Earlier this year on Friday night 12 January Southside Flyers captain Bec Cole reached 250 WNBL games and earned WNBL Life Membership in a Flyers 79-73 home victory against the Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre. Cole achieved the significant milestone 14 seasons after making her WNBL debut in 2009/10 with the Australian Institute of Sport.
In a video published by Stitch Untitled Cole reflected on her journey from playing basketball as a junior to reaching 250 WNBL games, commenting “Probably more from 15 I was like I want to do this as a career. I knew I would give my blood, sweat and tears and I am very driven so I am not surprised I got here but also I worked hard and believed in myself. Most of all just the friendships I have built along the way, to be honest that almost takes over everything else. I think when people talk about your 250th initially I play 249 games and I play 251 what’s the big deal and it is almost like I genuinely thought back to our interview that we did and was like you gotta sit back and smell the roses. I was like there was a time in my early 20’s where I thought I was never going to play basketball again because surgeons were telling me this and that with my knee. Then you think about all the highs and lows and the good times and the bad times and the fact I have been able to play at this level for so long, like it is a real big achievement.”
Cole made her WNBL debut at 17 years of age 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.
From 2017 to 2021 Cole was a regular in the Australian women’s 3×3 team and was the captain. 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.
After winning Southside’s 2021/22 MVP award shooting guard 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%.
Cole was appointed captain of the Southside Flyers for the 2023/24 season. In the first two months of 2024 Cole achieved two significant milestones in home games, reaching 250 WNBL games on 12 January and scoring her 3,000th career point on 25 January. In 2023/24 Cole ranks equal seventh in the WNBL with 4.5 assists per game and is averaging more than 10.0 points per game for the sixth consecutive season. Southside finished second on the ladder and their semi final series against cross-town rivals Melbourne Boomers is tied at one game all.
Bec Cole being defended by Lauren Nicholson in Southside Flyers game against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2024
In an article published by WNBL Media on 12 January 2024 Southside Flyers owner Gerry Ryan commented on Cole’s 250 game milestone “There is a reason why she is the captain, she’s a great leader, her passion and enthusiasm and the impact she has on everyone are a testament to her. What a milestone, a credit to herself, her family and the team around her.”1
Bec Cole’s incredible basketball journey from juniors, through to representing Australia in 3×3 and earning WNBL Life Membership is comprehensively covered below.
Early life, junior career and playing in the WNBL with the Australian Institute of Sport
Rebecca Cole was born on 19 March 1992 in Mount Waverley, a Victorian suburb 16 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. Rebecca is the daughter of dad Gary and mum Ros and has two older sisters Jessica and Emma. Gary played 40 games for the Australian Socceroos between 1975 and 1984 as a striker, scoring 20 goals for his country including a then Australian record seven goals in an international match against Fiji on 14 August 1981. Gary excelled in the NSL and twice led the league for goals scored with 21 goals in 1980 and 16 goals in 1981, playing for Heidelberg Alexander in both seasons. After his playing career Gary has had a successful business career and held several off-field soccer roles, part-time coaching roles and full-time coaching roles. Gary was Melbourne Victory FC’s first director of Football, spending six years in this role from 2005 to 2011 with the Victory winning two A-League Championships during this time. Gary joined the Football Coaches Australia (FCA) Executive Committee in 2019 and is a member of the Football Australia Hall of Fame and Football Victoria Hall of Fame.
At seven years of age Rebecca started playing basketball, her junior association was the Nunawading Spectres. When Rebecca was growing up she represented Victoria in track and field, netball and basketball. Bec’s events in track and field were 200 metres and 400 metres and she played as a centre in netball, which utilised her running ability. In episode 2 of The Rangers Podcast in late 2018 Rebecca commented “I got to an age, I think it was 15 and I had to choose what one I wanted to take seriously because I did not have enough time in my life. I dropped track and field first because I just loved team sport so much. Between netball and basketball, I think basketball I just liked the physicality, and the fact you could play every position on the floor, you are able to go to an Olympics and you can play overseas, there just seemed to be more outlets as well through basketball.”
During the Men of Words Podcast Bec Cole published on 12 September 2023 Bec commented on her dad Gary “It is super cool, super cool that I have him as my dad and I think it has been something that has really helped me in my career that he gets the professional sport life but I also like that it is not in my world, it is separate.”
In the Men of Words Podcast Bec was asked “Do you find any of the dad advice, the dadvice in the professional stream is hit and miss because of the separate worlds. Some of the stuff that might have worked for him that he wants to pass on doesn’t relate to the basketball industry and the basketball world.” Bec replies “No, I think pretty much my dadvice, I like that by the way, I am going to steal that is pretty much spot on. When he is giving me advice it is not necessarily specifically the game, like he has watched it for long enough now, he’ll give me tips like ‘hey I reckon you could have done that’ and I’ll be like ‘yep, saw that’. It is more say if I am really down or if I am on a high or all that stuff or if there are challenges or questions I guess. Still about basketball but maybe it is more mental or off the court where literally everything is spot on and that is why I literally go to him for everything, he is my best friend as well as being my dad. Shout out GC, love him, super blessed that I have had him because as an athlete not everything is roses and butterflies there is some pretty deep, dark moments and I think if it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t be playing the game.”
Rebecca was a fixture for Victoria Metro basketball teams at under-age level. Rebecca was a development player with WNBL club the Dandenong Rangers when she was 15 years old. Cole was part of the Vic Metro team that won the Under 16 National Championship in July 2007 defeating NSW Country in the gold medal game 66-59. Vic Metro won the Under 18 National Championship in April 2011, defeating Vic Country 68-51 in the final with Cole scoring 20 points and taking five rebounds.
In late November 2009 Cole was announced as one of eight players receiving an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship in Canberra with the women’s basketball team. Cole was one of five Victorians to receive a scholarship along with Sara Blicavs, Carley Ernst, Tessa Lavey and Maddie Garrick. Other players to receive a scholarship were the ACT’s Alex Bunton along with South Australian’s Olivia Levicki (nee Thompson) and Georgie Minear. The AIS team competed in the WNBL and was comprised of players between 15 and 19 years of age which made it challenging to compete with the more experienced and battle-hardened players on rival WNBL teams. In 2009/10 Phil Brown was commencing his second stint as head coach of the AIS’ WNBL team. Brown was the Head Coach of the AIS team that won the 1998/99 WNBL Championship. Players on the AIS’ title winning 1998/99 team included Cole’s current Southside Flyers teammate Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor, Suzy Batkovic, current UC Capitals Head coach Kristen Veal, Belinda Snell, Deanna Black (nee Smith) and Desiree Glaubitz.
Cole made her WNBL debut for the AIS at 17 years of age on 19 December 2009 in a home game against the Jayco Dandenong Rangers at the AIS Training Hall. Another five AIS players made their debut in the same game – current Southside Flyers teammate Ernst and current Melbourne Boomers forward Blicavs along with Tessa Lavey, Levicki and Gretel Bueta (nee Tippett). This group of six players have had very successful supporting careers and Cole became the third player from this crop to reach 250 WNBL games and has now increased her tally to 259 games, joining Blicavs (289 games) and Ernst (285 games) in the 250 game club. Lavey has played 228 WNBL games and made her AFLW debut with Richmond in 2021. Levicki played 190 games in her WNBL career and in 2022 made her AFLW debut with Port Adelaide. Bueta switched sports to netball in 2012 and has represented the Queensland Firebirds and Australian Diamonds. Cole played three WNBL games in her debut 2009/10 season.
On 16 January 2011 Bec scored a team-high and then career high 20 points, took six rebounds and made two steals for the AIS in a 61-55 victory against the Sydney Flames. Cole shot the ball proficiently to have a field goal accuracy of 63% and made nine of 10 free throws at an accuracy of 90%. During the 2010/11 WNBL season playing for the AIS as a point guard Cole played all 22 games, impressed with her skills and leadership, averaging 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds. 2.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 25.6 minutes per game. Cole ranked fifth in the WNBL for steals per game, led the AIS for assists and minutes played and ranked third in scoring behind Tayla Roberts and Blicavs.
During an outstanding junior career Cole captained the Australian Gems at the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championships held in Chile in July. Current Southside Flyers Head Coach Cheryl Chambers was the Head Coach of the Australian Gems.
At the 2011 Under-19 World Championships the Gems finished fourth, losing the bronze medal game to Brazil 67-70. Cole played all eight games for the Gems and averaged 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 29.9 minutes per game and had a field goal accuracy of 47.1%. Overall at the 2011 FIBA Under 19 World Championships Cole ranked second for assists per game, equal 11th for steals and 13th for scoring. In 2011 Cole was named the Australian Youth Female Player of the Year.
Cole was appointed AIS captain for the 2011/12 season and in the first two games of the season averaged 9.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game whilst shooting at 53% from the field. In an AIS training session during October 2011 Rebecca ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in her right knee and also tore her meniscus.
After Rebecca’s injury AIS head coach Phil Brown commented “Rebecca Cole is the heart and soul of this team, and to lose her for the season is devastating, both for her and for the side. She was the leader of the group on and off the floor. She is such a hard-working, talented young player, and is just a really positive influence on all the players.”1 Bec required a knee reconstruction and during the recovery from the knee injuries she spent considerable time in the gym strengthening her body.
During the Men of Words Podcast Bec Cole published on 12 September 2023 Cole was asked “I would love to know in terms of playing professionally for so long and from such a young age the toll it takes on your body but also any other challenges that have come along for you personally and professionally.” Cole responded “Well obviously the knee’s have been the biggest one. I did the trifecta, so tore my ACL, MCL (and) meniscus all in one go. I was at the AIS and it was probably just two months after we went to the Under 19 World Cup and I thought my sporting career was done. Obviously I had never done something that massive and it was like I remember I did not stop swearing because the pain and I have a high pain threshold, that was like nuts. Dad came from Melbourne to Canberra and I was like “’Dad I am done, it is all over.’ Obviously you look back and are like drama queen, babe you are fine, you will get there. That stuff is really hard because I chose team sport for a reason, because I love being with a team, winning, losing, that camaraderie that you have and now you are doing all this rehab, you are by yourself and I don’t think people get that. I remember telling one of my best mates at the time, ‘hey watch me jump like this is the first time’ and like didn’t care and crushed me cos I was like this is the biggest thing I have done in three months. Once someone joins the ACL club they reach back out, we are still friends and they were like ‘Hey I am so sorry, I didn’t realise till I have been there done that I didn’t support you in that time’ I was like no, respect, all good totally understand.”
“It kept me out of the game for almost two years that one and for me that one was crucial because I was going from my junior to my senior career. I had such a successful junior career so I was like pumped, so ready for this next part and I never just quite got back to what I knew I could do on the floor and I think that is what was most disappointing.”
During Series 8, Episode 5 of Basket Case podcast published on 29 December 2021 Cole spoke about the start of her WNBL career at the AIS commenting “I was there when I was 17, 12 years ago, I cannot remember that far.” Carol Wical asked “How was that for you moving to Canberra so young?” Cole replied “I loved it, there were some girls who were 15, 16, I think just being that little bit older definitely helped and I was ready for the challenge after high school had finished that’s all I wanted to do. So the fact you are in a professional environment doing what you love and getting a taste of what it could be like for the future of yourself and that sport as a career, meanwhile you are doing it with your best mates, I couldn’t have had a better time there so super grateful for that opportunity and that experience.”
Career with the Boomers from 2012/13 to 2017/18
Cole signed with the Bulleen Boomers for the 2012/13 WNBL season. Tom Maher was in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Boomers and had coached the club to their first ever WNBL championship in his second season as Bulleen’s Head Coach in 2010/11. Maher commented “Rebecca has been on our radar for a number of years and we were delighted she signed with us upon her graduation from the AIS.”3
Cole was one of nine Boomers players to average at least 10.0 minutes per game in 2012/13 along with Tess Madgen, Rachel Jarry, Alice Kunek, Hollie Florance (nee Grima), Elyse Penaluna, Emma McDonald (nee Randall), Bec Allen and Kerryn Peterson (nee Harrington).
After rehabilitating from her knee injury Cole made her WNBL return in the Bulleen Boomers eighth game of the season on the road against the Dandenong Rangers at Dandenong Stadium on 10 November 2012. During 2012/13 Cole played 13 of Bulleen’s 24 games, and averaged 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 11.9 minutes per game. Cole’s knee caused her problems throughout the season which led to the decision to end her season early to have more surgery. In January 2014 Bec reflected on this decision, commenting to Fairfax Media journalist Roy Ward “Last year it was not in good condition at all, my knee was always swollen so towards the end of the season I was like ‘let’s have a look at it again’. Playing basketball is something I love so I didn’t want an injury at 20 years old forcing my dream down the drain.”4
Later in the interview Rebecca commented to Roy on her relationship with her father Gary and the benefits of having a parent that has played elite level sport – in Gary’s case soccer in the NSL and for Australia. Rebecca said “We have a close relationship in general, but because he was a player he knows what it’s like to be in that position. If I was in a hole he would tell me to get my chin off the ground and get to it – he knows how to push me the right way.”5
Between the 2012/13 and 2013/14 WNBL seasons three significant changes took place for the Boomers, changing their name from the Bulleen Boomers to the Melbourne Boomers and also changing their home venue and head-coach. Tom Maher who had been the Boomers head-coach for four seasons from 2009/10 to 2012/13 left the club to accept an appointment as coach of the Chinese national women’s basketball team. Guy Molloy was appointed as the Boomers Head Coach for 2013/14 and had five seasons experience as a Head Coach in the WNBL. The Boomers moved to a new venue, the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South.
After being restricted to a total of only 15 WNBL games across the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons Cole was able to build momentum, increase her confidence and steadily improve over her next two WNBL seasons. The highlight of Cole’s 2014/15 season was in Round 12 when she was named the WNBL Player of the Week after scoring 20 points for the Boomers in a 96-66 victory against Adelaide at the State Basketball Centre, making six of her eight field goal attempts for an accuracy of 75%. During the 2014/15 WNBL season Cole played 22 games for the Melbourne Boomers and averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to set new career-highs in all three categories for the seasons that she played at least five games.
In February 2015 Bec was recognised for her break-out 2014/15 WNBL season, being named in an extended 34 player Australian Opals squad from which the final 12 player team for the 2016 Rio Olympics would be selected.
Playing for the Nunawading Spectres in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) Cole tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in May 2015 and required a knee reconstruction for the second time in her career, this time on the opposite knee.
Bec was on the Melbourne Boomers roster for the 2015/16 season and it was hoped that she would be able to return from her knee injury during the season, however eventually she was ruled out for the entire season. Bec made her basketball return in the SEABL with Nunawading during the 2016 season.
After Cole made her basketball return for Nunawading in the SEABL she wrote an article for SBS.com.au titled ‘It’s a long way back to the top for Bec Cole’ covering her knee injury and comeback. On the initial aftermath following her injury Bec wrote “I tore my left ACL on court. When it happened, I started screaming. Not because of the pain, but because I knew what the implications were. I had just finished at Opals camp and still had the World University Games to come and I felt like my dreams had just been crushed. The highest high shortly followed by the lowest low. I remember vividly my coach calling me that night and he was in shock. I was crying and he didn’t know what to say. And coaches always know what to say. He had seen all the hard work I’d put in and knew that that was me out of action for the next 12 months and uncertainty surrounded my future.
I took two days off. I sulked, I was angry, but being angry wasn’t going to get me back on the court.
The healthier you are going in to surgery, the better you are coming out of it. So I was already ‘training’ by day 3…but this time I was training for surgery and not for Australia.”6
A video Beyond the court – Bec Cole – Stitch Untitled TV – Volume #12 was published on 7 September 2023 with the Founder of Stitch Untitled, Taryne Fletcher interviewing Cole. On her knee injury playing for Nunawading in 2015 Cole told Stitch Untitled TV “The second time round it was weird, it was five years later, I have finally got my groove in my senior career. I was in the Opals squad, I was playing well for WNBL and I was like OK, I am starting now, I sort of felt like I got my groove back and here we go. I remember falling down and I was screaming no, I wasn’t screaming because I was in pain which look, I probably was but I was screaming no because I knew what this meant. I knew I could do it, I have done it before and it was worse, but knowing I had to do it again, I was like you have got to be kidding me. It is not like I am a person who is not working hard, I am always in the gym, getting extra shots up, I am doing the cardio and I am just like why me, but you can’t think like that otherwise you never go forward.”
In early May 2016 the WNBL licenses of the Melbourne Boomers and Adelaide Lightning were in the hands of Basketball Australia, with private takeover proposals being made to Basketball Australia for each club. Later in May 2016 it was announced that the ownership of the Melbourne Boomers was being transferred to a new group including Tony Hallam who has been the Chair of the Boomers since May 2016. Australia’s greatest ever basketball player Lauren Jackson joined the club in an off-court executive role as Commercial Operations Manager. Bec was one of two players along with Maddie Garrick that represented the club at the announcement in their Melbourne Boomers singlets, alongside key Boomers staff members Guy Molloy, General Manager Justin Nelson and Jackson.
Cole made her WNBL return for the Boomers in a 75-69 victory against Adelaide Lightning in Round 1 of the 2016/17 WNBL season at the State Basketball Centre on 9 October 2016. Playing 20 minutes and 49 seconds off the bench for the Boomers Cole scored 11 points.
On 13 October 2016 following her WNBL comeback game Cole was the Round 2 Friday Feature on the WNBL’s YouTube Channel and discussed her return to the WNBL after missing 20 months in the league due to her knee injury. On missing the entire 2015/16 WNBL season and returning in Round 1 of the 2016/17 season Bec commented “It was really tough times sitting out for that whole season. It does mean a lot (coming back) because this is my passion, it is my dream. Being back out there with Guy, the coaches and of course the girls it was awesome. Just hearing your name getting called out when you are getting introduced and slapping your teammates hand, it was a bit emotional to be honest and after the game it was just a relief, like ohh, I have done it, I’m good and on to the next one. Yeah knee’s feeling really good, since the surgery I have put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes and just getting it strong, getting my confidence back on the court playing. It just felt like Christmas day when I was back out there playing again. The fans are great. That is one of the best parts about being back, kids coming up to me after the game, they were wearing my singlet jersey, it just feels so good again seeing the familiar faces coming out.”
Whilst making her return to the WNBL was a milestone Bec knew that was not the end of her recovery, writing in the SBS.com.au article “People don’t realise that the first game back isn’t your big finale of rehab. It actually takes time getting back to the form you were in before you were injured, which unfortunately doesn’t come back over night. You’re an elite athlete so you don’t lose everything about being a basketballer. That said, being an elite athlete you hold yourself to a high standard so once you’re back on court you face a whole new mental and physical obstacle.”7
Bec Cole playing for Melbourne Boomers against Dandenong Rangers at the State Basketball Centre on 25 January 2017
During Sayin it with Sara Episode #2 – Bec Cole on 24 August 2020 host and then Southside Flyers teammate Sara Blicavs asked “What did you find the toughest part about rehabbing and coming back from an injury etc and how rewarded and happy do you feel knowing that your hard work has paid off?” Cole responded “That is a great question. The rehabbing phase, the hardest bit to be honest is we are part of a team, you are doing all your rehab by yourself, you are not with the team, you are doing your extra strength work, your cardio, maybe your shots up when you get to that stage, you are not with the team so that was really hard. I am not going to lie, you sitting on the bench watching your team play and that is what you love to do, that was very tough, knowing people are getting better they’re having fun, they’re doing what I love. But you are just have to suck it up. To be honest that was probably the hardest thing.”
Cole was the Boomers starting point guard for most games of the 2016/17 season. On 13 December 2016 Cole played her 100th WNBL game at 24 years of age at the State Basketball Centre against the Canberra Capitals. The Boomers entered Cole’s milestone game on a nine game losing streak but were able to get back on the winner’s list, defeating the Capitals 70-50. After the victory Melbourne Boomers Head Coach Guy Molloy commented on the game and Cole’s milestone “It was won on defence and without doubt that was our focus for the game. It was led (by) Bec and I feel emotional about her 100th game with what she has had to go through to get to this point. It goes above and beyond the dedication of your average WNBL player to do what she has done. I’m unbelievably proud of her, she was a big reason why this win happened tonight and if we can bottle the spirit she brings to things we would be talking about winning a lot more.”8
Cole achieved the milestone of 100 WNBL games in her eighth season on a WNBL roster. Due to knee reconstructions Cole played two games in 2011/12 for the AIS and was unable to play a game for the Melbourne Boomers in 2015/16. On reaching 100 WNBL games Cole commented “You laugh about it as it’s only 100 games, everyone else my age is at 150 or 200. I’m so happy I got there, Dad and I were talking before and we were saying let’s hope the next 100 come a lot quicker. We wanted to come out and do our crowd really proud tonight, I’m glad we got everyone who came out an early Christmas present.”9
Bec Cole playing for Melbourne Boomers against Bendigo Spirit at Geelong Arena on 13 October 2017
In 2017/18 the Boomers finished fourth on the ladder at the end of the regular season. In the semi-finals the Boomers defeated minor premiers the Perth Lynx two games to nil to progress to the Grand Final against Townsville Fire who after finishing the regular season in third place had defeated the second placed Sydney Flames 2-0 in their semi final series.
Bec Cole shooting a free throw for Melbourne Boomers against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 23 December 2018
Townsville had a passionate 2,200 person crowd supporting them at Townsville Stadium in game 1 and defeated the Melbourne Boomers 69-64. It was a very different atmosphere when the Melbourne Boomers hosted game 2 in front of a sell-out crowd of 3,655 people at the State Basketball Centre. Townsville led 55-50 with three minutes and 35 seconds remaining however a Boomers 8-2 run gave them a one point lead, 58-57 with eight seconds remaining. Townsville Fire power forward/centre Suzy Batkovic received the ball in the low post and whilst under pressure from Kalani Purcell put up a shot with her preferred left hand from the right hand side of the key, the ball rolled around the top of the ring but didn’t drop giving the Boomers a one point victory.
All three Grand Final games were a sell-out with 8,000 spectators attending during the three game series which was also broadcast live by Fox Sports on pay TV. In the WNBL’s first ever game 3 of a Grand Final series Batkovic set the tone early with nine points and four rebounds in the first five and a half minutes of the game. Townsville controlled game 3, winning 70-57 to win their third WNBL championship in four seasons.
Across the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons Cole was durable, playing 48 games for the Melbourne Boomers, averaging 8.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. On episode 1 of the Rangers Podcast Bec spoke about playing in the best of three Grand Final series for the Melbourne Boomers against the Townsville Fire, saying “Last Grand Final series there was one game where I was just up and about, the crowd was absolutely amazing. I am a person that thrives off pressure, I thrive of atmosphere and I was like why not get around it. Playing in those sorts of games, that sort of atmosphere in front of those crowds is something that you honestly don’t forget, you think about it and you get chills up your spine.”
Playing in the SEABL from 2014 to 2016 and in 2018
Bec played for the Nunawading Spectres during the 2014 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) season and despite missing four weeks in the middle of the season was runner-up in the 2014 SEABL MVP Award behind Maddie Garrick and was named in the 10 player All-SEABL team. Cole was twice selected as the league’s Player of the Week and also received a Player of the Month award. In 2014 Cole averaged 17.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for Nunawading.
Playing for Nunawading during the 2015 SEABL season Cole injured her left knee in May and required the second knee reconstruction of her career which ended her season after playing six games. In 2015 Cole averaged 20.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for the Spectres.
After considerable work in the gym and in training sessions on the basketball court Bec made her SEABL return with the Nunawading Spectres early in the 2016 SEABL season. Following her basketball return with Nunawading Cole commented to Megan Hustwaite for an article published in the Whitehorse Leader “It’s so good being back. I cherish being able to play, so much, and am so grateful for being able to play a sport I love. I want to keep doing it until I’m old and can’t run around anymore. I want to get to bed early, eat well because I get to play the sport I love tomorrow, I cherish being able to play my sport so much more now. The biggest thing is I’ve realised is how much I love it. Ball is life.”10 Cole’s match conditioning and touch improved as the season progressed and she played 11 games for Nunawading Spectres during the 2016 SEABL season, averaging 14.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
In 2017 Cole played in the Big V League for Eltham Wildcats which is covered in the next section. Cole played in her preferred position of shooting guard for the Melbourne Tigers in the 2018 SEABL season and Melbourne’s head coach was Mark Alabakov. Two of Bec’s team-mates were point guard Monique Conti and forward/centre Louella Tomlinson. Apart from Cole and Tomlinson it was a very young team. Melbourne finished sixth on the ladder at the end of the regular season with 12 wins and eight losses to make the finals. The Melbourne Tigers hosted an elimination final at the Oakleigh Recreation Centre against Sandringham and recorded a convincing victory, 89-54, Bec scored a game-high 26 points, shooting at 60% from the field, made two of her four three-pointers, had a game-high seven assists and a team-high two steals.
The following week the Tigers season ended when they were defeated 76-54 by Nunawading. Cole scored 18 points, shooting at 50% from the field, took five rebounds and had three assists. Bec played 19 games for the Tigers, averaging 22.6 points 3.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Cole ranked second in the SEABL behind Lauren Nicholson in points per game and third for assists per game behind Kelly Wilson and Ally Wilson. Bec was selected in the 2018 All-SEABL Second team, shot the ball at 46% from the field and made 26 three-pointers for the season at an accuracy of 38%.
Big V League with the Eltham Wildcats in 2017
Bec played for the Eltham Wildcats in the 2017 Big V season, with two-time WNBL MVP winner Katrina Hibbert being a playing head coach. In a Round 2 game against McKinnon Cole scored 50 points, had seven rebounds, three assists and six steals in an 86-79 victory. Hibbert commented on Bec’s performance, “I’ve never seen a 50-point game, ever, it was quite a phenomenal performance. Coley gets the ball, pushes it early, she was getting lay-ups, on-ball screens and is really developing her game, which she really wants to work on and that’s why she came over to Big V. Just watching her work at such a high rate constantly is amazing, she never takes a break.”11 Cole finished the 2017 Big V season as the league’s leading scorer, averaging 24.8 points per game.
Australian Opals
In February 2015 Cole was recognised for her break-out 2014/15 WNBL season for the Melbourne Boomers, being named in an extended 34 player Australian Opals squad from which the final 12 player team for the 2016 Rio Olympics would be selected. Bec attended an Opals camp at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence. In May 2015 playing for Nunawading Spectres in the SEABL Cole suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in her knee and for the second time in her career required a knee reconstruction.
On 20 December 2018 Australian Opals head coach Sandy Brondello was a special guest on the WNBL Show podcast co-hosted by Megan Hustwaite and Michele Timms. Brondello commented “The main reason for coming home is to cast my eye over all the players and the games have been fantastic, the standard of the league continues to get better and better with the kind of players that we have. I’ve been very impressed with the games but also some of the players that have stood out for me. Players that haven’t been in the Opals squad before, I’m casting my eye wide because it is about who are the future Opals, who has a chance now and our squad in January will be a bigger squad just so I can have a look at them. I think Rebecca Cole’s been playing fantastic for Dandenong, she’s a natural fit for the one and showing that with her athleticism. Lauren Nicholson has continued to improve and improve this last year, they’re the kinds of players I’m getting the opportunity to have a look at. I can’t wait to get the whole group together because I’ve been very impressed with the standard.”
From the 2018/19 WNBL season onwards Cole was selected in several Australian Opals squads and attended training camps but didn’t get selected in a 12 player Opals team for an overseas tournament. On 18 January 2022 Cole was included in a 16 player Australian Opals squad for the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2022 held in Serbia. Cole attended an Opals training camp in Sydney from Monday 31 January to Friday 4 February 2022 but missed out on selection in the 12 player team.
On 14 April 2022 Cole was selected in the Australian Opals extended squad of 21 players for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup to be held in Sydney from Thursday 22 September to Saturday 1 October.
Cole attended an Australian Opals camp in Sydney that commenced on Tuesday 24 May in the lead up to the three game friendly series against Japan held in New South Wales. Eight players in the Opals extended 21 player squad for the 2022 FIBA World Cup were unavailable for the camp due to playing commitments overseas. This included seven players in the WNBA – Steph Talbot and Ezi Magbegor (both with Seattle Storm), Bec Allen and Sami Whitcomb (both with New York Liberty), Kristy Wallace (Atlanta Dream), Alanna Smith (Indiana Fever) and Anneli Maley (Chicago Sky) whilst Marianna Tolo was finishing her season with Basket Landes in France. Due to illness Zitina Aokuso was a late withdrawal from the Opals camp in Sydney. All 12 players that attended the Opals training camp that commenced in Sydney on 24 May played in the three game-series against Japan.
In game 1 against Japan at Quaycentre, Sydney on Friday 27 May Cole was one of two players along with point guard Steph Reid that made their debut in the Opals 72-66 victory. After being released from her WNBA hardship contract with Chicago Sky Maley returned to Australia, was on the bench for game 2 and made her Opals debut in game 3. Australia lost the three game series to Japan one game to two, losing game two by one point and game 3 by two points. Australia’s WNBA players were available for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup held in Sydney and Cole missed out on selection for the tournament.
3×3 tournaments, including representing Australia
In June 2017 it was announced that a 3-on-3 basketball tournament would be included at the 2020 Summer Olympics in addition to the traditional five on five tournament. At the time of the announcement Australia needed to focus more energy on 3-on-3 basketball, host more domestic tournaments and improve their performance at international tournaments to qualify for the 3×3 basketball tournament at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
On Series 5, Episode 10 of Basket Case podcast on 12 December 2018 Bec was asked by Carol Wical about her experiences playing 3×3 basketball and commented “I was lucky enough to be able to have a crack at that, the game-style is everything that I am about, explosive, powerful, athletic, competitive and it’s a whole lot of fun and very entertaining to watch as well.”
At the FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Cup 2017, held in Nantes, France from 17-21 June Cole was a member of Australia’s team along with fellow guard Amelia Todhunter and front-court players Carley Ernst and Nadeen Payne. In an interview with The Pick and Roll Bec commented “None of us have ever competed in 3×3 before. However we want to go and win! With the sport now in the Olympics, we really want to put our best foot forward and do our best for our country.”12
Australia were seeded last of the 20 nations competing at 3×3 World Cup 2017. Australia were defeated by Ukraine 21-12 in their first game of the tournament and won their next two games 21-7 against China and 18-8 against Japan. In their final pool game Australia needed to defeat the pool leaders and number three seeds the Netherlands to progress to the quarter-finals. Australia led 5-0 early but the Netherlands fought back, very little separated the teams in the dying minutes and at the end of regulation the two teams were locked together, forcing the game to overtime. Netherlands were the first team to score two points in the overtime period, giving them the victory 16-14 and eliminating Australia from the competition. Australia finished third in Pool C and ninth overall with two wins and two losses.
During 2018 and 2019 Cole competed in several NBL 3×3 Pro Hustle tournaments. At NBL Pro Hustle 1 held in Melbourne on 22 April 2018 Cole was a member of the Spectres iAthletic team that won the tournament, winning all four games that they played. Cole’s Spectres iAthletic teammates were Marena Whittle, Hanna Zavecz and Izzy Wright (nee Chilcott). On 13 May 2018 the same Spectres iAthletic quartet won their first five games of NBL Pro Hustle 3 in Sydney to progress to the final against Melbourne Boomers. The final went to overtime and the Boomers defeated Cole’s Spectres iAthletic team 14-12.
In 2019 the Spectres iAthletic team competed in two NBL 3×3 Pro Hustle events, Melbourne on 31 March and Darwin on 27 April. The Spectres iAthletic team of Cole, Froling, Whittle and Wright won the Melbourne Tournament. There was one change to the team for Darwin with Saraid Taylor replacing Wright, Spectres iAthletic won all six games to finish first.
Cole captained Australia in several 3×3 basketball tournaments. At the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2018 held in China in late April – early May Cole was the captain of the Australian team that included Keely Froling, Maddie Garrick and Carlie Smith. In the semi-finals Australia faced a New Zealand team comprised of Micaela Cocks, Kalani Purcell, Antonia Farnworth and Chevannah Paalvast. The semi-final went to overtime and New Zealand point guard Cocks made a two-pointer to win the game for her country 20-18. Australia convincingly defeated Japan 17-5 in the bronze medal game and New Zealand defeated China 14-11 in the gold medal game. Bec was named in the Team of the Tournament at the FIBA 3×3 2018 Asia Cup and was the leading scorer at the tournament with 39 points.
During the post-game press conference after her 150th WNBL game on 23 December 2018 Bec was asked “It looks like you are in career-best form, do you think your off season focus on three on three has helped (with your form)?” Bec, responded “Yeah, I think going to the Tigers (SEABL club Melbourne Tigers) in the off-season, being back in the two and playing the three on three, that’s my game, aggressive, physical, athletic, that was a whole lot of fun but I think that gave me my passion back, I got it back but I feel that definitely helped.”
At FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2019 held in Changsha, China from 22 to 26 May the Australian team comprised of Garrick, Cole, Alice Kunek and Hanna Zavecz won all five games, comprehensively defeating Kazakhstan 20-9 in the final to win the gold medal. Cole was selected in the Team of the Tournament and was named the Most Valuable Player.
At FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2019 held in Amsterdam during June, 25 nations participated in the Women’s event. The three nations that won medals qualified for a FIBA 3×3 Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament. The Australian team comprised of Cole, Kunek, Garrick and Keely Froling were the 18th seed.
Australia won four of their first five games, with the exception being a one point loss to France 15-16. In a semi-final Australia lost a nail-biter against number one seeds China 14-15. In the bronze medal game Australia were comprehensively defeated by France 9-21 and finished the tournament in fourth place. China defeated Hungary 19-13 in the final to win the gold medal.
The episode of 3×3 Hustle Hype Podcast | Bec Cole and Maddie Garrick was hosted by Greg Hire and published on 4 June 2020. Reflecting on the 2019 World Cup Cole told the 3×3 Hustle Hype Podcast “Losing to China that was more what got me and our team. I think because it was to go for the gold. We were in tears with each other, that was heartbreaking and then like you said 45 minutes later we are playing for bronze and the last ticket to go to an Olympic Qualifiers and you have to just get out of this headset of yes we can’t get gold but we can get bronze and we can still go to an Olympics. You saw it, cos we had never really experienced that, I think we all lost it emotionally, physically, we tried to the end but I think we got pumped that game. We thought our shot was over for qualifiers and that killed us all because we had worked so hard for that moment. “
The first ever FIBA 3×3 women’s series was held in 2019. Due to the travel required to compete at the stops as well as the focus on the WNBL when it is in season Australia competed in far less tournaments than their rivals in this format. An Australian team only competed at the first stop in Chengdu and the final stop in Tokyo. Despite not playing this format as regularly as their rivals Australia were very successful, winning both stops. The Australian team for the Chengdu Stop was Cole, Garrick, Kunek and Zavecz. There was one change to the Australian team for the Tokyo Stop with Keely Froling replacing Zavecz.
On the improvement of the Australian women’s 3×3 team in 2019 Hire asked “Was that just a case of starting to play a little bit more or starting to understand the game, I mean Bec you have been doing it for so long, what do you think was the turning point?” Bec responded “I think one, we were playing more games and more regularly and for people who don’t know 3×3 a whole lot, the only way you get better is literally by playing more games. Like you said our nation, we are bloody good at it but when we vs the European’s and Asian’s who have been doing it for five plus years you can tell what they have ahead of us is that experience. The fact that we did get to go to more tournaments, play against these nations, we grew from it we learnt from it. Yeah, we watched film but also the more you play the more I know where Maddie is going to be on every play, where Alice is going to be on the roll or Keely coming up the lane. Where you know where each other are going to be, like that is a massive thing. I think even from our first stop in Chengdu to our last stop in Tokyo countries were defending us differently. It is almost as we get better countries learn what we do, we are still having to evolve. What was great in the last year is we proved ourselves to other nations that we are actually here. Yeah we won Asia Cup and people knew we were good but I don’t think they respected us. Now we have that respect which is something awesome.”
During the 3×3 Hustle Hype Podcast Hire asked Cole “On the back of the success in 3×3, dominating that to then 5 on 5, confidence probably a massive factor?” Cole responded “When I first played 3×3 I was very low in confidence, had come back from a knee injury, wasn’t really playing great, didn’t want to be a one man anymore. I was a bit very much like do I stop playing basketball which is something I don’t think ever would come out of my mouth. Was playing SEABL, finally went back to a two man, having so much more fun doing that and then the first Hustle that we did, it made me find the love for the basketball game again. It brought back my attacking side, that’s just like my bread and butter and my passion and love for it again. I have a special place in my heart for 3×3 because it brought that back up in me and ignited a fire again. You need one on one abilities, when we go back to five on five it is something that we are definitely better at I think compared to some of the people who play 5 on 5. The physicality, like you can see us finish buckets, getting hit in the air which we are not good at to start with but you learn or you get better. It has definitely helped my game 100 per cent but I think also just made me go back to what I used to do but have confidence in doing it.”
On 19 February 2020 Cole was selected in the five player squad along with Garrick, Kunek, Kelsey Griffin and Lauren Nicholson for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament which was scheduled to be held in Bangalore, India from 18 to 22 March 2020. Due to COVID-19 the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were postponed.
Although Australia narrowly missed out on automatically qualifying for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the 2019 World Cup they did get a berth in the 20 nation OQT field for the tournament due to their world ranking. On watching the draw for the FIBA 3×3 OQT 2021 Cole told the 3×3 Hustle Hype Podcast “Watchingit I know our team deserves to be there because we are one of the best but it is all based on ranking systems and we don’t go to many tournaments so even though I definitely think we deserve to be there that is just not how it all works at the end of the day. So when I saw our flag come up it was like a big weight had just been lifted off our shoulders and I was just happy that we get the opportunity again, yeah we had to do it the hard way but it is still there and that has been our dream since you started playing sport.“
It was announced on 24 June 2020 that the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2021 would be hosted in Graz, Austria from May 26-30, 2021. The countries that finished in the top three at the tournament qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games. A total of eight nations competed in the women’s 3×3 Olympic Games. In addition to the top three teams at the OQT qualifying the top four nations in the FIBA rankings as at 1 November 2019 qualified and the winner of a Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament qualified.
At NBL 3×3 Pro Hustle 7 held in Melbourne on 6 and 7 March 2021 Cole was a member of The Heat team along with Garrick, Alex Sharp and Emilee Harmon. The Heat won their first five games with their closest victory being against Melbourne Towers 17-15. In the final The Heat played the Melbourne Towers team which was comprised of Anneli Maley, Lauren Scherf, Louise Brown and Marena Whittle. Melbourne Towers reversed the pool game result, defeating The Heat 19-11 in the final.
The Australian team for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2021 was comprised of Cole, Froling, Garrick and Kunek. Australia were seeded 17th out of the 20 nations competing. Australia lost their opening Group B game to Japan 15-21 and won three consecutive games against Ukraine 15-12, Thailand 22-5 and Iran 22-2 to progress to the quarter-finals. In a tight-fought contest Australia lost to 13th seeds Spain 12-14 which eliminated Australia from the tournament with a sixth placed finish and ended their hopes of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
During Series 8, Episode 5 of Basket Case podcast published on 29 December 2021 Carol Wical asked Cole “How did you go with all the lockdowns and all that stuff and then in the middle you had to go to the 3’s Pre-Olympic Comp, I gotta say I thought about you guys a lot having to come back and quarantine.” Cole responded “COVID was hard and everyone obviously takes it differently, you have your days where it is definitely harder than others but I think I was super lucky. I was living with mum and dad and you know dad was going through remission at this point so we were able to do some fun activities together to help raise awareness for Lymphoma so I think I just felt super blessed that I was with my family. I have a roof over my head, I have food, just have to think of the positives and I guess start to create some different habits. I am not a big reader but I was definitely in to reading self-help books to not just be on the screen all the time. We are quite an active family so I think it was easy, whether it was skipping, boxing, going for a walk, dribbling the ball, kettle bell sessions with dad and mum. Definitely made the most of when we were allowed out of the house or out on the balcony what we could do. Just tried to keep my mind active. We were lucky, at some points if you were an elite athlete you were able to train still so there was points where I was able to train at facilities but that wasn’t the whole time.”
“Then as you said we were lucky enough to go to the 3×3 Olympic Qualifiers. We went in having a three or four day camp and we hadn’t played the game in over a year so that was very tough, that game is all about chemistry if you have ever watched it anyone out there. You could see, we were building each game but I think no excuses, it is what it is, but we definitely went in under prepared to all of Europe who had been playing the whole time. Then we came back in to hotel quarantine and your dream and your goals are crushed. I was lucky, Alice and I actually roomed together so thank god I had her. It is not always easy, it was tough, I didn’t touch a ball for a couple of months after that because I was just so crushed, it was insane. I think you have to take certain time to reflect and see what is wrong and you just build. Obviously since then I have regained my hope and I am excited for what lies ahead in this WNBL season and then there is Comm Games for 3×3, there is the World Cup for the Opals, there is so much to look forward to.”
Cole wasn’t selected in the Australian women’s 3×3 team for the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 held in Singapore in July. The four players selected in the Australian team were Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Lauren Scherf and Marena Whittle.
Cole’s last tournament playing for the Australian women’s 3×3 team was the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2021. In September 2023 Cole told Stich Untitled TV “You are getting older, I definitely didn’t think it was the last time I was ever going to be you know in the race to go to an Olympics but now it has been a couple more years and now I am out of both squads, I don’t even know if I have really said that out loud before. That time is done. Do I think I deserve an opportunity still, yeah I think so, but I can’t change people’s mind, I can just go have fun now, that is what I have to do.”
Cole has a breakout 2018/19 season with the Jayco Dandenong Rangers to finish second in the WNBL’s MVP Award
Bec signed with the Jayco Dandenong Rangers for the 2018/19 season and whilst she hadn’t played WNBL basketball with the Dandenong Rangers before she had some experience with the club as a development player at 15 years of age before she joined the AIS. A key reason in Cole changing clubs was the ability at Dandenong to play as a shooting guard which she and her Head Coach at Dandenong – Larissa Anderson felt was her natural position.
Anderson was a familiar face from Cole’s time as a junior. After signing with the Rangers Cole told WNBL Media “Back when I was a little kid, I used to do indies with her so it’s like a flashback! But I think knowing Larissa and she has been open and honest with me from the start. Having that connection, if you know each other and trust each other you’re going to have a good season. Some of the girls at Dandenong are girls that I played with at the AIS so it will be great to reconnect with them as well.”13
Throughout the 2018/19 WNBL season Tom Bathgate and Cole co-hosted several episodes of The Rangers Podcast. Commenting on The Rangers Podcast regarding the difference between the 1 and 2 spots Bec said “I was a two-man until I went to the AIS and they wanted me to be a 1. I have so much respect for point guards because that was the hardest transition I ever had to do. It is team first and then it is you, you gotta make sure everyone is in the right spots, you have to be that strict leader on the floor. You are the person who runs the show. Being in the 2-3 spot you get a little more freedom because you are not having to think exactly about all that, you just sort of get to play, that is obviously a lot more enjoyable for me.” At 178 centimetres tall Bec had a size advantage over many point guards but also had the flexibility to play in the 2 or 3 spots. Cole’s performances from the 2018/19 season onwards as a shooting guard have strongly supported Bec’s view that shooting guard was the position that she was most suited to.
In her preferred role of shooting guard Cole impressed during the 2018/19 pre-season with the Jayco Rangers however I don’t think anyone could have predicted the heights that she would reach during the regular season.
To open the 2018/19 WNBL season the Rangers faced one of the toughest tasks in the WNBL, a road trip to Townsville on Sunday 14 October to play the defending champions. Dandenong’s starting line-up against the Fire was comprised of Tessa Lavey and Cole in the back-court along with Rachel Jarry and American imports Betnijah Laney and Kayla Pedersen in the front-court. Cole played a significant role in the Jayco Rangers getting a 73-68 road victory against Townsville, scoring a team-high 18 points, shooting at 53% from the field, took seven rebounds and was named in the WNBL Team of the Week for Round 1.
Bec Cole shooting a free throw for Dandenong Rangers against Melbourne Boomers at Dandenong Stadium on 2 November 2018
In their only game for Round 9 and the final WNBL game of the weekend the seventh placed Rangers hosted ladder leaders the Perth Lynx and caused one of the upsets of the season, defeating Perth 96-76. Cole scored 21 points at an accuracy of 54% from the field and had an equal game-high six assists along with two team-mates – Betnijah Laney and Tessa Lavey.
Cole was one of two special guests along with Mark Alabakov to appear on Series 5, Episode 10 of Basket Case: A Podcast About the WNBL on 12 December 2018. In his role as head coach of the Melbourne Tigers SEABL team in 2018 Alabakov coached Rebecca. Alabakov was the first special guest to appear on this episode of Basket Case hosted by Carol Wical and Helen Theoharakis and was asked to introduce Cole. Alabakov was glowing in his praise, commenting “Rebecca Cole, what can we say, one of the most competitive and offensively aggressive players that we have in the WNBL, has added a three-point shot to her game. Is a real alpha on the floor and plays every minute like it’s the last minute of the Grand Final Series and is exactly the type of athlete that you would want to have on your team if you are going to war on the basketball court.”
When asked by Carol Wical on Series 5, Episode 10 of Basket Case “What were the things besides the uniform colour that drew you to Dandenong?” Rebecca responded “For me timing is everything, and I really went into the off-season after last WNBL just wanting to play the 2 spot again, that is my natural position. I really wanted to get aggressive again and fall back in love with the game which I maybe had a bit of a struggle the season previously. Being able to play in the two spot was really massive for me and I have had a great opportunity so far this season to do that and I feel like I keep getting better every week the help of Larissa, the coaches and the team.”
In a 33 point win against Sydney at Brydens Stadium in the Rangers first game of Round 10 on Friday 14 December, playing 27 minutes and seven seconds court-time Bec scored a game-high 31 points – 15 points more than the second ranked player for the game, shot the ball at 85% from the field, had four rebounds, three assists, a game-high five steals – three more than the second ranked player for the game, and a block. Against Bendigo in the Rangers second Round 10 game Cole scored a game-high 20 points, shooting at 53% from the field, took six rebounds, made a phenomenal 11 assists – five more than the second ranked player for the game and had just two turnovers. In the 87-63 victory the Rangers shot the ball at 51% from the field and made 30 assists – 13 more than Bendigo. Cole was named the WNBL’s Round 10 Player of the Week.
Bec Cole playing defense against Maddie Garrick in the Dandenong Rangers game against Melbourne Boomers at Dandenong Stadium on 2 November 2018
In episode 4 of the Rangers Podcast on 21 December 2018 Tom Bathgate said “You have never been an elite three-point shooter, but this season that has been one of the keys for you, not just scoring at volume but scoring really efficiently, has something changed in your shooting stroke over the off-season or are you just seeing it better?” Bec responded “I have definitely if anyone knows me been just trying to work on my game as much as possible and a three-point shot was one of those things I had to work on, and working with Mark Alabakov in the off-season and then Larissa as we started pre-season and indies, both of them helped, I guess it is just repetition really, but a lot of it just comes to confidence as well. You might look at my (shooting) form and think it is not the best but if it goes in who really cares.”
Bec Cole playing for Dandenong Rangers game against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 23 December 2018
Cole played her 150th WNBL game on Sunday, 23 December 2018 at the State Basketball Centre at 26 years of age against her former team – the Melbourne Boomers. In the post-game press conference Melbourne Boomers General Manager Justin Nelson said “Bec, game 150 today, probably 135 (it was actually 108) of those were with the Boomers.” Rangers head-coach Larissa Anderson interjected “But her best 15 have been with the Rangers.” Nelson continues “How did it feel to be back in familiar territory?” Bec responded “Thanks for the shout out at the start of the game J N. Dad and I were laughing earlier today, finally made it to 150, finally got there. So funny that it ended up being against my old team but I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way, love playing for the Rangers, it was good to get to 150 and it was still nice having some old supporters out there in the stands, it was a good feeling.”
In a Sunday afternoon Round 13 road game against the Sydney Uni Flames Cole was exceptional, scoring nine points in the first quarter to help set-up a 21-13 Rangers lead at quarter-time. Bec finished the game with 25 points, two assists and four steals in 27 minutes and 31 seconds court-time. Bec made 11 of her 16 field-goal attempts for a superb accuracy of 68%.
During the 2018/19 WNBL season Cole played all 21 games for the Rangers as their starting shooting guard, averaging 19.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 31 minutes and 23 seconds court-time per game. Bec led Dandenong for points – 5.3 points per game more than the second ranked Ranger – Laney and steals, ranked second behind Laney for assists and minutes played, and fourth for rebounds.
In 2018/19 Cole set career highs for scoring with a 64% improvement on her previous best of 11.8 points per game in 2014/15, rebounds, steals, shooting accuracy and assists excluding the 2011/12 season in which she only played two games. The most significant improvement in Cole’s game was shooting accuracy, making 38% of her three pointers and 51% of her field goals – ranking in the top 10 of the league in the latter category. In 2018/19 Cole made 26 of her 69 three-point attempts for an accuracy of 38%, easily surpassing her previous best of making 13 three-pointers in both the 2010/11 and 2013/14 seasons. Cole was named in the WNBL’s team of the week four times in 2018/19 – Rounds 1, 6, 10 and 13 and was rewarded for her outstanding form by being included in the Australian Opals 2019 squad.
On 25 January 2019 the Jayco Rangers held their WNBL Awards night at the La Trobe Financial Headquarters in Melbourne’s CBD. Cole was a deserving winner of the Jayco Rangers Most Valuable Player Award after playing easily the best season of her WNBL career to that stage.
Following each game of the 2018/19 Regular season both Head Coaches, along with the Head Referee cast votes for the league’s Most Valuable Player Award on a 3, 2, 1 basis. As expected University of Canberra Capitals forward Kelsey Griffin was a convincing winner of the 2018/19 WNBL Most Valuable Player Award, polling 119 votes from a maximum 189. Cole finished second in the league MVP on 99 votes followed by Melbourne Boomers point guard Lindsay Allen in third place on 94 votes.
The WNBL All-Star five was voted on by the coaches and captains of the eight WNBL clubs at the end of the regular season with a short-list of 20 players that received MVP votes during the season eligible to be voted for. Cole was selected in the back-court along with Lindsay Allen whilst the front-court was comprised of Griffin, Asia Taylor and Nia Coffey. Bec became the eighth Jayco Rangers player of All-Time to be selected in the WNBL All-Star five and the first Dandenong player to achieve this milestone since the club’s greatest ever player Penny Taylor was selected in the All-Star five for the third and final time in her final WNBL season in 2014/15.
On being selected in the 2018/19 WNBL All-Star five at the WNBL end of season awards on Monday 18 February 2019 Bec was emotional, commenting to wnbl.com.au on this achievement “It was a very special feeling hearing my name read out. I just felt extremely honoured and grateful. It means a lot to me to be recognized alongside these other incredible female athletes I get to play against week in and week out.”14
NBL1 with the Dandenong Rangers in 2019
On 28 February 2019 it was announced that Cole had signed with the Dandenong Rangers for the 2019 NBL1 season. On signing with Dandenong Cole commented “I really enjoyed my WNBL season at Dandenong, I found I got the best out of myself at the club and I want to try and continue that. The club has been really supportive of me and has allowed me to pursue my 3×3 goals in the off-season as well. During the NBL1 season I want to continue enjoying my basketball and keep working on my game, but I’m also excited to help lead the great young talent that we’ll have on this team and get the best out of them.”15
During 2019 Cole played 11 games for the Dandenong Rangers in NBL1 and averaged 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game and 1.6 steals per game, shooting at 46% from the field and 43% for three-pointers to earn selection in the NBL1 All-Star five.
NBL1 expanded for the 2020 season with the original NBL1 league rebranded as NBL1 South. The former Queensland Basketball League was rebranded as NBL1 North and the former South Australian Premier League was rebranded NBL1 Central, both new NBL1 leagues were scheduled to commence in 2020.
For the 2020 season Cole was going to split her time between NBL1 with the Dandenong Rangers and 3 x 3 commitments. Cole was one of three Southside Flyers players signed by the Rangers along with Clydesdale and Tomlinson. Due to COVID-19 the 2020 NBL1 South season was cancelled.
2019/20 and 2020 WNBL seasons with the Southside Flyers
In July 2019 the Dandenong Rangers WNBL license was transferred from the Dandenong Basketball Association to Gerry Ryan who in 1975 founded Jayco who were the naming rights sponsor of the Dandenong Rangers WNBL team from 1997 to 2019. The Southside Flyers respect the history of the Dandenong Rangers and in 2019/20 played their home games at Dandenong Stadium. After the announcement of the license transfer and the establishment of the Southside Flyers Ryan commented “The Southside name reflects our commitment to create a team with support from the beachside suburbs of Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula through to the Dandenong Ranges, Gippsland and beyond. The Flyers hopefully will describe the style of play and success of the team within the WNBL. Our vision is to significantly broaden the support for the new team and to get the whole basketball community involved. The name Southside Flyers reflects this vision.”16
On 12 August 2019 it was announced that Bec had signed with the Southside Flyers for the 2019/20 WNBL season, Bec commented “I really enjoyed my first WNBL season at Dandenong and am excited with the opportunity to be involved in the inaugural season of the Southside Flyers. I am looking forward to creating history on and off the court as part of a fresh team in one of the best competitions in the world. Having the support of Gerry Ryan and knowing his vision for the team and the promotion and growth of women’s basketball is exciting and I feel privileged to be part of this. And to be able to play under Cheryl Chambers is something I am looking forward to.”17
Bec Cole shooting a jump shot for Southside Flyers in a pre-season game against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 5 October 2019
Six players on the Southside Flyers 2019/20 roster played for the Jayco Rangers in 2018/19 – Cole, Sara Blicavs, Kiera Rowe, Rebecca Pizzey, Taylah Giliam and Stephanie Reid whilst another four had played for the Jayco Rangers previously – Jenna O’Hea, Leilani Mitchell, Aimie Rocci (nee Clydesdale) and Louella Tomlinson. Two members of the Flyers 2019/20 core rotation that hadn’t represented the Rangers in the WNBL previously were Anneli Maley who played for the Dandenong Rangers SEABL team in 2017 and American import Mercedes Russell. Australian Opals captain Jenna O’Hea was appointed as the Southside Flyers inaugural captain.
Southside Flyers team huddle before their game against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 4 November 2019
Cheryl Chambers was appointed as the inaugural head coach of the Southside Flyers. Chambers is currently an Assistant Coach of the Australian Opals and had two stints as a WNBL head coach previously – with the Bulleen (now Melbourne) Boomers for eight seasons from 2001/02 to 2008/09 and with the Sydney Uni Flames for three seasons from 2016/17 to 2018/19, with the Flames winning the WNBL Championship in 2016/17 after defeating Dandenong 2-0 in the Grand Final series.
Chambers commented on Cole signing with the Flyers “Rebecca showed last year what a great player she is in the WNBL and will obviously be a key player for us. Her scoring ability is well known, importantly she has more to her game than scoring and I am sure she will create some real headaches for the opposition wearing her new colours in 2019.”18
The Southside Flyers played their inaugural WNBL game against the Townsville Fire at Dandenong Stadium on 12 October, the Flyers regular starting line-up throughout the 2019/20 season was Cole in the backcourt alongside Leilani Mitchell whilst Sara Blicavs, Jenna O’Hea and Mercedes Russell started in the front-court.
Bec Cole playing Southside Flyers against UC Capitals at Dandenong Stadium on 7 November 2019
At Dandenong Stadium in a Sunday evening Round 4 game Cole scored a game-high 23 points for the Flyers including 14 points in the first half against the Bendigo Spirit in a 93-80 victory, making nine of her 16 field goal attempts for an accuracy of 56.3%. Cole made two of her five three-pointers, all three free throws, had four assists, an equal game-high two steals and blocked one shot.
In September 2019 Bec’s dad Gary was diagnosed with cancer, specifically Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. On The Cancer Council Australia website under the heading ‘What is Lymphoma?’ it says “Lymphomas refers to types of cancer that begin in the lymphatic system (the various lymph glands around the body). Lymphomas are the sixth most common form of cancer overall (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer).”19
On 23 November 2019 an article written by Ben Waterworth “‘Life isn’t fair’: The beautiful bond – and remarkable resilience – between Bec and Gary Cole” was published on Fox Sports. In the article Bec commented on Gary “There were some really tough times in my career and when no one else believed in me, he was there. That’s why I’m so grateful for what I have with him and to come out the other side to prove people wrong. He’s my hero because he’s helped me get to where I am today, so I just want to help him with whatever I can. He’s my idol.”20
When Gary received the diagnosis that he had Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Bec was playing the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Tokyo Stop 2019 and he waited until Bec was back in Melbourne to tell her. In Waterworth’s article Bec commented “I’m quite a tough person, but when it comes to my parents, I’m the biggest sook in the world. Dad was on the chair and he just told me straight out. I said ‘OK, yeah, I’m fine’ – and then literally a minute later I came back crying and sat on his lap and was like, ‘OK, no, I’m not OK’. It was a bit shocking because to me he’s one of the fittest guys and your parents are supposed to be strong. So when you see them weak, it scares you a little bit.”21 Gary commented “It was a tough time emotionally because your immediate reaction is ‘cancer’ and what that could mean and what that could cost you and what you wouldn’t get to do. You go ‘well she could be going to the Olympic Games, she could be going to the Commonwealth Games’ – and if you’re not around, what don’t you get to see? You don’t get to see them grow up and continue to develop and improve and become beautiful young women and get married and have grandchildren – all of that stuff. I encourage everyone, if you’ve got similar aches and pain, go and get them checked.”22
On 5 October 2021 3×3 Hustle published a video, The Check-In: With Bec Cole. Bec spoke about her involvement with Lime for Lymphoma, saying “Obviously so close to my heart, I reached out to the lymphoma community and asked: ‘Hey is there any way in the world I can help?’ and also I need to learn and educate myself. What’s so crazy is that lymphoma is such a common cancer that people have but no one actually knows much about it. And so Lime for Lymphoma September is their awareness month. So this September, I’ve just been wearing lime whenever I can and promoting it as much as I can and educating people. That’s pretty much what Lime for Lymphoma is all about. That’s their colour, every cancer does have a colour. Even though it is a sad thing, you want to make it fun for the people who are diagnosed to the nurses and doctors getting involved, the community. You want to brighten someone’s day with it all and it seriously does. The other day, Dad and I got out, wore lime and we were just having a laugh for half an hour in the sun. It was just a bit of fun.”
In The Check-In: With Bec Cole video 3×3 Hustle asked Bec “How is your dad now?” Bec responded “Dad was super lucky. I just think he’s amazing. I’m so proud of him. He went through chemotherapy and radiation and it was insane. If you looked at my dad, yeah, he was a bit white and he went bald but I was like: ‘You look so good.’ It’s just a testament to him and how he looks after his body and his mindfulness. He’s insane and the fittest he has ever been. He’s awesome. But actually just had his blood checked last week and he’s all good. They’re still in remission as you call it but he’s healthy, he’s happy. Obviously when you get the ‘all good’ result, it’s like thank god. But yeah, healthy and happy ‘GC’, that old man is. He’s the best ambassador and I love it, like all my teammates and friends love him because he just gets around everyone and every cause.”
The Southside Flyers recorded a 90-75 road victory against the Perth Lynx at Bendat Basketball Stadium in a Friday night Round 12 game in the 2019/20 season. Bec gave one of the best shooting exhibitions of the season, scoring a game-high 30 points at a phenomenal accuracy of 83.6%, making 13 of her 16 field goal attempts including two of three three-pointers. Bec also took four rebounds and made a team-high four assists in the victory on 3 January.
Against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre in Round 13 on Sunday 12 January the Flyers trailed by four points with one minute and 25 seconds remaining but were able to bridge the gap from the foul line with Bec making two free throws with 58 seconds remaining followed by Mitchell making two free-throws with 10 seconds left to tie the scores 67 apiece. The Flyers won a thrilling game in the first period of overtime 75-73, however the victory came at a cost. Flyers captain O’Hea broke her wrist when she and Boomers forward Ezi Magbegor met solidly when they both dove after a loose-ball. O’Hea was expected to miss 10 to 12 weeks which would cause her to miss the Opals Olympic Games qualifying tournament in February and the remainder of the WNBL season.
The Flyers had been in great form however they were more reliant on their starting five than the other teams in the top four with all five starters Cole, Russell, Mitchell, O’Hea and Blicavs ranking in the top 20 of the league for scoring. One of the queries experts had about the Flyers roster was how they would fare without one of their starters for an extended time so O’Hea’s wrist injury would test the depth of the Flyers, guard Aimie Rocci was brought into the starting line-up.
In Round 15 against Adelaide at home Bec scored a season-high 28 points, making 10 of 17 field goal attempts for an accuracy of 58.8% and made two of four three-pointers. In the 81-69 victory at Dandenong Stadium Bec also made a team-high five assists and was named the WNBL’s Player of the Week for her brilliant performance.
The Southside Flyers recorded 17 wins and four losses during the 2019/20 regular season to finish on top of the ladder, two wins ahead of the University of Canberra Capitals and Melbourne Boomers who finished second and third respectively, followed by the Adelaide Lightning in fourth position on 12 wins.
Between the end of the 2019/20 WNBL regular season and the start of the finals there was a weekend with no games played due to the FIBA Qualifiers window and whilst Bec wasn’t involved on court she made her debut for Fox Sports, providing special comments alongside play by play commentator Ben Waterworth for the Australian Opals first two games of the Olympic Games qualifying tournament. Bec’s Flyers team-mates Mitchell and Blicavs were members of the Opals team at the tournament and Southside Head Coach Cheryl Chambers was an Opals Assistant Coach. Bec was a guest on the 12 February edition of the WNBL Show Podcast. Host Megan Hustwaite asked Bec “How did you enjoy your commentary debut?” Bec replied “I absolutely loved it, I was lucky enough to get a practice run through with Ben Waterworth a week before so that was really good to get the confidence going and I just felt like I was almost out there with the girls so I was just so glad to be a part of it and something I definitely want to do in the future. Great experience, I just felt the excitement in studio for the girls so I can imagine how they would have felt out on court.”
Later in the interview Hustwaite commented “Aside from your commentary it has been business as usual on the court at Dandenong Stadium for the Flyers.” Bec responded “It has, it’s almost been a little pre-season again for us back home at Dandenong Basketball Stadium. We are raring to go, it is finals time, debut season for the club, I just feel it is really exciting first season for the Flyers and we have been able to finish on top and we just really want to finish the year off strong and would love to get the first (series) final won so we can get our captain Jenna O’Hea back for the Grand Final series, that would be my main goal.” Hustwaite asked “It is such an exciting time and I think going back to even Round 1 when you beat Townsville there has just been this vibe about this team. On-floor of course you have been incredibly successful in the regular season but you just all look to be enjoying yourselves and playing each other.” Bec responded “It is exactly like what you just said. The vibe and feel within the group is just so effortless, everyone works hard, we all get along so well. I think a lot of that comes from Cheryl though, allowing us to work hard at basketball but also life happens and late last year in December I was going through a couple of rough things and I don’t think I would have been able to get through if it wasn’t for my team and it is pretty great and a special thing just for me to be able to say that, I am really excited for this team and everyone has each other’s back, I am ready for finals, it is going to be good.”
Bec Cole shooting a free throw for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on on 4 November 2019
In game 1 of their semi final series against Adelaide at Dandenong Stadium on 18 February the Southside Flyers recorded a three point victory, 68-65. In game two on the road at Adelaide 36ers Arena on 22 February the lead changed several times in the first three quarters. Cole made a crucial banked three pointer on the three quarter-time buzzer to regain the lead for Southside. The Flyers scored the opening two field goals of the final term through Blicavs and Mitchell and won game 2 82-79 on the road. Cole registered her first double-double of the season comprised of 19 points and 10 rebounds to set team-highs in both categories. Bec also made a game-high five steals and had five assists – ranked second for the Flyers behind Mitchell with nine. All five Flyers starters scored at least 12 points with Cole being joined in this category by Mitchell (18 points), Aimie Rocci (a season high 18 points), Russell (15) and Blicavs (12).
The Southside Flyers Grand Final opponent was the University of Canberra Capitals who defeated the Melbourne Boomers 2-1 in their semi final series with the home side winning each game. Canberra won the regular season split against Southside 2-1 with the away side winning all three games.
Southside Flyers captain Jenna O’Hea returned from injury for the Grand Final series but started game 1 on the bench with guard Aimie Rocci retaining her position in the starting line-up. After the Capitals scored the first five points of game 1 of the Grand Final series at Dandenong Stadium on 4 March Cole with 14 points in the second quarter was influential in the Flyers gaining a 47-43 half-time lead. Southside extended their lead to six points 71-65 with eight minutes and 48 seconds remaining in the game, however were outscored 9-17 from that point to be defeated by two points. Capitals guard Olivia Epoupa scored the final basket of the game with one minute and 20 seconds remaining. Bec scored 23 points, had seven assists and two blocks to register game-highs in all three categories.
Bec Cole shooting a three-pointer for Southside Flyers against UC Capitals at Dandenong Stadium on 1 March 2020
Southside captain O’Hea returned to the Flyers starting line-up for game 2 at the AIS Arena on 4 March. Cole scored 19 points in the first half including 12 points in the second quarter to help set-up a 45-31 lead for the Flyers with one minute and 19 seconds remaining in the first half however the University of Canberra Capitals then went on a 15-0 run to lead 46-45 with five minutes and five seconds remaining in the third term. At half-time Cole had two fouls, after being called for her third and fourth fouls in the first three minutes and 20 seconds of the third quarter Cole was substituted out of the game with the Flyers leading 45-38. The Flyers were outscored 9-25 in the third quarter and trailed by two points, 54-56 at the final change. Bec was substituted into the game with Southside trailing 56-62, seven minutes and 43 seconds remained in the game, she scored four points and provided an assist to Blicavs to reduce the margin. The Flyers fought back to lead 68-67 with two minutes and six seconds remaining, however 2019/20 WNBL MVP Kia Nurse made a three-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to give the Capitals a two point lead. The Capitals defeated the Flyers 71-68 to win their ninth WNBL championship.
In 2019/20 Cole played all 25 games for the Southside Flyers, averaging 17.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 28.6 minutes per game and had a field goal accuracy of 49.3%. Bec led the Flyers in points per game, ranked second for assists behind Mitchell, fifth for rebounds and second for steals behind O’Hea. Of the players that played at least five games in 2019/20 Cole ranked third in the WNBL for scoring per game behind Kia Nurse and Alice Kunek, ranked equal 11th for steals and equal 12th for assists. Bec’s field goal accuracy of 49.3% ranked 11th in the league of the players that made at least 25 field goals in the season.
Cole was one of four Southside Flyers to earn selection in an All-WNBL team for the 2019/20 season with captain Jenna O’Hea and Leilani Mitchell being selected in the first team, centre Mercedes Russell joined Cole in the second-team. Before game 1 of the 2019/20 WNBL Grand Final series between the Southside Flyers and the University of Canberra Capitals at Dandenong Stadium on 1 March the four Flyers who earned 2019/20 WNBL All-Star selection and Capitals import Kia Nurse who won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award and was selected in the WNBL All-Star first team were recognised for their achievements. Mitchell won the Southside Flyers 2019/20 MVP Award with Cole and O’Hea finishing in equal second place.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 the 2020 WNBL season had a very different structure to previous seasons and imports weren’t eligible to play in the league. All eight WNBL clubs were located in North Queensland for the duration of the 2020 WNBL season which was played at three locations, Townsville, Cairns and Mackay. The regular season was condensed to five rounds commencing 11 November and each team played 13 regular season games.
Although it was more difficult for fans to attend games in 2020 due to the season being played in hubs in North Queensland the WNBL had an increased television presence and there was less competition from other sports for the attention of viewers. All 52 games during the 2020 WNBL season were broadcast on Kayo, 10 games including the Grand Final were shown on free to air network ABC and 21 games including all four finals were telecast on Foxtel.
Five of the six Flyers players that averaged more than 13 minutes per game during the 2019/20 season suited up for the Flyers again in 2020 with players in this category being Cole, Aimie Rocci, O’Hea, Blicavs and Mitchell. American centre Mercedes Russell was unable to return due to being an import.
Southside’s recruits for the 2020 WNBL season included Australian Opals centre Liz Cambage, and two veterans returning to the WNBL after not playing during 2019/20 in forward Rachel Jarry and shooting guard Steph Blicavs. Cambage and Jarry are both two-time Olympians, having played for the Opals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Cambage played 10 games for the Jayco Rangers during her 2007/08 debut WNBL season whilst Jarry played for the Rangers in 2018/19 before having a season off in 2019/20. After having her son Arlow in October 2019 Steph Blicavs made her WNBL return in 2020 and continued her long history with the Dandenong based WNBL team, having won the Rangers MVP award four times in eight seasons with the club.
Throughout the 2020 WNBL season the Southside Flyers had 10 players that played every game they were available for including eight players who averaged more than 16 minutes per game with starters Mitchell, Cole, O’Hea, Sara Blicavs and Cambage all averaging between 23 and 29 minutes per game whilst a trio of experienced players in Rocci, Steph Blicavs and Jarry averaged between 16 and 21.5 minutes per game. Bec Pizzey and Monique Conti played all 15 games and averaged 7.5 and 6.6 minutes per game respectively.
At the start of the 2020 WNBL season the Flyers were the favourites to win the championship. In their first six games Southside had one loss to each of the teams considered to be their biggest rivals for the title, losing to the Melbourne Boomers 72-89 in their second game of the season and were defeated by the University of Canberra Capitals 72-95 in their first game of Round 3.
Against the Sydney Uni Flames on 15 November at Townsville Stadium Cole scored a game-high 27 points in 26 minutes and 35 seconds court-time, took three rebounds and had three assists in Southside’s 99-72 victory. Cole shot the ball proficiently to make 11 of 15 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 73% and was even more damaging from long-range, making four of five three-pointers at an accuracy of 80%.
During the Southside Flyers penultimate game of the regular season they fought back from a nine point deficit against the Sydney Uni Flames with under three minutes remaining to win 81-77 at Townsville Stadium however captain O’Hea suffered a knee injury in the final minute of the game and had to be substituted out. Against Sydney Cole scored 14 points, made five of nine field goal attempts at an accuracy of 55%, made an equal game-high five assists along with teammates Mitchell and Rocci and made a game-high five steals.
Due to her knee injury O’Hea was expected to miss the rest of the 2020 WNBL season, as happened late in the 2019/20 season Rocci was brought into the Flyers starting line-up in place of her injured captain.
The Southside Flyers finished their regular season with a 101-82 victory against the University of Canberra Capitals on 13 December at Townsville Stadium. Cole scored an equal game-high 23 points, made nine of 16 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 56%, made five of seven three pointers at an accuracy of 71% and made eight assists – ranked second for the game behind teammate Mitchell with nine.
Southside won their last seven games of the regular season to finish the 2020 season on top of the WNBL ladder with a record of 11 wins and two losses, two games ahead of the teams that finished second to fourth – Townsville Fire, University of Canberra Capitals and Melbourne Boomers.
During the Southside Flyers 106-93 semi final victory against Townsville Fire at Townsville Stadium on Wednesday 16 December Cole scored 22 points – ranked second for the Flyers behind Cambage with 31 points, made eight of 13 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 61% and made three assists.
On Friday December 18 Townsville won a thrilling preliminary final against the Melbourne Boomers 65-62 to progress to the Grand Final against the Southside Flyers. For the second season in a row Southside Flyers captain O’Hea was able to recover quicker than expected from a late season injury to play in the WNBL Grand Final. As with game one of the 2019/20 Grand Final O’Hea started on the bench and Rocci remained in the starting line-up.
In the Grand Final on 20 December at Townsville Stadium the Southside Flyers led 48-46 at half-time and were able to gain the ascendancy in the second half to have a 99-82 victory and win the WNBL championship. Cole scored 22 points in the Grand Final – ranked second for the Flyers behind Mitchell with 31 points, made seven of 10 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 70%, made two of three shots from behind the arc, made all six free throws and made a game-high five steals – four more than the second ranked players for the game. It was the club’s fourth WNBL Championship, having previously won titles as the Jayco Dandenong Rangers in 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2011/12. Three members of the 2020 Championship winning team had also played in the 2011/12 Championship – O’Hea, Steph Blicavs and Rocci.
During the 2020 season Cole played all 15 games for the Southside Flyers and averaged 15.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 24.2 minutes court-time per game. Cole shot the ball superbly to make 58% of field goal attempts and 54.3% of three-pointers. During the 2020 WNBL season with the Southside Flyers Cole maintained a high level of performance to rank in the WNBL’s top 10 for points per game (7th), assists (5th), steals (4th), field goal percentage (3rd) and 3 point percentage (4th). Whilst Cole was unlucky to miss out on selection in an All-WNBL team in 2020, more than 10 years after her debut with the AIS in 2009/10 she was able to achieve a major goal of playing in a WNBL Championship.
Big V League with the Bulleen Boomers in 2021
Cole played for the Bulleen Boomers alongside 2021/22 Southside Flyers teammate Kate Gaze during the 2021 Big V season. Cole played nine games for the Boomers and averaged 30.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Cole led the Big V league in scoring and Bulleen teammate Gaze ranked fourth. The Big V season was paused due to COVID-19 in early August and ultimately the remainder of the Big V League season was cancelled.
Playing for Waverley Falcons in the 2022 and 2023 NBL1 South seasons
In the2022 and 2023 NBL1 South seasons Cole played for Waverley Falcons and was teammates with current Southside Flyers teammate Carley Ernst. Other Waverley teammates for both seasons included guard Amelia Todhunter and forwards Sophia Locandro and Renae Mokrzycki. In a 2022 preliminary final on the road at Red Energy Arena Cole scored a team-high 22 points and made an equal game-high eight assists in a 76-79 loss to Bendigo Braves. Cole shot the ball proficiently to make eight of 13 field goals at an accuracy of 61.5% and made four of seven three-pointers at 57.1%.
Cole played 22 games for the Waverley Falcons during the 2022 NBL1 South season and averaged a team-high 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, a team-high 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Cole scored at least 20 points in a game 10 times including the last five games of the season.
On 12 August Waverley Falcons played Bendigo Braves in the 2023 NBL1 South Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre. Bendigo entered the Grand Final on a 24 game winning streak, having won all 22 regular season games and two finals. Waverley started the Grand Final brilliantly to lead 10-0. Bendigo fought back to reduce Waverley’s lead to one point 41-40 at half-time. With two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter the Falcons trailed the Braves 78-79. Waverley conceded the last four points of the game and were defeated 78-83. In the Grand Final Cole scored 14 points, took three rebounds and made three assists.
During the 2023 NBL1 South season Cole played 21 games for Waverley and averaged a team-high 19.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, a team-high 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Cole scored at least 20 points in a game 13 times including a season-high 36 points in a 93-85 road victory against Knox Raiders at the State Basketball Centre on 21 May.
On 20 January 2024 Waverley Falcons announced that Cole had signed with the club for the 2024 NBL 1 South season. Days later the Falcons announced that Ernst had signed with the club for 2024. It will be the third consecutive NBL1 season that Cole and Ernst are teammates at Waverley, the duo are also in their third consecutive WNBL season as teammates at Southside Flyers.
2021/22 to 2023/24 WNBL seasons with the Southside Flyers
The Southside Flyers announced on 16 June 2021 that Cole had signed with the club for the 2021/22 season. Cole commented to WNBL Media “It is so enjoyable being part of the Flyers, this was a no brainer. Obviously winning the Championship was the icing on the cake but it is more than enjoying team success on the court, it is such a great group, fantastic teammates, great coaches and support staff. It is hard work but it is also fun.”23
On Cole suiting up again for the Southside Flyers in 2021/22 head coach Chambers commented “Bec is such an important player for our team, she shoots the 3, she is quick, drives to the basket and she defends strongly. It is even more than her obvious basketball talent. Her determination and work ethic are first class, and she certainly sets high standards at training and in games. Combine that with her bubbly personality and the enjoyment she gets from playing and being around the team makes Bec very important for us.”23
Five of the eight Southside Flyers players that averaged more than 15 minutes court-time per game in 2020 returned in 2021/22. The Southside players in this category were Aimie Rocci, O’Hea, Sara Blicavs, Cole, and Jarry who had more than 1,000 games WNBL experience between them.
Against Bendigo Spirit on 4 December at Dandenong Stadium in the opening game of the WNBL season the Southside Flyers starting line-up was Maddy Rocci and Cole in the back-court along with O’Hea, Blicavs and Abby Bishop in the front-court. Other members of the Flyers 10 player main roster were Aimie Rocci, Jarry, Kristy Wallace, Kate Gaze and Emilee Harmon.
On 2 December 2021 Cole spoke about the 2021/22 WNBL season starting later that week, telling SEN Breakfast “It almost feels like Christmas is coming early, I just can’t wait to get out there in front of our fans again. It’s like that atmosphere that you play with, I’ve definitely missed that, I’m a quite passionate player as you could probably see by that little commentary there, so I’m super pumped.”
On Southside’s pre-season Cole told SEN Breakfast “Half of our core is still there but then we have also got some big new names that have come in so I am glad we have had about six weeks of pre-season and each practice game that we have had we are getting better, the chemistry is coming along, it is going to be pretty exciting.”
Bec was asked about Southside’s Round 1 game “It is going to be a big night isn’t it Bec, you are obviously going to unveil the championship banner prior to the game as well.” Cole responded “Yeah, I can’t wait to see that drop, our GM Tracey Browning sent us a picture and I was like ‘wow that was almost a year ago that we did that’. We won a championship and then we flew home and it was COVID, so we haven’t really got to celebrate it. It will just be quite an honour to watch that be unveiled and I think it will get everyone super excited. ‘Hey, let’s bloody do that again.’”
On SEN Breakfast Cole was asked “The COVID enforced delay between seasons, what does that mean for you guys psychologically, normally you would be adjusting going from the hunter to the hunted and there would be more teams after you this weekend, that’s what happens when you are on the top of the pops so to speak.” Cole replied “I actually love it, I love pressure, I love when you are playing against great competition because I feel like you can get the best out of yourself and the team. This season the playing field is pretty even so every game you are going to have to come out hard and ready to play or you are going to get a whooping so I think it is exciting. That was my first senior championship so for me even if a target is on our back bring it on, I love that.”
In Round 1 of the 2021/22 WNBL season at Dandenong Stadium Cole scored 24 points, took three rebounds and had four assists in the Southside Flyers 94-83 victory against the Bendigo Spirit. Cole shot the ball adeptly to make 10 of 15 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 66.7% and made four of six three-pointers.
On Thursday night, 23 December 2021 Cole played her 200th WNBL game in the Southside Flyers home game against Townsville Fire at Dandenong Stadium. It was exactly three years after Cole achieved another milestone, having played WNBL game number 150 for the Dandenong Rangers against the Melbourne Boomers on 23 December 2018. Cole was the third Southside Flyers player to reach a significant milestone in 2021/22 following Abby Bishop and Aimie Rocci who played their 250th and 200th WNBL games respectively against the Melbourne Boomers on 11 December 2021 at Melbourne Sports Centre Parkville. Whilst it took Cole until her eighth season on a WNBL roster to play her 100th WNBL game on 13 December 2016, she was able to achieve her wish and played the next 100 games far quicker, progressing from 100 to 200 games in five years and 10 days.
On court just before Southside’s Round 4 game against Townsville a presentation was made to Cole recognising her milestone of 200 WNBL games.
Bec Cole with Southside Flyers head coach Cheryl Chambers as Cole is recognised for reaching 200 WNBL games, at Dandenong Stadium on 23 December 2021
Shooting guard Cole in WNBL game number 200 on Thursday night 23 December 2021 displayed an abundance of persistence, skill and determination to play a pivotal role in the Flyers overcoming an 18 point deficit late in the second quarter to defeat Townsville Fire by five points, 86-81. In the Round 4 home game at Dandenong Stadium Cole scored a game-high 24 points, made three assists, two steals and blocked two shots. Cole shot the ball proficiently to make seven of 12 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 58.3%, made two of three three-pointers at 66.7% and made eight of nine free throws at 88.9%.
Southside Flyers team huddle after the five point victory against Townsville Fire in Cole’s 200th WNBL game at Dandenong Stadium on 23 December 2021On the day after her 200th WNBL game Cole reflected on her milestone and made the post below on Instagram.
Southside missed the finals in 2021/22 and the club’s final regular season game against Adelaide Lightning on 19 March 2022 at the Lights Community and Sports Centre was the 299th and final game of Flyers captain Jenna O’Hea’s WNBL career. In Southside’s 87-79 victory Cole scored a team-high 23 points, took four rebounds, made an equal team-high five assists and an equal team-high two steals.
Bec Cole playing for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers on 11 December 2021 at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville
In a post-game interview with Fox Sports after Southside’s victory against Adelaide Cole commented “Honestly I think it has been very overwhelming for everyone, right after we won the game we huddled and there was tears everywhere and people weren’t really quite sure why they were crying.” Ben Waterworth asked “Bec you have been able to spend the past couple of seasons working closely with Jenna O’Hea both at the Southside Flyers and previously at the Melbourne Boomers as well, what has she meant for you personally as you have progressed as a basketballer?” Cole responded “Not only is she one of my best friends and I am so proud of her and her career, she has really been a leader and a confidant, just someone who gets into my soul, gets me thinking, challenges me but is also my biggest supporter. The fact that I have been able to share the floor, share the gym room and the team room with her, someone who I absolutely adore and love, I am absolutely honoured and privileged. I am just so proud of her and love her to bits and this next chapter is going to be absolutely amazing for her.”
During the 2021/22 WNBL season Cole played 15 games for the Southside Flyers and averaged 16.7 points, a career high 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 29.5 minutes per game. In 12 games Cole scored at least 13 points including six games with more than 19 points. Cole ranked fifth in the WNBL for points per game and 15th for assists. From long range Cole was very effective, making 33 of 71 three-pointers at an accuracy of 46.5% to rank third for three-point accuracy amongst players that made at least 10 shots from behind the arc. Cole won Southside’s 2021/22 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and averaged more than 15.0 points per game for the fourth consecutive season.
Cole was one of five members of the Flyers 2021/22 main roster with 100 WNBL games plus experience that returned to the club for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season along with Bishop, Sara Blicavs, Aimie Rocci and Maddy Rocci. In the off-season the Flyers recruited two front-court players that had each played more than 150 WNBL games – Lauren Jackson and Carley Ernst. Four-time Olympic games medallist Jackson was making a WNBL return at 41 years of age. Ernst had a son Kylan in September 2021 and seven months later was part of the Melbourne Boomers WNBL Championship winning team in April 2022. Aimie Rocci was appointed Southside’s captain for the 2022/23 season.
The Jayco Southside Flyers 10 player main roster was completed by three players who didn’t have previous WNBL experience. American import Kayla Thornton who had played 194 WNBA regular season games and two members of the Australian Gems silver medal winning team at the 2021 FIBA Women’s Under 19 World Cup – Nyadiew Puoch and Dallas Loughridge.
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 2022/23 season. Monique Conti was signed to Southside’s main roster early in the season and had been a member of the Flyers 2020 WNBL Championship winning team.
During the 2022/23 WNBL season the Southside Flyers commenced playing their home games at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South, having previously played home games at Dandenong Stadium.
Southside’s full-strength starting line-up in 2022/23 was Maddi Rocci and Cole in the back court along with Thornton, Blicavs and Jackson in the front court. 10 players averaged more than 12.0 minutes per game for Southside with the five starters being joined in this category by Bishop, Puoch, Rocci, Conti and Ernst.
Against Sydney Flames in a Southside home game at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022 Cole made 10 of 17 field goals at an accuracy of 58.8%, made three of four three-pointers at 75%, scored a game-high 24 points and took three rebounds in an 82-75 victory.
Bec Cole playing for Southside Flyers against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2022
Southside captain Aimie Rocci played seven games but due to a back injury was on the sidelines from mid-December until the end of the season, during this time Cole was the Flyers acting captain.
On Saturday night 4 February the Southside Flyers hosted the Sydney Flames in the first ever WNBL game at John Cain Arena. One of the reasons for playing at the larger venue was to celebrate the incredible career of Lauren Jackson. Things did not go to plan on court and unfortunately in the opening minute of the game Jackson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. A WNBL all-time record crowd of 7,681 fans watched a thrilling contest with Sydney prevailing to defeat Southside by one point 68-67. The crowd at the Southside vs Sydney game surpassed “the league’s previous attendance record from 1995, when 7,500 fans packed into Adelaide 36ers Arena for the Grand Final matchup between Adelaide Lightning and the Melbourne Tigers.”25
Bec Cole playing for Southside Flyers against Bendigo Spirit at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
At the State Basketball Centre in Southside’s 102-83 victory against Perth Lynx on 19 February Cole made nine of 16 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 56.3%, scored 19 points, and made a game-high seven assists. Three days later against the Melbourne Boomers in a home game at SBC Cole made a game-high and season eight assists in an 82-67 victory.
Bec Cole shooting a jump shot for Southside Flyers against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023
The Southside Flyers finished second on the WNBL ladder with 15 wins and six losses, the same record as cross-town rivals the Melbourne Boomers. Due to winning the season series between the two clubs three games to nil Southside won the tie-breaker which enabled them to finish higher on the ladder. Townsville Fire finished on top of the ladder with 17 wins and four losses and Perth Lynx finished fourth with 13 wins and eight losses.
In game one of the semi final series against the Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 8 March Cole scored 17 points, took five rebounds, made four assists and two steals in an 84-76 victory. The home side won all three games of the semi final series and Southside advanced to the Grand Final with a thrilling 73-72 victory in game 3 against the Boomers at SBC on 15 March.
Townsville Fire defeated Perth Lynx two games to nil in a semi final series and entered the 2023/24 Grand Final against Southside on a 14 game winning streak. In game 1 of the Grand Final Townsville outscored Southside 28-14 in the first quarter to lead by 14 points at quarter time. Townsville went on to have a convincing 94-63 victory against Southside. Cole shot the ball proficiently to make nine of 12 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 75%, made her only three-pointer, scored a team-high 20 points and took four rebounds.
In game two of the Grand Final series at the State Basketball Centre on 22 March Southside led Townsville 64-59 with seven minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. For the rest of the game Townsville outplayed Southside, going on a 23-5 run to have an 82-69 victory and won the Grand Final series two games to nil. Cole scored a game-high 26 points, shooting at 68.8% from the field, took two rebounds, made two assists and one steal. During the Grand Final series Cole 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%.
After winning Southside’s 2021/22 MVP award guard 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 played all 26 games for Southside in 2022/23 and averaged 10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists (ranked 15th in the WNBL), 1.2 steals (equal 17th) and 28.7 minutes per game. In 2022/23 Cole made 25 of 72 three-pointers at an accuracy of 34.7%.
Bec Cole shooting a three-pointer for Southside Flyers against Bendigo Spirit at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023
Six players from the Southside Flyers 2022/23 roster returned to club in 2023/24 including three players that started every game they played for the club in 2022/23 – Cole, Rocci and Jackson. Also returning were forwards Ernst and Puoch along with point guard Loughridge.
After Cole signed with Southside for 2023/24 Flyers Head Coach Cheryl Chambers commented “Bec continues to drive the standards at training and in games and her passion on the court is something our fans love to see. Her performances in the Grand Final series highlighted her desire and commitment to the team and why our fans love watching her play. She certainly leaves it all on the court.”26
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 moved in the opposite direction from Melbourne to Southside.
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On the eve of the 2023/24 season commencing Milestones and Misses published a Comprehensive guide to player movement and main rosters for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. The comprehensive guide provides details on the player movement and main rosters from a league wide perspective and then looks at these two aspects for each of the eight WNBL clubs. The club section includes player profiles on every player on a main roster as at 30 October 2023. A profile on each club’s Head Coach is also included. A link to this comprehensive guide is below:
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In a Stitch Untitled TV interview published in September 2023 Cole commented “Sometimes it is not until you retire or you are done playing that sport and you look back and go maybe I didn’t achieve all my goals I ever wanted but damn I gotta be proud of myself. Like I know there is no one out there well that I know of that has gone through 10 knee surgeries. Would my life be different if that didn’t happen, probably but I can’t look at that. I’m damn proud that I am still playing today, I’m grinding, I am in pain every day but I love what I do and that’s future Coley problems. I think now I am a bit older, I am towards the end of my career. Now I feel like I stop and smell the roses cos soon that is gonna be done and that is gonna be sad and that is scary. But I have, I have achieved so much and even you just asking me that question makes me be like, no I really have, maybe it wasn’t everything you wanted but you gotta be damn proud of what you have done. Cos I am luckier than still maybe the person next to me who never got to experience to wear the green and gold.”
During 2023/24 Cole has done some media work for the television coverage of the WNBL and NBL seasons. Cole has provided special comments for the television broadcast of WNBL games on ESPN and 9 Now and been a sideline commentator for the television coverage of NBL games. During 2023/24 Cole and NBL player Mitch Creek have started hosting The Performance Circus podcast covering performance, mindset, lifestyle and success.
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. After being announced as the Flyers captain Cole commented “This is a real honour, and I am very proud. I have been a Flyers since day one, I love this club and all the people involved and look forward to a great season. The Captaincy role is one amongst equals in this team, as we have such great leadership in our group.”27
Two constants for the Southside Flyers in all five seasons from their inaugural 2019/20 season through to the current 2023/24 season have been Cheryl Chambers as the Head Coach and shooting guard Cole as a player. In the off-season Southside 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. Southside’s 11 player main roster for the 2023/24 season was completed by forward Klara Wischer and American import guard Jasmine Dickey.
Cole has started all 22 games she has played for the Flyers in 2023/24 and has averaged 28.1 minutes per game, ranked third behind Russell (34.1) and Rocci (29.6). Five Southside players have averaged between 16.0 and 26.0 minutes per game – Mitchell, Jackson, Puoch, Dickey and Ernst.
At the State Basketball Centre in Southside’s opening game of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season on 4 November Cole made five of 10 three-pointers at 50% and scored a game-high 25 points in a 70-77 loss to the Melbourne Boomers.
In Southside’s Round 7 loss to Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 14 December Cole scored 16 points, took an equal team-high four rebounds and made a season-high and game-high 10 assists. Cole recorded the 750th assists of her career in the home game against Townsville.
Against Bendigo Spirit on the road at Red Energy Arena on 17 December Cole scored 24 points, took four rebounds, made two assists and one steal in a 91-81 victory. Cole shot the ball exceptionally to make 11 of 14 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 78.6%. In the victory against Bendigo Cole made the 500th free throw of her WNBL career. For her superb games in Round 7 Cole was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Round.
Cole played her 250th WNBL game on 12 January in a Southside Flyers home game at the State Basketball Centre against the Sydney Flames and became the 82nd person to become a WNBL life Member. WNBL Life Members are mainly comprised of players but also include coaches, referees and administrators. The WNBL commenced more than 40 years ago in 1981 which means that on average just under 2.0 people per year have received WNBL Life Membership which highlights how significant this achievement is.
Amazingly three players that played their debut WNBL game for the Australian Institute of Sport on 19 December 2009 against Dandenong Rangers at the AIS Training Hall have become WNBL Life Members with Cole joining Sara Blicavs and current Southside teammate Carley Ernst in this category. Blicavs and Ernst both played their 250th WNBL game and received life membership in 2022/23. A total of six players that played for the AIS in 2009/10 have earnt WNBL Life Membership with this group also including Maddie Garrick, Nadeen Payne and Tess Madgen.
Reflecting on her journey to 250 games and achieving the milestone with the Southside Flyers Cole told WNBL Media “I started at 17 with AIS as a baby and now to still be playing is amazing, the injuries I’ve overcome in my time and to now notch up 250 games is something special. It’s so special, I have been with the team since they became Southside, and to Captain a team with girls that I love and trust just makes it even better.”28
Bec Cole blocking a shot by Lauren Nicholson in Southside Flyers game against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2024
In the third quarter of Cole’s milestone game Southside trailed Sydney 47-55 with four minutes and 55 seconds remaining. With the final score of the third quarter Southside hit the lead and at three quarter time led 59-58. Cole made a pull up jump shot with 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to extend Southside’s lead to six points. Fittingly it was the final score of the game and Southside recorded a 79-73 victory in Cole’s 250th WNBL game. Cole scored nine points and made five assists in her milestone game.
Southside Flyers team photo along with Waverley Falcons players and children of Flyers players after Southside’s victory against Sydney in Cole’s 250th WNBL game on 12 January
Bec Cole being interviewed by Chris Sermeno after her 250th WNBL game on 12 January 2024
Against Bendigo Spirit in a home game at Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre on 17 January Cole scored a game-high 17 points, took five rebounds and made a game-high seven assists and one steal in Southside’s 84-57 victory. Cole shot the ball efficiently to make six of 10 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 60%, three of four three-pointers at 75% and two of two free throws.
Bec Cole making a lay up for Southside Flyers against Bendigo Spirit at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on 17 January 2024
Southside Flyers team huddle after their victory against Bendigo Spirit at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on 17 January 2024
During Round 13 from 24 to 31 January the WNBL held it’s second Fighting Period Poverty Round, “a dedicated initiative aimed at addressing period poverty in Australia. Fighting Period Poverty Round was officially inaugurated in Melbourne on Thursday, January 18, with players, partners, and officials joining forces to pack toiletry bags for distribution by charity partner Share the Dignity.”29
Against Perth Lynx in a home game at the State Basketball Centre on 31 January Cole scored 21 points, made three of seven three-pointers at 42.9%, took three rebounds and made seven assists in Southside’s 91-70 victory.
Bec Cole shooting a jump shot for Southside Flyers game against Perth Lynx at the State Basketball Centre on 31 January 2024
On 24 February Cole become the 39th player in WNBL history to reach 3,000 career points, achieving the milestone with her 14th point against Adelaide in Southside Flyers Round 15 home game at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville. Cole finished the game against Adelaide with an equal game-high 20 points at an accuracy of 57.1% from the field, made two of four three-pointers and made a game-high four steals.
Bec Cole shooting a jump shot for Southside Flyers against Adelaide Lightning at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 24 February 2024
Southside finished second on the ladder with 13 wins and eight losses, one win behind minor premiers Townsville and one win ahead of Melbourne Boomers in third place. Three teams, Perth Lynx, Sydney Flames and Bendigo Spirit were tied on 11 wins and 10 losses for fourth to sixth. In the head to games between the three clubs Perth had four wins and two losses, Sydney three wins and three losses and Bendigo had two wins and four losses. This resulted in Perth securing the fourth and final play-off berth, Sydney finishing fifth and Bendigo finishing sixth.
The four finalists for 2023/24, Townsville, Southside, Melbourne and Perth finished in the same order as last season, resulting in the same semi final match ups as 2022-23 with Southside playing Melbourne and Townsville playing Perth.
Since rebranding from the Dandenong Rangers to the Southside Flyers in July 2019 Southside have now finished in the top two on the ladder in four of their five seasons, on the previous three occasions the Flyers made the Grand Final.
At the 2023/24 WNBL Awards held at Rydges Melbourne on Sunday night 25 February Cole won the Fighting Period Poverty Bloody Legend Award. The award was presented by Rochelle Courtenay, the founder of Share the Dignity.
Due to redevelopment works at the State Basketball Centre the Southside Flyers usual home court, the show court is not available. All games in the semi final series between Melbourne and Southside are being played at the Boomers home court, Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville. The home side won the first two games with Southside having a 90-86 game 1 victory and Melbourne having an 88-67 win in game 2. The third and deciding game is being played at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville tonight and starts at 7pm.
Bec Cole playing for Southside Flyers in game 2 of their semi final against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 2 March 2024
In the other semi final series fourth placed Perth Lynx upset minor premiers Townsville Fire two games to nil to make their second Grand Final in three seasons. The winner of game three between Southside and Melbourne tonight will make it to the Grand Final against Perth and will host game 1 and game 3 (if required) at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville. Perth will host game 2 at Bendat Basketball Centre. The dates of the games for the 2023/24 WNBL Grand Final are Game 1 – Sunday 10 March, Game 2- Thursday 14 March and Game 3 Sunday 17 March (if required).
During 2023/24 Cole has played 22 of a possible 23 games for the Flyers and is averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 28.1 minutes per game. Cole ranks equal seventh in the WNBL for assists per game, 22nd for points and equal 21st for three-pointers.
Cole has had at least five assists in a game nine times in 2023/24 including six of Southside’s seven games in January 2024. During 2023/24 Cole has made 29 of 78 three-pointers at an accuracy of 37.2% to rank 14th in the league for accuracy among players that have attempted at least 10 three-pointers. Cole has made at least 20 three-pointers and had an accuracy of at least 34% in six consecutive WNBL seasons from 2018/19 to 2023/24 which is comprised of one seasons for Dandenong Rangers followed by five seasons for the Southside Flyers.
Epilogue and looking towards the future
Late in the Stitch Untitled TV interview published in September 2023 Cole commented “Now I am excited for my next journey. I have got a few years left in me and I am going to give it everything that I got, I want to win a championship. If I could make it back into Aussie squad great but I am not basing my identity or my success on that. I am gonna work hard every day, gonna be the best that I can be for my team and I want everyone to have a great experience. I am dabbling in what I want to do in life after sport, for once I have never felt that before but I get that same feeling when I am doing that media stuff when I do when I am on the court, you know that is something special. So I am also excited for the next Bec Cole, what’s she gonna be?”
For me I wanna to be in the media, I wanna be in sports, I absolutely love it, I love people, I love you know not just basketball, any games. For me that is what I am trying to work on, get better at and learn as much skills as I can so a transition is easier. Hopefully some commentating stuff whether that be with WNBL or NBL. Absolutely love that and want to get the most out of that as I can, maybe a sneaky podcast coming up so #watchthisspace.”
During Cole’s first seven seasons on a WNBL roster she played a total of 87 WNBL games. Due to a right knee reconstruction Cole played only two games in 2011/12 with the AIS and she missed the entire 2015/16 WNBL season with the Melbourne Boomers due to a left knee reconstruction. In her WNBL career from 2009/10 to 2017/18 Cole played as a point guard and had a career-high of 11.7 points per game playing for the Melbourne Boomers in 2014/15.
From 2017 to 2021 Cole captained Australia in 3×3 basketball and played a pivotal role in her country winning gold medals at several international tournaments including the 2019 Asia Cup where she was named the Most Valuable Player. Skills gained by Cole playing 3×3 basketball with the increased physicality and faster pace transferred across to her game in the traditional 5 on 5 format.
During 2018/19 playing as a shooting guard for the Dandenong Rangers Bec took her basketball to another stratosphere to average 19.4 points per game and was runner-up in the league’s MVP award. Playing for the Southside Flyers from 2019/20 to the current 2023/24 WNBL season Cole has averaged more than 12.0 points per game in four of her five seasons. In the first 259 games of her WNBL career Cole has averaged 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
After having two knee reconstructions before reaching 100 WNBL games Cole did everything within her power both in the gym and on the basketball court to maximise the chances of staying injury free and remaining on court. Cole succeeded and from 2016/17 onwards has been durable, enabling her to reach 250 WNBL games and becoming the 82nd person to earn WNBL Life Membership. Cole has averaged more than 15.0 points per game in four seasons and late in the 2023/24 WNBL season became the 39th player to reach 3,000 career points. Cole’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity have been major factors in her reaching these significant and much deserved milestones.
Article and photographs by Dean Andrews
Twitter – @DeanAndrews7777
References
1https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/bec-cole-250-wnbl-games/
2 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-18/cole-ruled-out-for-wnbl-season/3577068?pfm=ms
3 WNBL, Media Guide WNBL 2012/13, page 47
6 https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/zela/article/2016/06/24/its-long-way-back-top-bec-cole
7 https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/zela/article/2016/06/24/its-long-way-back-top-bec-cole
12https://pickandroll.com.au/australian-women-aiming-medal-fiba-3×3-world-cup/
13 https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/off-season-update-bec-cole-opts-for-a-change-of-colours/
14 http://wnbl.com.au/dandenong/news/bec-cole-makes-wnbl-all-star-five-for-2019/
15 http://www.dandenongbasketball.com.au/News/rebecca-cole-signs-for-nbl1
16http://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/southside-flyers-a-new-look-team-in-the-wnbl/
17http://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/rebecca-cole-joins-southside-flyers/
18http://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/rebecca-cole-joins-southside-flyers/
23 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/bec-cole-set-for-another-big-season-with-the-flyers/
24 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/bec-cole-set-for-another-big-season-with-the-flyers/
25 https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/the-wnbl-breaks-attendance-record-at-john-cain-arena/
26 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/heart-and-soul-back-for-more/
27 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/captain-coley/
28 https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/bec-cole-250-wnbl-games/
Milestones and misses 