19 https://wnbl.basketball/sydneyflames/news/tiana-mangakahia-releases-statement-on-future/
20 https://wnbl.basketball/sydneyflames/news/flames-sign-reigning-wnbl-mvp-cayla-george/
21 https://wnbl.basketball/sydneyflames/news/flames-sign-wnba-talent-richards-to-complete-roster/
22 https://wnbl.basketball/sydneyflames/news/flames-sign-hurst-for-wnbl24-season/
23 https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/team-update/
24 https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/the-fire-family-is-growing/
25 https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/seebohm-signs-3-year-contract-extension/
26 https://wnbl.basketball/uc-capitals/news/uc-capitals-star-jade-melbourne-re-signs/
27 Nicole Munger quick to commit to the UC Capitals for a second season – UC Capitals (wnbl.basketball)
28 https://wnbl.basketball/uc-capitals/news/gemma-potter-to-return-to-the-uc-capitals/
31 https://wnbl.basketball/uc-capitals/news/paul-goriss-returns-to-the-uc-capitals-as-assistant-coach/
Milestones and Misses
Milestones and Misses publishes articles to celebrate the achievements of sportspeople. In sport as with life in general it is common that milestones are only achieved after overcoming adversity. 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.
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 June 2021 onwards articles have been published on the following 17 players that are on a main roster of a team for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season:
Shaneice Swain
Steph Reid
Ally Wilson
Sara Blicavs
Carley Ernst
Kiera Rowe
Sami Whitcomb
Abbey Wehrung
Kristy Wallace
Anneli Maley
Jade Melbourne
Maddison Rocci
Cayla George
Kelly Wilson
Steph Talbot
Bec Cole
Aimie Rocci
From June 2021 onwards articles have also been published by Milestones and Misses on the following 10 past and present players that have played in the WNBL prior to the 2023/24 season:
Tianna Hawkins
Mia Murray
Jenna O’Hea
Chelsea Brook
Penny Taylor
Rachel Jarry
Lindsay Allen
Abby Bishop
Tessa Lavey
Ezi Magbegor
Milestones and misses 