Writing and photographs by Dean Andrews

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games the Gangurrus women’s team of Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle and Ally Wilson have created history by becoming the first 3×3 team to represent Australia at the Olympics. From 2022 to 2024 the Gangurrus women’s team have achieved success representing their nation and have consistently finished on the podium at FIBA 3×3 international tournaments. Highlights achieved by the Gangurrus team of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson include winning a bronze medal at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 and back to back gold medals at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in 2023 and 2024.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games is the second time that 3×3 basketball has been on the Olympic program, with the newer format of basketball having made its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Three nations that competed in the 3×3 women’s basketball tournament in Tokyo and progressed to the medal games are competing in Paris, 2020 Tokyo gold medal winners the United States, bronze medal winners China, whilst 2024 hosts France finished fourth in Tokyo. The Australian Gangurrus are one of five nations competing in a women’s 3×3 Olympic Games tournament for the first time along with Canada, Germany, Spain and Azerbaijan. In Pool A each of the eight nations in the women’s basketball 3×3 tournament play each other once from 30 July to 3 August Paris time. 

The women’s 3×3 basketball tournament in Paris commenced on Tuesday afternoon 30 July Paris time with each of the eight nations playing one game on the opening day of competition. Canada and Australia made their women’s 3×3 Olympic games debut against each other in the second game of the competition. At FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 2024 held in Utsunomiya Shi, Japan in early May Canada and Australia played each other twice. The Gangurrus won both games at UQOT 2, culminating in a 19-16 victory to book their ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In the latest women’s 3×3 FIBA World Rankings Canada have the top three players in the world rankings, front court twin sisters Katherine (ranked 1st in the world) and Michelle Plouffe (3rd) along with guard Paige Crozon (2). On the opening day of 3×3 at the Paris Olympics the Canadian team comprised of the above named trio and guard Kacie Bosch dominated to lead 15-2 with four minutes and 45 seconds remaining. For the remainder of the game Australia went on a 12-7 run, reducing the margin to eight points, being defeated 14-22.

After the game Whittle commented “It’s first game jitters but we’re here now. But it is such a long tournament. We had a tough four minutes but after that we really kicked it into gear and it’s just a shame we gave up so many points.”1 At UOQT 2 2024 Australia had a 16-18 overtime loss to Netherlands in their opening game of the tournament. The Gangurrus won their remaining four games of the tournament to qualify for the Paris Olympics. On the Gangurrus prospects for the remainder of the 3×3 women’s tournament in Paris Whittle said “I have nothing but confidence in my team. We’re more than capable and I’m really confident going into the rest of the tournament.”2

This post covers the following:

• The history of 3×3 basketball
• 3×3 basketball rules
• The 3×3 women’s 2024 Olympic Games tournament in general
• History of the Australian women’s 3×3 team
• Player profiles on the four members of the Australian women’s Gangurrus team for the 3×3 tournament at the Olympic Games 2024

3×3 basketball rules

Most of the rules for 3×3 basketball and the traditional five on five format of the sport are the same however there are some important modifications for 3×3 basketball. 3×3 is played in a basketball half-court. In 3×3 each team has three players on the court and one substitute. A substitution can be made in a dead-ball situation. The playing time for each 3×3 game is 10 minutes, the game concludes at the earlier of a team scoring 21 points or the 10 minutes expiring. If scores are tied at the end of the 10 minutes the first team to score two points in overtime wins the game. When the defensive team gains possession they need to take the basketball past the arc before attempting a shot. At most 3×3 tournaments each team is allowed one time-out and at many tournaments TV time-outs are also called. The shot clock is 12 seconds. A made free throw in both 3×3 and the traditional five on five format of the sport scores one point however a different scoring system is used for shots in general play. In 3×3 a field goal made inside the arc scores 1 point and a successful shot from behind the arc earns 2 points. If a jump ball is called by the referee in general play the defensive team gains possession. Whilst fouls are called in 3×3 basketball referees are more lenient than in 5 on 5 basketball which results in 3×3 being a more physical format of the sport. Team foul 7 and above result in the opposing team having two free throws.

A brief history of 3×3 basketball

The 3×3 basketball page of Olympics.com states “Considered to be the number one urban sport in the world, 3X3 basketball has its roots in street basketball—a creative variation of the indoor game with a less formal structure. Evolving from outdoor courts to the Olympic Games, 3X3 basketball has been structured over the years by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the governing body responsible for developing basketball.”3 

An official 3×3 event was held for the first time at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore. Typically there are two events held at each 3×3 tournament, a men’s event and a women’s event, however some tournaments have also included a mixed event where each team is comprised of two men and two women. In 2011 a FIBA 3×3 Under 18 World Cup was held in Rimini, Italy. The first senior 3×3 World Cup was held in Athens in 2012. In addition to World Cup’s the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) also holds regional 3×3 events including Asia Cup, Europe Cup and AmeriCup.

The FIBA 3×3 World Cup has been held eight times – 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. Only one nation has won the women’s 3×3 World Cup multiple times, the United States of America – having won gold three times, the first two editions of the event in 2012 and 2014 as well as the most recent WC in 2023. Australia have won two medals in the women’s 3×3 World Cup, bronze medals in 2012 and 2023. Serbia have dominated the men’s 3×3 World Cup to win the gold medal six times – 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games the newer 3×3 format of basketball was included on the program in addition to the traditional five on five format of basketball. The United States of America won the gold medal in women’s 3×3 basketball at the 2020 Olympics and Latvia won the men’s event.

3×3 basketball was played at the Commonwealth Games for the first time at Birmingham in 2022. Canada won the gold medal in the women’s tournament and England won gold in the men’s event. The Australian men won a silver medal and the Australian women won bronze in Birmingham.

Venue and nations competing in Women’s 3×3 basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

The Australian Gangurrus women’s team are one of eight nations competing in the women’s 3×3 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In Pool A each of the eight nations play each other once from 30 July to 3 August Paris time.

The venues page for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games states “From the early stages of bidding for the Games, Paris 2024 wanted to enable urban sports to become established in their natural environment, away from stadiums, at the heart of the city. This idea is perfectly illustrated by the temporary transformation of La Concorde into an open arena.”4 3×3 basketball is one of four urban sports that will share La Concorde as a venue for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games along with BMX freestyle, breaking and skateboarding. The venue page of Paris_GUIDE_3x3 states ­ “The 3×3 event of the Paris 2024 Olympics will take place on the iconic Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris, located nearby Grand Palais, Champs Elysées and the Louvre.”5 The capacity of the 3×3 venue for the 2024 Paris Olympics is 4,700 seats.

The men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball tournaments at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will both be held over seven days from Tuesday 30 July to Monday 5 August Paris time. The top three seeds for the women’s 3×3 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games all competed at the inaugural 3×3 tournament at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games and progressed to the medal games. USA won the gold medal and China defeated France 16-14 in the third place game to win the bronze medal.

The eight nation field for the women’s 3×3 tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games is very similar to the nations that made it to the quarter finals at FIBA 3×3 women’s World Cup 2023. Seven of the quarter finalists from 3×3 World Cup 2023 have qualified for the Paris Olympics, the only exception is Austria who lost 17-21 to United States in a quarter final at the 3×3 WC  2023. Azerbaijan are the outlier, qualifying for the women’s 3×3 tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics after not competing at World Cup 2023. 

USA won the gold medal at World Cup 2023, defeating France 16-12 in the final. In the bronze medal game China led the Australian Gangurrus 20-17 with one minute and 59 seconds left. With the game on the line Whittle has superb, making two two-pointers to propel the Gangaurrus to a 21-20 victory to win the bronze medal.

Each of the seven nations that made it to the quarter finals at World Cup 2023 and are competing at the Paris Olympics have multiple members of their WC 2023 team in their 2024 Olympic Games team. Three nations have the exact same quartet for Paris that they had at WC 2023 – France, Canada and Australia. Two nations have made one change to their 2023 WC team for the Paris Olympics – top seeded China and Germany. USA and Spain have two players from their 2023 World Cup team in their quartet for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Overall 22 of the 32 players representing 68.75% that are competing at the women’s 3×3 tournament in Paris represented their nation at the 2023 World Cup in Austria.

The nations competing in the women’s 3×3 tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are listed below with their seeding in brackets. Players in bold competed for their nation at 3×3 World Cup 2023.

China (1)

The team in Paris is: Mingling Chen, Ji Yuan Wan, Lili Wang, ZhiTing Zhang

Three members of China’s teams for the Paris Olympic Games Ji Yuan Wan, Lili Wang, ZhiTing Zhang have been teammates on their nations team that won the gold medal at Asia Cup 2022, bronze medal at 2020 the Tokyo Olympic Games and bronze medal at World Cup 2022.

This trio were all members of China’s team that made it to the medal games at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023, but had a massive setback when Yi Zhang suffered an injury early in the semi final loss to USA and was unable to play in the third place game against Australia. A three player Chinese team of Wan, Wang and ZhiTing Zhang were overrun by a full strength four player Australian team and were defeated 20-21. The only change to China’s team for WC 2023 is Mingling Chen replacing Yi Zhang.  All four members of Chinas team for Paris are in the top 30 on the women’s 3×3 world rankings led by Wan with a ranking of 13.

United States (2)

The team in Paris is: Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Hailey Van Lith

In the women’s 3×3 tournament at 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games the United States of America team comprised of a quartet of WNBA players – Stephanie Dolson, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. In the pool phase USA won six of their seven pool games to finish on top of the standings. USA defeated France 18 -16 in a semi final and had an 18-15 victory against the Russian Olympic Russian Olympic Committee 18-15 to win the inaugural women’s 3×3 Olympic Games gold medal.

In the 2021/22 WNBL season Young excelled as an import for the Perth Lynx. Young ranked third in the league with 17.8 points per game, was selected in the All-WNBL First Team and was a starter on the Perth Lynx team that made the 2021/22 WNBL Grand Final.

Jackie Young playing for the Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022

The 3×3 FIBA 2023 World Cup was held in Vienna, Austria from 30 May to 4 June early in the WNBA season. Due to this USA had a completely different team at World Cup 2023 to the team they had at the Tokyo Olympics. FIBA 3×3 World Championships 2014 gold medal winner – forward Cierra Burdick represented USA at a FIBA 3×3 World Cup for the third time in 2023, having also been a member of the USA team that finished seventh in 2022. Then 21 year old guard Hayley Van Lith represented USA at a FIBA 3×3 World Cup for a second time in 2023 having been teammates with Burdick on the USA team that finished seventh in 2022. The USA team in Vienna was completed by forward Cameron  Brink and guard Linnae Harper. USA had a 13-16 loss to Canada in their opening game at World Cup 2023. The United States won their remaining seven games of the tournament, culminating with a 16-12 victory against France in the final to win the gold medal.

Three members of USA’s 2023 World Cup game winning 3×3 team were named in the Paris Olympic Games team, Brink, Burdick and Van Lith. The one change to the team was Rhyne Howard replacing Linnae Harper. Due to suffering an ACL injury playing in a WNBA game for the Los Angeles Sparks on 18 June Brink will miss the remainder of the 2024 WNBA season and the Paris Olympics. Brinks’ LA Sparks teammate and fellow frontcourt player Dearica Hamby was brought into the USA team for Paris. Hamby was a member of USA’s gold medal winning team at FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2023 and won the tournament Most Valuable Player award.  

France (3)

The team for France on home soil in Paris is: Myriam Djekoundade, Laetitia Guapo, Hortense Limouzin, Marie-Eve Paget

Guapo and Paget are both playing in the FIBA 3×3 women’s tournament at an Olympic Games for the second time, having been members of the French team that finished fourth at 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games . and won the silver medal at World Cup 2023 in Vienna Austria. At the 2023 World Cup in Vienna Austria France won the silver medal, the same quartet of Djekoundade, Guapo, Limouzin and Paget are representing the host nation at the nest major championship in Paris.

Germany (4)

The team for Germany in Paris is:  Svenja Brunckhorst, Sonja Greinacher, Elisa Mevius, Marie Reichert

Three members of Germany’s 3×3 women’s team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games – Brunckhorst, Greinacher and Reichert, have each played more than 50 FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series games and have a winning percentage of at least 60%. Forward Greinacher is ranked sixth on the women’s 3×3 world rankings.

Canada (5)

The team for Canada in Paris is: Kacie Bosch, Paige Crozon, Katherine Plouffe, Michelle Plouffe

In the very first edition of the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series in 2019 Crozon and twin sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe were teammates on the Canadian team that won multiple Stops. Guard Kacie Bosch represented Canada at FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021 in November and has been a regular on the Canadian team from June 2022 onwards. Canada finished first in the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2022, finishing in the top four in all five Stop’s they competed in including finishing first at three Stops.  Canada made a significant impact at their first FIBA 3×3 women’s World Cup in 2022, making it all the way to the final where they were defeated 13-16 by France.

After winning silver in 2022 the Canadian quartet of Bosch, Crozon, Katherine and Michelle Plouffe finished sixth at FIBA Women’s World Cup 2023. Canada are one of three nations along with France and Australia that have the same quartet for the Paris Olympics as they had for FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 held in Vienna, Austria. All four member of Canada’s Olympic Games team have played more than 70 women’s series games. Canada has the top three players on the Women’s 3×3 World Rankings as at 30 July 2024 – Katherine Plouffe (1st), Crozon (2nd) and Michelle Plouffe (3rd).

Spain (6)

The team for Spain in Paris is: Gracia Alonso De Armino, Juana Camilion, Vega Gimeno, Sandra Ygueravide

Vega Gimeno and Sandra Ygueravide were members of Spain’s team that finished eighth at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023. This duo were joined by Gracia Alonso De Armino, Juana Camilion on a Spanish team that won the silver medal at FIBA 3×3 EuroCup 2023.

Azerbaijan (7)

The team for Azerbaijan in Paris is: Tiffany Hayes, Alexandra Mollenhauer, Dina Ulyanova, Mercedes Walker

Azerbaijan are the only nation competing in the women’s 3×3 tournament at the Paris Olympic Games that did not compete in the quarter finals at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 in Vienna, Austria. At FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 1 2024 held in Hong Kong in April the Azerbaijan team of Tiffany Hayes, Alexandra Mollenhauer, Dina Ulyanova, Mercedes Walker booked their ticket for Paris in thrilling fashion with an 18-17 overtime victory against Poland in the final. Hayes averaged 6.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to be named Tournament MVP.

Australia (8)

The team for Australia in Paris is: Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle, Alex Wilson

The Gangurrus quartet of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson have consistently finished on the podium with highlights including winning World Cup bronze in 2023 and back to back Asia Cups in 2023 and 2024. The Gangurrus quartet of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson have finished first at four FIBA 3×3 tournaments in 2024. The Gangurrus finished first at Asia Cup 2024 in late March and won the FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 2024 in early May to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The Gangurrus have competed in two Stops of the Women’s Series 2024 and have won them both – Chengdu Stop in June and Guba Stop in July.

Whilst the seedings for most nations provide a good indication of how they are expected to perform, Australia are the exceptions rather than the rule. Australia compete in less international 3×3 tournaments than most of the other nations in the field, with a major factor being the distance from Australia to the host city of 3×3 events. When Australia enter a 3×3 event they have consistently perform well and finished higher in the standings at the end of the tournament then the seeding they entered the tournament with. A prime example of this is Australia being seeded 19^th out of the 20 nations competing at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023. At the tournament the Australian Gangurrus well and truly exceeded their seeding to have five wins, two losses, averaged a tournament-high 20.4 points per game and won the bronze medal.

Australian Gangurrus women’s 3×3 team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Player                                   Number                             Position

Anneli Maley                          24                                     Forward

Lauren Mansfield                   33                                      Guard

Marena Whittle                      21                                      Guard/forward

Ally Wilson                             4                                       Guard

Head Coach – Damon Lowery

The Australian Gangurrus women’s team for the 3×3 tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games is comprised of guards Ally Wilson and Lauren Mansfield along with guard/forward Marena Whittle and forward Anneli Maley. The current Australian 3×3 quartet of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson have been regulars in their national 3×3 team from 2022 to 2024. The women’s Gangurrus have had success during this period with highlights including winning a bronze medal at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 and winning back-to-back gold medals at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 and 2024. 

On Australia having the same quartet for FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 as the gold medal winning Asia Cup 2023 team Lauren Mansfield told Basketball Australia “It’s definitely an advantage, we know each other well and work well together. We still have so many things we can improve on and Asia Cup is a great chance to do so against some quality opponents. Any time we can get together on the court is so critical for not only this but in preparation for trying to qualify for the Olympics.”6 Australia won the gold medal as Asia Cup 2024 and went on to achieve their goal of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Gangurrus are one of three nations along with Canada and France that have the same quartet competing in Paris as competed at 3×3 FIBA World Cup 2023 in Vienna, Austria.

Maley and Wilson were teammates playing for Bendigo Spirit in the WNBL during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. In the WNBL off-season Wilson has left Bendigo to join Perth Lynx and will again be teammates with Maley in 2024/25. During the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Mansfield and Whittle were teammates at Adelaide Lightning.

Lauren Mansfield and Marena Whittle playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022  

Pool A schedule for the Australian women’s Gangurrus team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

In Pool A games the Australian women’s Gangurrus play a game against each of their seven rivals competing in Paris. In their opening game of the Paris Olympic Games the Gangurrus conceded the first six points of the game to Canada. Whittle recorded Australia’s first point in 3×3 at the Olympics by making a one-pointer with six minutes and 53 seconds remaining. Canada continued to build their lead, extending the margin to 13 points, 15-2 with four minutes and 45 seconds remaining. For the remainder of the game Australia looked more composed and went on a 12-7 run, reducing the margin to eight points, having a 14-22 loss to Canada. On the thrill of playing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris Whittle commented “From the moment we stepped foot in Paris you could feel the energy. The crowd is a buzz, the city is a buzz, Paris is beautiful and they’ve really shown out.”7

Australia vs Canada                         6.00 pm 30 July Paris time            2.00 am 31 July AES

The remaining 3×3 Pool A fixture for the Australian Gangurrus women’s team at the 2024 Paris Olympics is:

Germany vs Australia                      5.30 pm, 31 July Paris time            1.30 am, 1 August AEST

China vs Australia                             9.00 am, 1 August Paris time         5.00 pm, 1 August AEST

United States vs Australia              1.00 pm, 1 August Paris time        9.00 pm, 1 August AEST

Australia vs Azerbaijan                   9.30 am, 2 August Paris time         5.30 pm, 2 August AEST

Australia vs Spain                             12.30 pm, 2 August Paris time      8.30 pm, 2 August AEST

France vs Australia                           6.35 pm, 3 August Paris time        2.35 am, 4 August AEST

AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time

The top two teams in Pool A advance to the Semi-Finals and the bottom two teams in the pool A are eliminated. For the teams that finish 3^rd to 6^th in Pool A Play-In games determine the 3^rd and 4^th spots in the Semi-Finals. Two play in games will be played on August 3 Paris time, 4^th vs 5^th and 3^rd vs 6^th.

The winner of each Play-In game advances to the Semi-Finals which will be played on August 5 Paris time. Later that day the bronze medal game and gold medal game will be played to determine which three nations finish on the podium.  

The Australian 3×3 women’s team’s history from 2012 to 2021

The FIBA 3×3 World Cup was held for the first time in Athens, Greece from 23 to 26 August 2012 when it was known as the FIBA 3×3 World Championships 2012. The Australian 3×3 women’s team was Sara Blicavs, Katie Ebzery, Alice Kunek and Tess Madgen. Australia belied their status as the 23 seeds to win all five Pool A games to top their pool and advance to the last 16. In the knockout stage Australia excelled to defeat Germany 21-4 in the last 16 and the Czech Republic 16-11 in a quarter final. After being defeated in a semi final by USA 18-19 Australia won a thrilling bronze medal game against Ukraine 18-17 to finish on the podium at the 2012 FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Championships.

At the 2015 FIBA Women’s 3×3 Oceania Championships held on the Gold Coast current Gangurrus team member Anneli Maley was in the Australian quartet along with Alexandra Sharp, Elizabeth Tonks and Chantel Horvat. Australia won three of their four pool games with the loss being to New Zealand 6-9. The trans-Tasman rivals met again in the final and Australia were triumphant in a thriller 14-13 to win the gold medal.

From 2017 onwards Oceania Championships were no longer held at senior level with nations from the Asia and Oceania zones both competing in the Asia Cup. Australia and New Zealand who are the clear-cut strongest two nations in the Oceania zone are able to face stronger opposition and a wider variety of opponents and playing styles competing in the Asia Cup. 

From 2017 to 2019 Australia finished on the podium at three consecutive 3×3 Asia Cups, winning gold in 2017 and 2019 and bronze in 2018. At the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup held in Changsha, China from 22 to 26 May the Australian team comprised of Bec Cole, Alice Kunek, Maddie Garrick and Hanna Zavecz won all five games, comprehensively defeating Kazakhstan 20-9 in the final to win the gold medal.

From 2019 onwards Damon Lowery has been the Head Coach of the Australian women’s 3×3 team. At the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier 2019 held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 4 and 5 May current Gangurrus team member Whittle made her Australian 3×3 debut with Lowery as coach. Australia won all four games at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier 2019 to qualify for the 3×3 World Cup 2019.

At the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2019 held in Amsterdam from 18-23 June, 25 nations participated in the women’s event and the Australian team comprised of Bec Cole, Keely Froling, Maddie Garrick and Alice Kunek were the 18th seed. Australia won four of their first five games, with the exception being a one point loss to France – 16-17 in their fourth and final Pool B game. In the knock-out stage Australia had a 19-13 victory against China in a quarter final. Australia lost a nail-biter against China 14-15 in a semi-final and then played off for third place against France. Australia were comprehensively defeated by France 9-21 and finished the tournament in fourth place.

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 19 February 2020 a five player Australian squad of Cole, Garrick, Kunek, Kelsey Griffin and Lauren Nicholson was named 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 cases escalating around the world escalating in March 2020 the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were postponed.

The Australian team for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2021 held in Graz, Austria from May 26-30, 2021 was Cole, Froling, Garrick and Kunek. Australia were seeded 17^th 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 13^th 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. 

The Australian Gangurrus 3×3 women’s team’s history from 2022 to 2024

At the start of 2022 Lauren Mansfield and Ally Wilson were yet to make their debut for the Australian 3×3 team but had been members of the national 3×3 squad and had attended training camps along with Maley, Whittle, forward/centre Lauren Scherf and regulars in the team including Cole, Kunek, Garrick and Keely Froling.

For FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 held in Singapore from 6 to 10 July Australia named a new look team of Maley, Mansfield, Scherf and Whittle. The three medal winners from the 2018 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup – New Zealand (gold medal), China (silver medal) and Australia (bronze medal) all faced difficult draws at the 2022 tournament as they were the three nations all drawn in Pool C. Australia split their Pool games, winning their opening game against New Zealand 21-11 and were defeated by China 20-12. Australia won their quarter final against Mongolia 21-10 and had a 21-13 victory over Indonesia in the semi finals. The two nations from Pool C that progressed to the knockout stage – China and Australia played each other in the final. With the gold medal on the line it was a closer encounter than their Pool game but China prevailed against Australia for the second time at the tournament, recording a 14-10 victory to win the gold medal with Australia winning silver and finishing in the medals for the fourth consecutive FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup. Maley was named in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 Team of the Tournament.

Ally Wilson playing defense for Bendigo Spirit against Southside Flyers guard Bec Cole at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023

Weeks later the Australian Gangurrus women’s team competed in the 3×3 tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham from 29 July to 2 August. Due to Australian Opals commitments Maley was unavailable for the Commonwealth Games and Ally Wilson was brought into the team to make her Australian 3×3 debut. 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 Gangurrus women’s team members Mansfield, Scherf and Whittle all suited up in the green and gold again at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Australia won their three pool games at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to advance to the semi finals. In a semi final Australia were defeated by England 15-21. Australia trailed New Zealand 6-10 In the bronze medal game. Australia went on a 9-3 run to fight back and have a 15-13 victory to win the bronze medal.

Singapore was again the host city for FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 held from 29 March to 2 April. The quartet that are playing for the Australian Gangurrus women’s team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson dominated at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 to win the gold medal in convincing fashion. Australia won three qualifying draw games and five main draw games by at least 10 points each and defeated Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 21-11 in the final to win the gold medal. Maley and Whittle were both named in the Team of the Tournament for the Asia Cup 2023, Maley ranked first overall with 7.6 rebounds per game. Whittle was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP), ranked first overall with 8.6 points per game and sixth with 6.6 rebounds per game.

On the weekend of Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May 2023 Australia had not one but two Gangurrus women’s teams competing in international tournaments. On this weekend a FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier was held in Eilat, Israel and the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Wuhan Stop took place in China. Four players that had been members of Australia’s 3×3 squad and had attended training camps were able to gain valuable experience representing their nation. Due to WNBA commitments with Chicago Sky Maley was unavailable for either tournament.

Heading into a massive first weekend of May with two Gangurrus women’s teams in action Australian 3×3 women’s coach Damon Lowery told Basketball Australia “The clear goal is to finish top three and make the World Cup. We’re going to consolidate and strengthen our 3×3 strategies and values. The Gangurrus welcome in Miela Goodchild, Chloe Bibby, Amy Atwell and Emma Clarke for their first international 3×3 tournament in the green and gold.”8 

At the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier 2023 held in Eilat, Israel on 6 and 7 May the Australian team was comprised of Whittle, Wilson, Keely Froling and Miela Goodchild. Australia were challenged in their second Pool A game but were able to prevail 18-16 against Czech Republic. Australia had convincing victories against Madagascar 21-9 and Israel 21-11 in their first and third Pool A games respectively. With Australia leading Israel 20-11 Whittle made a free throw to secure victory which enabled the Australian Gangurrus women’s team to finish first at the tournament and qualify for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023. Australia were led by 10 points from Whittle and nine points from Wilson in the victory against Israel.

At the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Wuhan Stop on 6 and 7 May Mansfield’s experience playing for Australia at 3×3 level was invaluable alongside Australian 3×3 debutants – Amy Atwell, Chloe Bibby and Emma Clarke. In Australis’s third and final Pool A game Japan made a free-throw to tie the scores at 20 points apiece with one minute and 23 seconds remaining. Six seconds later Mansfield displayed composure to make a one point shot to secure victory for the Gangurrus and finished with a game-high 10 points. Australia defeated Sc. Yuanda 21-16 in a semi final led by 10 points from Mansfield. Host nation China defeated Australia 21-13 in the final, resulting in Australia finishing second at the Wuhan stop. Mansfield ranked second overall at the tournament with 7.6 points per game.

The Australian women’s Gangurrus team of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson were seeded 19^th out of the 20 nations competing in Vienna from Tuesday 30 May to Sunday 4 June at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023. Australia won four of their first five games of the tournament to advance to the semi finals where they lost to France 17-21. In the third place game Australia trailed China 14-11 with five minutes remaining. Whittle scored four of the next five points in the game, all with one point shots to level the scores with three minutes and 37 seconds remaining. China regained the ascendancy to lead 20-17 with one minute and 59 seconds left. Whittle made a two point shot to reduce the margin to one point with one minute and 43 seconds remaining. 29 seconds later Whittle made a two point shot to give Australia a thrilling 21-20 victory to win the bronze medal. Whittle finished the bronze medal game with a game-high 11 points. Whittle averaged 10.0 points per game, ranked second overall at the tournament was recognised for her exceptional World Cup 2023 by being selected in the Team of the Tournament.

Marena Whittle playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022

On Friday August 4 and Saturday August 5 the Australian women’s Gangurrus team competed in FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Yichang Stop 2023. A four player team comprised of Maley, Mansfield, Emma Clarke and Whittle was selected for the tournament, however Mansfield weas a late withdrawal, reducing the Gangurrus team to three players. In an article published by the Sydney Flames Emma Clarke commented “It was never the plan to travel with three, as unfortunately Lauren Mansfield had to pull out last minute because of a medical condition and it was too late to get a replacement because of the Chinese visa requirements.”3 Despite being unable to make any substitutions the three player Gangurrus team of Clarke, Maley and Whittle were tremendous competing against four player teams and won their first four games of the tournament to make the Yichang Stop final. In the final Australia led by five points, 10-5 with three minutes and 50 seconds left. China overrun Australia to win the final by a point, 14-13. 

On Australia having the same quartet for FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 as the gold medal winning Asia Cup 2023 team Lauren Mansfield told Basketball Australia “It’s definitely an advantage, we know each other well and work well together. We still have so many things we can improve on and Asia Cup is a great chance to do so against some quality opponents. Any time we can get together on the court is so critical for not only this but in preparation for trying to qualify for the Olympics.”9

At FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 held in Singapore from 27 to 31 March the Australian Gangurrus were seeded fifth out of the 12 teams in the main draw. In their opening 2024 Pool D game the two 2023 finalists met with Australia defeating fourth seeds New Zealand 22-9. The Gangurrus won each of their first four games by at least 13 points to progress to the final in convincing fashion. In the 2024 final the Gangurrus played New Zealand for the second year in a row and second time at the tournament. In their closest game of the tournament the Gangurrus prevailed in the final against New Zealand by five points, 18-13. Ally Wilson averaged 5.2 points per game, ranked first at the tournament with a total player value of 41.6 and won the tournament MVP Award. Maley ranked second at the tournament with 7.4 rebounds per game. It was the fourth time that the Australian Gangurrus women’s team have won the gold medal at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, they have won a medal at all six Asia Cups they have competed in.

Anneli Maley shooting a three-pointer for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 10 March 2024

The Australian Gangurrus women’s team of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson were seeded sixth out of eight teams competing at FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 held in Utsunomiya, Japan from 3 to 5 May. In their opening game of the tournament against the Netherlands momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the game. Australia led 16-14 with 14 seconds. With three seconds left Janis Boonstra made a two-pointer to tie the scores at 16 points apiece and the game went to overtime. Boonstra scored a two-pointer in overtime to secure a two-point win for the Netherlands. 

Australia had three consecutive victories against Kenya (22-9), Canada (21-16) and Brazil (18-16) to progress to the final. Australia played number 2 seeds Canada in the final with the winner to qualify for the women’s 3×3 tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Australia trailed Canada 11-12 with four minutes and 30 seconds remaining. The Gangurrus finished strongly with an 8-4 run to defeat Canada 19-16 to finish first at FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 and booked their ticket for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Whittle and Wilson scored an equal game-high eight points each in the final. Gangurrus member Anneli Maley averaged 3.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and had a tournament-high total player value of 34.4 to be named tournament MVP.

The quartet of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson represented the Australian Gangurrus women’s team at FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Chengdu Stop 2024 in June. Australia won two of their three Pool A games, defeating Thailand 21-12 and Singapore 21-9 in their first and third game respectively. Australia lost to China in overtime 14-16 in their second game. Australia defeated Romania 21-13 in a quarter final and had a 21-11 victory against Dusseldorf ZOOS to set up a finals encounter against host nation China. Australia were in a commanding position leading 13-6 with five minutes and 10 seconds remaining in the final. China fought back to level the scores 16 points apiece with one minute and five seconds left. Whittle made two one-pointers to give the Gangurrus an 18-16 lead with 49 seconds left. China reduced the lead to a point with 38 seconds left in what was the final score of the game and Australia held on to defeat China by a solitary point 18-17. In the final Whittle scored a game-high nine points and Maley took a game-high eight rebounds. Whittle averaged an equal tournament high 7.5 points per game, had a tournament-high total player value of 51.9 & won the tournament MVP award. Maley averaged a tournament high 7.5 rebounds per game.    

During Ford Ballin’ 24 the Australian Gangurrus women’s 3×3 team played a total of six games against the Chinese women’s national 3×3 team at John Cain Arena from Tuesday 2 July to Friday 5 July. All four members of Australia’s gold medal winning team at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 – Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle and Ally Wilson were in the Gangurrus six player squad for Ford Ballin’ 24. The Gangurrus squad for Ford Ballin’ 24 was completed by Chloe Bibby and Emma Clarke. The Gangurrus were one of six Australian national basketball teams that played during Ford Ballin 24’ along with the women’s team – the Opals, the men’s team – the Boomers, the Gangurrus men’s 3×3 team and wheelchair teams Rollers (men’s) and Gliders (women’s).After playing in tournament’s around the world Ford Ballin 24’ was a great opportunity for the Gangurrus to play in front of a home crowd. The Gangurrus won all six games against China at Ford Ballin’ 24. Australia’s smallest winning margin was six points (19-13) in the second game on Thursday which was the fifth game of the series.

Australia took part in their second 2024 FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series 2024 tournament at Guba Stop on 20 and 21 July. In their second Pool A game Australia trailed Netherlands 15-19 with 39 seconds remaining. The Gangurrus finished strongly to score four of the next five points of the game including two-pointers to Wilson and Whittle to tie the scores at 20 points apiece. Wilson made a two-pointer with two seconds remaining to give Australia a 22-20 victory. Netherlands and Australia met again in the final and the Gangurrus were again victorious, having a 21-15. The Gangurrus team of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson won all five games at Guba Stop to win the tournament. Maley ranked 2nd at FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Guba Stop 2024 with 7.2 rebounds per game, 6th with 5.4 points per game and won the Tournament Most Valuable Player Award.

Player profiles of the Australian women’s Gangurrus team at FIBA 3×3 Paris Olympic Games 2024

Anneli Maley

#24                                                        Position: Forward                  

Date of birth 1 September 1998       Height 186cm                         

Junior Club                                          Eltham Wildcats (Victoria)                          

WNBL debut: 2016/17                       WNBL games played: 112       

2023/24 & 2024/25 WNBL team:    Perth Lynx

2024 NBL1 team:  Perth Redbacks (West)

International 3×3 games played for Australia: 36

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anneli Maley playing for Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 6 March 2022

Playing as a forward for Bendigo Spirit during the 2021/22 WNBL season Maley well and truly developed into an offensive threat, averaging a league-leading 19.8 points per game – a phenomenal 250% improvement on her previous season’s output of 7.9 points per game for Sydney. Maley averaged 15.7 rebounds, 4.9 free-throws and 36.9 minutes per game to lead the league in all three categories. Throughout the 2021/22 season Maley was remarkably consistent, scoring at least 13 points in 15 of her 16 games for Bendigo and fell a solitary point short of recording a double-double in every game. Maley was recognised for her incredible season, winning the 2021/22 Suzy Batkovic Medal for being the WNBL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was also named in the All-WNBL First Team.

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

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

As a teenager Maley was a member of the Australian senior women’s team at the 2015 FIBA 3×3 Oceania Championships held on the Gold Coast in September. After Australia lost a pool game to New Zealand the trans-Tasman rivals met again in the final and Australia were victorious in a thriller 14-13 to win the gold medal.

From 2019 to 2021 Maley competed in several NBL 3×3 Pro Hustle events and had success playing on teams with her partner and fellow Australian Gangurrus team member Marena Whittle, including winning Pro Hustle events as teammates.

During an interview on the 20 April 2021 episode of the NBL1 Show co-host Peter Hooley asked Maley “You do a lot of 3×3 stuff, part of the National squad for Australia in 3×3. What is the carry-over from a 3×3 game, training and preparation for that and then you go and play in a normal NBL1 game, anything that carries over or do you treat them both completely different?” Maley responded “I think that since I have started 3×3 my five on five game has excelled. I think that it really gives you the tools to be able to work on those one on one break-down stuff. It like levelled up my offensive game like nothing else, I think that when you are training for 3×3 obviously there is like no fouls it is very physical and fast-paced and you can’t hide your weaknesses. It is a fast-paced game so when you get it you have to be able to shoot, you have to be able drive, you have to be able to pass. In the 3×3 trainings and the games that we play against each other and stuff, I think that it has equipped me with the skills to carry over to five on five. The more 3×3 I do the more comfortable I feel with my one on one game in a five on five situation as well as the fitness that you get from a 3×3 game and the ability to finish through physicality, there’s just so many benefits that I carry over from one to the other.”

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

Singapore was again the host city for the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 held from 29 March to 2 April. The quartet of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson dominated at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 to win the gold medal in convincing fashion. Australia won three qualifying draw games and five main draw games by at least 10 points each and defeated Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 21-11 in the final to win the gold medal. Maley and Whittle were both named in the Team of the Tournament for Asia Cup 2023 and Maley ranked first overall with 7.8 rebounds per game.

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

At FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Yichang Stop 2023 in August Maley was a member of an Australian Gangurrus three player team along with Whittle and Emma Clarke that finished second. Despite not being able to make substitutions the Gangurrus won their first four games of the tournament and lost to China in the final by a point 13-14.

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

On 31 May 2022 Maley made her debut with Australia’s senior women’s basketball team, the Opals in game three of the friendly series against Japan. Despite not being part of the Opals training camp due to her WNBA commitments with Chicago Sky and missing the first two games of the series Maley fitted in seamlessly. Immediately after being substituted in for her Opals debut in game 3 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre Maley took an offensive rebound off a missed free-throw and scored a field goal. Maley finished the game with 11 points and seven rebounds on debut for the Opals.

During the 2021 NBL1 South season Maley averaged 17.3 points and a league-leading 23.4 rebounds per game for her home club the Eltham Wildcats. After her stint playing in the WNBA with Chicago Sky and making her Opals debut against Japan in late May 2022 Maley joined the Eltham Wildcats during the 2022 NBL1 South season. Maley played a total of 15 games for Eltham across the 2022 and 2023 NBL1 South seasons and averaged more than 19.0 points, 16.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in each season.

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

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

In a WNBL game for Bendigo Spirit against Adelaide Lightning on 28 December 2022 at Adelaide 36ers Arena Maley played all 40 minutes and scored a team-high 19 points in a 78-66 victory. Maley was superb on the boards, taking a game-high and season-high 24 rebounds comprised of nine offensive and 15 defensive rebounds to be named the WNBL’s Round 8 Player of the Round. 

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

Anneli Maley playing for Bendigo Spirit against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023

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

At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney from 26 June to 2 July Maley was a member of the Australian Opals team that won the bronze medal. In the third place game Maley recorded a double-double comprised of 11 points and a team-high 11 rebounds against New Zealand and shot the ball at 83.3% from the field in the Opals 81-59 victory. Maley played all six games for the Opals and averaged 6.0 points, an equal team-high 7.5 rebounds and 18.9 minutes per game. At the tournament Maley had a field goal accuracy of 51.9%, ranked third for the Opals.

After two WNBL seasons with Bendigo Spirit Maley joined Perth Lynx for the 2023/24 WNBL season. Perth Lynx Head Coach Petrik commented “Anneli is the best rebounder I’ve seen in my time in the WNBL, but there’s way more to her game than that. The tenacity and intensity she plays with, each and every possession, is infectious, and lifts everyone around her to play harder for longer. But it’s also the rate of improvement that’s scary, every season she comes back with new weapons to her game because she puts in the work. The way Anneli likes to play, inside our pace and space styled system, should be a match made in heaven, and we cannot wait to start working with her.”10

Anneli Maley and Perth Lynx Head Coach Ryan Petrik at the post-game press conference after Perth’s game against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 24 January 2024

In her first season with the club Maley was named Perth’s captain. Maley achieved several milestones in 2023/24, playing the 100th WNBL game of her career and reached 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds in the league. In a Round 14 home victory at Bendat Basketball Centre against University of Canberra Capitals on 18 February Maley fell just two assists short of reaching a triple double. Maley scored 17 points at 75% from the field, took a game-high 20 rebounds and made a team-high eight assists in a brilliant all-round game. Maley made two of three three-pointers at 66.7% and was named in the WNBL’s Round 14 Team of the Week, her third selection of the season.

Anneli Maley shooting a free throw for Perth Lynx against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 November 2023

Perth finished fourth at the end of the 2023/24 regular season and defeated reigning WNBL Champions Townsville Fire two games to nil in a semi final to make the Grand Final. In game 1 of the Grand Final Perth Lynx had a road victory against Southside Flyers 101-79. Perth were defeated in the next two games and lost the Grand Final series to Southside one game to two. In 25 games for Perth in 2023/24 Maley averaged 12.9 points, 12.2 rebounds (ranked 2^nd in the WNBL) and 3.1 assists per game. It was the fourth consecutive season that Maley ranked in the league’s top two for rebounds per game.

Maley signed with Perth Redbacks for the 2024 NBL1 West season. In each of her last two NBL1 West games of 2024 in June Maley scored at least 34 points, took at least 16 rebounds and made at least five three-pointers. In Perth’s home game against the Rockingham Flames on 14 June Maley made five of 11 three-pointers at an accuracy of 45.4%, scored a team-high 35 points, took a game-high 17 rebounds and made five assists in a 99-86 win. At home against Joondalup on 29 June Maley made five of eight three-pointers at an accuracy of 62.5%, scored a game-high 34 points, took a game-high 16 rebounds, made five assists and an equal game-high four steals in the Redback’s 102-69 victory. Maley was named the Foot Locker NBL1 West Player of the Week.

During the 2024 NBL1 West season Maley played 11 games for the Perth Redbacks and averaged 23.1 points, 16.6 rebounds 5.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Maley leads NBL1 West for rebounds per game, ranks second for assists and third for free throws made per game.

Maley was a member of the Gangurrus team that finished first at Asia Cup 2024 in late March and won the FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 2024 in early May to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The Australian women’s Gangurrus team would become the first Australian team to compete at the Olympic Games. Maley commented “I’m so, so proud of us. Like, as a group we work so hard,” Anneli Maley said after Australia secured the one qualification spot in the tournament. This was our only shot. We don’t get to go on the tours, we don’t get to do any of that stuff. And to come out here and play the way we did, I’m so, so proud.”

 At Asia Cup 2024 – Maley ranked second at Asia Cup 2024  with 7.4 rebounds per game. At UOQT2 Maley averaged 3.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and had a tournament-high total player value of 34.4 to be named tournament MVP.

The Gangurrus have competed in two Stops of the Women’s Series 2024 and have won them both – Chengdu Stop in June and Guba Stop in July. Maley ranked 2nd at FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Guba Stop 2024 with 7.2 rebounds per game, 6th with 5.4 points per game and won the Tournament Most Valuable Player Award.

WNBL Achievements:         Suzy Batkovic medal winner 2021/22

                                               All-WNBL first-team 2021/22

                                              WNBL leading rebounder award 2020, 2021/22

                                               WNBL leading scorer award 2021/22

3×3 Achievements for Australia: Gold medal FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023, 2024

                                                                                Gold medal 2015 FIBA 3×3 Oceania Championships

Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Chengdu Stop 2024

Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Guba Stop 2024

                                                                                Silver medal FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022

Finished second FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Yichang Stop 2023

Bronze medal FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023

Tournament MVP FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2, 2024

Tournament MVP FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Guba Stop 2024

Team of the Tournament FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022, 2023

Lauren Mansfield

 #33                                                  Position: Guard                     

DOB 18 December 1989                Height 170cm                         

Junior Club                                      North Adelaide Rockets (South Australia)                          

WNBL debut: 2012/13                   WNBL games played: 196     

2023/24 WNBL team:     Adelaide Lightning
2024/25 WNBL team:     Townsville Fire

2023 & 2024 NBL1 team: North Adelaide Rockets

International 3×3 games played for Australia: 30

Lauren Mansfield grew up in South Australia, played her junior basketball with the North Adelaide Rockets and went on to play her first two WNBL seasons with her home state club, the Adelaide Lightning in 2012/13 and 2013/14. After playing seven WNBL seasons for teams outside South Australia Mansfield returned to her home state and played for Adelaide Lightning in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 WNBL seasons. Mansfield played for her junior club, the North Adelaide Rockets in the 2023 NBL1 Central season and suited up for the Rockets again in 2024.

Mansfield played two seasons of college basketball in the United States of America for Midland Community College in 2008/09 and 2009/10. Mansfield joined Iowa State University for the 2010/11 college basketball season. Playing as a point guard Mansfield made 61 starts in 64 games for Iowa across the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons. Mansfield was a co-captain of the Iowa State Cyclones in 2012 and was named in the Academic All-Big 12 Second team. During her two seasons at Iowa Mansfield had at least five assists in a game 26 times.

At World University Games Mansfield was a member of two medal winning teams for Australia, winning bronze medals in 2009 and 2013. Mansfield was named in the Australian Opals extended 27 player squad in 2016.

At the 2017 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup held in India Mansfield was a member of the Australian Opals team in the traditional five on five format of basketball. Mansfield played all six games for the silver medal winning Opals and was Australia’s equal leader for assists along with Katie Ebzery, ranked second for minutes played behind Ebzery, ranked equal third for steals and sixth for rebounds. After being named in the Australian Opals 12 player team for the 2018 FIBA World Cup in Spain Mansfield was a late withdrawal due to a foot injury.

Lauren Mansfield playing for UC Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 17 December 2016

At expansion club SEQ Stars first and only WNBL season in 2015/16 Mansfield had a break-out season as the Stars starting point guard. On 23 January 2016 Mansfield scored 30 points, made eight assists and three steals for SEQ Stars to set game-highs in the latter two categories in a victory   against UC Capitals. With proficient shooting Mansfield had a field goal accuracy of 50% and made four of 10 three-pointers at 40% in the Round 14 home game at Logan Metro. 

Due to an ankle injury Mansfield missed the final two rounds of the 2015/16 regular season as well as the finals. In the first 16 Rounds of the 2015/16WNBL season Mansfield was selected in the WNBL Team of the Week six teams including five times in six rounds from Round 11 to Round 16 which highlights the outstanding standard of performance that she consistently delivered. For the SEQ Stars in 2015/16 Mansfield averaged 15.5 points (ranked 9^th in the WNBL), 4.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game – ranked second in the WNBL behind Kelly Wilson.

Lauren Mansfield shooting a free-throw for SEQ Stars against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 8 November 2015

Mansfield has played a total of 196 WNBL games in 10 seasons comprised of 89 games for Adelaide Lightning, 21 games for SEQ Stars, 24 games for the UC Capitals, 42 games for Perth Lynx and 20 games for the Sydney Uni Flames. Mansfield was Sydney’s co-captain for both her seasons with the club however a calf injury ended her 2021/22 season after seven games.

In five WNBL seasons Mansfield has averaged at least 11.5 points and 4.0 assists per game – 2015/16 with the SEQ Stars, 2016/17 with the University of Canberra Capitals, 2020 and 2021/22 with the Sydney Uni Flames and 2022/23 with Adelaide Lightning.

After attending several training camps as part of the Australian 3×3 squad Mansfield made her debut for Australia’s national 3×3 women’s team at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 held in Singapore from 6 to 10 July. The Australian team comprised of Mansfield, Anneli Maley, Lauren Scherf and Marena Whittle had three wins and two losses at the tournament to win the silver medal. Australia’s two losses were both against China, in a Pool C game and in the final.

Weeks after the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup Mansfield represented Australia in the women’s 3×3 tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham from 29 July to 2 August. The Australian team comprised of Mansfield, Scherf, Whittle and Ally Wilson won their three pool games to advance to the semi finals. In a semi final Australia were defeated by England 15-21. Australia trailed New Zealand 6-10 in the bronze medal game. Australia went on a 9-3 run to fight back and have a 15-13 victory to win the bronze medal.

In 2021 and 2022 Mansfield played for the Gold Coast Rollers in the NBL1 North conference. During 2022 Mansfield played 11 games for the Gold Coast Rollers and averaged 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

A decade after commencing her WNBL career with Adelaide Lightning in 2012/13 Mansfield returned to her home state club for a second stint, signing a two-year deal with Adelaide for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. Adelaide Lightning Head Coach Nat Hurst commented “As a first-year head coach in the WNBL, I needed someone with Mansfield’s experience as our shooting guard, I could not be happier that she is leading us into next season. She has a wealth of talent and experience, and I am looking forward to seeing her in a Lightning jersey once again.”11

During the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Mansfield was teammates at Adelaide Lightning with Australian 3×3 teammate Whittle. In a Round 3 Adelaide home game at Adelaide 36ers Arena on 19 November Mansfield put on a shooting exhibition against Sydney Flames to score a game-high 23 points at an incredible 88.9% from the field, took three rebounds and made an equal team-high four assists in Adelaide’s 87-67 victory. Amazingly Mansfield made all seven three-point attempts for the game and earnt the WNBL’s Round 3 Player of the Round award.

Lauren Mansfield playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022

Mansfield played all 21 games for Adelaide in 2022/23 and averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists (ranked sixth in the WNBL) per game. Mansfield’s 2.3 three-pointers per game ranked equal sixth in the league. 

Mansfield played for North Adelaide Rockets during the 2023 NBL1 Central season and was named the Conference’s Round 3 Player of the Week for her 24 point, nine rebound and eight assist performance in an 80-65 victory against Central Districts on 25 March. Mansfield played 13 games during the 2023 NBL1 Central regular season for North Adelaide and averaged 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game (ranked 2^nd in NBL1 Central)

Singapore was again the host city for FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 held from 29 March to 2 April. The quartet that are playing for the Australian Gangurrus at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson dominated at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 to win the gold medal in convincing fashion. Australia won three qualifying draw games and five main draw games by at least 10 points each and defeated Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 21-11 in the final to win the gold medal.

Guard, Mansfield was a member of the Australian Gangurrus team that competed in the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Wuhan Stop in early May 2023 along with Amy Atwell, Chloe Bibby and Emma Clarke. In Australia’s 21-16 victory in their opening Pool A game against Germany Mansfield made four of four two-pointers and scored a team-high nine points. In Australia’s third and final Pool A game against Japan Mansfield made a free-throw to tie the scores at 20 points apiece with one minute and 23 seconds remaining. Six seconds later Mansfield made a one point shot to secure victory for the Gangurrus and finished with a game-high 10 points. Australia defeated Sc. Yuanda 21-16 in a semi final, led by 10 points from Mansfield. Host nation China defeated Australia 21-13 in the final, resulting in Australia finishing second at the Wuhan Stop.  

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

Lauren Mansfield playing for Adelaide Lightning against Southside Flyers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 24 February 2024

In an Adelaide Lightning road game against Bendigo Spirit on 15 December 2023 Mansfield scored a game-high 28 points at 69.2% from the field and made seven of 11 three-pointers at 63.6% in a proficient shooting performance. Mansfield had at least five assists in a game eight times in 2023/24 including a season-high and game-high eight assists in Adelaide’s 68-59 road victory against Melbourne Boomers on 17 December. With Adelaide Lightning in 2023/24 Mansfield averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 assists (equal 10^th) and 1.6 three-pointers (ranked equal 9^th in the WNBL) made per game.

Lauren Mansfield during a deadball situation in Adelaide Lightning’s game against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 17 December 2023

Mansfield played her second consecutive NBL1 Central season for North Adelaide Rockets in 2024. In a road game against Sturt Sabres on 25 May Mansfield made three of seven three-pointers at an accuracy of 42.9%, scored a game-high 25 points, took five rebounds, made seven assists and had six steals to set game-highs in the latter two categories in a 78-56 victory. Mansfield played six games for North Adelaide in 2024 and averaged 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Mansfield led the conference for assists per game.

On 24 July Townsville Fire announced that Mansfield had signed with the club for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Townsville Fire Head Coach and Australian Opals Assistant Coach Shannon Seebohm commented “We are thrilled to welcome Lauren Mansfield to the Townsville Fire. Lauren brings a wealth of experience and a high basketball IQ to our team. Her ability to control the game, create opportunities for her teammates, and deliver in crucial moments will be invaluable as we aim for a championship run this season.”12

The Gangurrus quartet of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson that are representing their nation at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games have finished first at four FIBA 3×3 tournaments in 2024. The Gangurrus finished first at Asia Cup 2024 in late March and won the FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 2024 in early May to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The Gangurrus have competed in two Stops of the Women’s Series 2024 and have won them both – Chengdu Stop in June and Guba Stop in July.

3×3 Achievements for Australia: Gold medal FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023, 2024

                                                           Silver medal FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022

                                                           Bronze medal 3×3 Commonwealth Games 2022

                                                                Bronze medal FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023

                                                                Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Chengdu Stop 2024

Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Guba Stop 2024

                                                       Finished second FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Wuhan Stop 2023

Marena Whittle      

#21                                                     Position: Guard/Forward       

DOB  28 January 1994                   Height 180cm                         

Junior Club                                       Nunawading (Victoria)                          

WNBL debut: 2018/19                   WNBL games played: 95     

2022/23 WNBL team: Adelaide Lightning

2023/24 team: Movistar Estudiantes (Spain)

2024 team: Warwick Senators (NBL1 West)

International 3×3 games played for Australia: 37

Marena Whittle commenced her junior career with the Nunawading Spectres in metropolitan Melbourne and later on represented the Spectres at State League level, earning SEABL (now NBL1 South) All-Star five selection with Nunawading in both 2017 and 2018.

In a four-season college career with North Dakota State University from 2012/13 to 2015/16 Whittle averaged 11.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocked shots per game. Whittle led the Summit League with 10.3 rebounds per game in her senior season in 2015/16 and was named in the All-Summit League First Team.

For the 2017/18 WNBL season Whittle was on Townsville Fire’s roster but due to a knee injury was unable to play a game during Townsville’s championship winning season. On 13 October 2018 Whittle made her WNBL debut for the Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre and excelled to score a team-high 21 points, took four rebounds, made three assists and a game-high four steals in Bendigo’s 82-72 victory.

Marena Whittle dribbling the basketball on WNBL debut for the Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 13 October 2018

From April 2018 onwards Whittle has been very successful on the 3×3 circuit. In a 13 month period from April 2018 to April 2019 Marena represented Spectres i-Athletic in six tournaments with the team winning four tournaments including the first two NBL Pro Hustle Events, and finished on the podium in the other two events. During May 2019 Whittle represented Australia in 3×3 basketball in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier 2019 tournament which Australia won, and since then has won several 3×3 tournaments on the Australian domestic circuit. Whittle has had success at several 3×3 tournaments playing on the same team as her partner and fellow Australian representative Anneli Maley including having won two Pro Hustle events as teammates.

At FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022 held in Singapore from 6 to 10 July Whittle was a member of the Australian team along with Maley, Mansfield and Scherf. Australia had three wins and two losses at the tournament to win the silver medal. Australia’s two losses were both against China, in a Pool C game and in the final.

Less than a month later Whittle, Mansfield, Scherf and Ally Wilson represented Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham from 29 July to 2 August. Australia won their three pool games to advance to the semi finals where they were defeated by England 15-21. In the bronze medal game Australia trailed New Zealand 6-10. Australia went on a 9-3 run to fight back and have a 15-13 victory to win the bronze medal.

In late March 2019 Whittle told 3x3hustle.com “I love 3×3 because there’s so much freedom on the court and everyone matters, and gets the chance to play with the basketball and to have an impact in one way or another. I find in 5×5 that you can kind of get by just being a role player but in 3×3 there’s nowhere to hide out there. I love it because on every play and in every game you need to make an impact. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with that but I also have so much fun with it because there’s so much freedom and that’s how I like to play. The girls that are successful in 3×3 probably play quite similarly to that. I found that not only was 3×3 a lot of fun but it just adds a different dynamic to the game of basketball and I really enjoyed it.”13

Marena Whittle shooting a free-throw for the Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 13 October 2018

After not playing a game in 2017/18 due to injury Whittle played 95 consecutive WNBL games across five seasons, representing Bendigo Spirit in 2018/19, Perth Lynx in 2019/20 and Adelaide Lightning from 2020 to 2022/23. In her first three WNBL seasons Whittle averaged at least 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Whittle ranked second at Adelaide in 2020 for rebounding (5.3 rpg) and steals (1.2 spg), fifth for scoring and minutes played and led the Lightning with 1.9 offensive rebounds per game. Predominantly playing off the bench for Adelaide Lightning in 2021/22 Whittle ranked fourth for her club in rebounding (4.0 rpg) and third for steals averaging 16.7 minutes per game.

Whittle played her second consecutive NBL1 South season with the Ringwood Hawks in 2022. Ringwood had 18 wins and four losses during the 2022 regular season to finish second, two wins behind the Bendigo Braves. In the NBL1 South Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre on 3 September 2022 Ringwood defeated Bendigo 89-73 to win the South Conference women’s championship. In the Grand Final victory Whittle was phenomenal playing the full 40 minutes for Ringwood, scored a game-high 33 points, made 13 of 22 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 59.1%, made both three-point attempts and five of six free-throws at an accuracy of 83.3%. Whittle took a game-high 19 rebounds comprised of eight offensive and 11 defensive, made four assists and an equal team-high two steals. In the Grand Final win Whittle registered an outright season-high in scoring, an equal season-high for rebounds and won the Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award.     

Including finals Whittle played 21 games for the Ringwood Hawks during the 2022 NBL1 South season, averaging 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game. In 19 of 21 games Whittle scored at least 17 points and she registered 12 double-doubles for the season including all three finals. Whittle ranked second in the NBL1 South Conference for steals and in the top 12 for points and rebounds. Whittle was selected in the 2022 NBL1 South women’s All-Star 5, to earn Victorian State League All-Star 5 honours for the third time in her career, having been selected in the SEABL All-Star 5 in 2017 and 2018 whilst playing for the Nunawading Spectres.  

Whittle played her third consecutive season with Adelaide Lightning in 2022/23 and was teammates with fellow Australian 3×3 team member Lauren Mansfield. Whittle played all 21 games for Adelaide during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season including 11 games as a starter. Whittle flourished in a starting role late in the season and in each of Adelaide’s last four games of the season scored at least 16 points including three games with more than 21 points. Whittle registered four double-doubles for the season including a 27 point, 14 rebound performance to set game-highs in both categories against the UC Capitals on 18 February at the National Convention Centre. In Adelaide’s 78-72 victory against the Capitals Whittle made 10 of 15 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 66.7% and made three of six three-pointers at 50%.

Marena Whittle playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022

During the 2022/23 WNBL season Whittle averaged 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game to set new career-highs in all three categories. Averaging 25.8 minutes per game for Adelaide Lightning Whittle ranked 15^th in the league for rebounds per game. 

The FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 was held in Singapore from 29 March to 2 April. The quartet that are playing for the Australian Gangurrus team at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson dominated at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 to win the gold medal in convincing fashion. Australia won three qualifying draw games and five main draw games by at least 10 points each and defeated Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 21-11 in the final to win the gold medal. Whittle was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was selected in the Team of the Tournament alongside Maley. At FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 Whittle ranked first overall with 8.6 points per game and sixth with 6.6 rebounds per game.

Whittle was a member of the Australian Gangurrus team along with Wilson, Keely Froling and Miela Goodchild at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier held in Eilia, Israel on May 6 and 7. Australia won all three games to finish first and qualify for FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023. Whittle scored a game-high 10 points in Australia’s 21-9 victory against host nation Israel in the Gangurrus third and final game of the tournament.

The Australian women’s Gangurrus team of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson were seeded 19^th out of the 20 nations competing in Vienna from Tuesday 30 May to Sunday 4 June at FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023. Australia won four of their first five games of the tournament to advance to the semi finals where they lost to France 17-21. In the third place game Australia trailed China 14-11 with five minutes remaining. Whittle scored four of the next five points in the game, all with one point shots to level the scores with three minutes and 37 seconds remaining. China regained the ascendancy to lead 20-17 with one minute and 59 seconds left. Whittle made a two point shot to reduce the margin to one point with one minute and 43 seconds remaining. 29 seconds later Whittle made a two point shot to give Australia a thrilling 21-20 victory to win the bronze medal. Whittle finished the bronze medal game with a game-high 11 points. Whittle averaged 10.0 points per game ranked second overall at the tournament was recognised for her exceptional World Cup 2023 by being selected in the Team of the Tournament.

After Whittle and her Australian Gangurrus teammates had received their FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 bronze medals Whittle told Basketball Australia “China is an amazing team and when we were down, we were talking to each other saying ‘we can still do it, tough defense and get the rebounds’ we do it up and it went in. We had Anneli getting the rebounds and that’s what gets us extra possessions – it was amazing. Our coach Damon gives us all confidence to make buckets down the line, it’s great having my teammates back as well and I know they’re behind me on every shot I take. I love my country, I love playing for the Gangurrus and I love every single one of our girls including our squad back home, I love you all and I can’t wait to bring this medal home.”14

At FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Yichang Stop 2023 in August Whittle was a member of an Australian Gangurrus three player team along with Maley and Emma Clarke that finished second. Despite not being able to make substitutions the Gangurrus won their first games of the tournament and lost to China in the final by a point 13-14.

In the 2023 NBL1 South season Whittle played her third consecutive season with the Ringwood Hawks. In a road game against Keilor Thunder on 21 May Whittle scored a game-high 37 points shooting at 64% from the field, took a team-high 17 rebounds and made a team-high four assists in Ringwood’s 79-65 victory. Whittle played 15 games for Ringwood in the 2023 regular season and averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game to earn her second consecutive selection in the NBL1 South All-Star 5. 

Whittle joined Spanish club Movistar Estudiantes for the 2023/24 season. In a EuroCup game against Levhartice Chomutov on 26 October 2023 Whittle recorded a double-double comprised of 23 points and 12 rebounds to set game-highs in both categories and also made an equal game-high two steals and had one block  in Movistar’s 70-66 victory. Whittle shot the ball proficiently to make eight of 11 field goal attempts at accuracy of 72.7% and four of five three-pointers at 80%. Between them all the other players in the game made five of 31 three-pointers at an accuracy of 16.1% which highlights how effective Whittle was from the perimeter. In eight EuroCup games for Movistar Whittle averaged 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 20.7 minutes per game. In a Queen’s Cup quarter final on 22 March Whittle’s Movistar team had a 72-49 victory against a Spar Girona team that included two Australians – Marianna Tolo and Lauren Nicholson. It was the first time that Movistar Estudiantes had made the Queen’s Cup semi finals in the club’s history. Movistar lost to Valencia Basket 50-77 in the Queen’s Cup semi final on 23 March.

For the 2024 NB1 season Whittle joined the Warwick Senators in the West conference. On club debut Whittle recorded a double double comprised of 22 points and 10 rebounds and also made five assists and an equal game-high three steals for Warwick in a 101-93 road victory against Cockburn Cougars on 18 May. On 13 July Whittle made five of 11 three-pointers for Warwick at an accuracy of 45.5%, scored a game-high 27 points, took seven rebounds, made three assists and a game-high three steals in a road victory against the Goldfields Giants. During the 2024 NBL1 West season Whittle played six games for Warwick Senators and averaged 18.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals (ranked 3^rd in NBL1 West) per game.

Whittle is a member of the the Gangurrus quartet along with Maley, Mansfield and Wilson that have finished first at four FIBA 3×3 tournaments in 2024. The Gangurrus finished first at Asia Cup 2024 in late March and won the FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 2024 in early May to qualify for the Paris Olympics. In the Gangurrus 19-16 victory against Canada in the UOQT 2 Final Whittle scored an equal game-high eight points.

The Gangurrus have competed in two Stops of the Women’s Series 2024 and have won them both – Chengdu Stop in June and Guba Stop in July. At Chengdu Stop Whittle averaged an equal tournament high 7.5 pts per game & won the tournament MVP. Whittle 7.0 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game at Guba Stop to rank fourth in both categories.

3×3 Achievements for Australia: Gold medal FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023, 2024

                                                                               Silver medal FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022

Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Chengdu Stop 2024

Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Guba Stop 2024

                                                                   Finished second FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Yichang Stop 2023

                                                                   Bronze medal FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023

                                                                    Bronze medal 3×3 Commonwealth Games 2022

                                                                    Most Valuable Player (MVP) FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023

                                                                    Tournament MVP FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Chengdu Stop 2024

                                                                    Team of the Tournament FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023

Team of the Tournament FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023                                                                                                                                                                                   

Ally Wilson

 #4 Position: Guard                      

DOB 21 March 1994                       Height 175cm                         

Junior Club                                       Eastern Mavericks (South Australia)                          

WNBL debut: 2010/11                   WNBL games played: 225     

2023/24 WNBL team: Bendigo Spirit

2024/25 WNBL team: Perth Lynx

2024 team: Bendigo Braves (NBL1 South)

International 3×3 games played for Australia: 28

Ally Wilson is a proud Ngarrindjeri woman and one of over 10 players with Indigenous and First Nations heritage that played in the league during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season. In an article published by The Pick and Roll on 14 February 2023 for the WNBL’s Indigenous Round held in Round 14 Wilson told Tristan Prentice “Indigenous round is very special to me as it gives an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture and be proud of that. At the same time – it is also an opportunity to highlight and bring awareness to the issues that Indigenous people face and provide education around the history of our people.”15 

Ally Wilson was born in Murray Bridge, South Australia and started playing basketball at four years of age. Wilson played her junior basketball with the Eastern Mavericks and was a teammate of 2020 WNBL Most Valuable Player Steph Talbot in the under 16’s and beyond. The Eastern Mavericks girls under 16’s team were runners up at the 2009 National Championships. At the 2013 Australian Under 20 Championships Wilson was part of South Australia’s silver medal winning team and had an exceptional tournament to win the Bob Staunton Medal for being the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

At 16 years of age Wilson made her WNBL debut with Adelaide Lightning in 2010/11 and played three games for the season. From 2011 to 2013 Wilson was an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship holder, another scholarship holder in 2011 and 2012 was 2023/24 Bendigo Spirit teammate Abbey Wehrung. At the 2013 FIBA Under 19 World Championships held in Lithuania from 18 – 28 July Wilson was a member of the bronze medal winning Jayco Australian Gems team. Wilson averaged 13.0 points per game (ranked third for the Gems), 7.0 rebounds (second), 3.0 assists (third) and 24.4 minutes (fourth). At the 2017 World University Games held in Taipei in August Wilson and 2023/24 Bendigo Spirit teammate Wehrung were members of the Emerging Opals team that won the gold medal, defeating Japan 85-78 in the final.   

Playing for the Townsville Fire in 2013/14 Wilson won the WNBL’s Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Wilson was a member of Townsville’s WNBL Championship winning team in 2014/15.

From 2015/16 to 2019/20 Wilson played five consecutive WNBL seasons with the Sydney Uni Flames, winning a WNBL Championship with the Flames in 2016/17. In 2016/17 Wilson averaged 11.5 points per game and made 53 of 152 three-pointers at an accuracy of 34.9%. Wilson’s 1.9 made three-pointers per game ranked ninth in the WNBL.

Ally Wilson playing for the Sydney Uni Flames against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017

In 2017/18 Wilson made 52 of 151 three-pointers at an accuracy of 34.4%, making more than 50 three-pointers for the second season in a row. Wilson averaged a then career-high 12.1 points per game and her 2.3 made three-pointers per game – ranked equal third in the WNBL.

In Sydney’s 10^th game of the 2018/19 season on 24 November Wilson suffered a season ending knee injury in a home game at Brydens Stadium against Perth Lynx. Wilson averaged 12.6 points per game and ranked fourth in the WNBL with 2.2 three-pointers made per game. Wilson set a new career-high with 3.9 assists per game – ranked eighth in the WNBL.   

Ally Wilson playing for the Sydney Uni Flames against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 30 November 2019

At state league level Wilson has excelled, playing for the Launceston Tornadoes Wilson was named in the All-SEABL team in both 2016 and 2018. Playing for the Eastern Mavericks in the Adelaide Premier League in 2017 Wilson averaged 26.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, won the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and was named in the All-Star Five. After being out for five months with her knee injury Wilson made her return in Victoria in April 2019 with Diamond Valley Eagles during the 2019 NBL1 (now NBL1 South) season.

During the 2019/20 regular season playing for the Sydney Uni Flames Wilson made 34 three-pointers, ranked equal 8^th in the WNBL. Playing for Adelaide Lightning in the 2020 Hub season Wilson averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 assists (equal fifth in the WNBL) and 2.0 three-pointers made (equal fifth in the WNBL).

Wilson joined Bendigo Spirit after the 2021/22 WNBL season commenced and was teammates with fellow Australian 3×3 team member Anneli Maley. Playing 12 games for Bendigo in 2021/22 Wilson averaged 8.8 points and 2.6 assists per game.

Ally Wilson playing for Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 6 March 2022

Wilson had been on the fringe of Australian selection, having been named in Australian Opals squads including for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup and in addition to attending Opals training camps had also been part of Australia’s 3×3 squad. In July 2022 Wilson was able to represent Australia in 3×3 basketball at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham. The Australian 3×3 team comprised of Wilson, Perth centre Lauren Scherf and Adelaide Lightning duo Marena Whittle and Lauren Mansfield won the bronze medal.

In August 2022 Wilson commented to The Pick and Roll on becoming a member of the Australian 3×3 squad, saying “Honestly, I was invited into the 3×3 Australian Squad at the beginning of last year by the coaches who had watched me play WNBL and thought my style of game suited 3×3. I went to my first camp not really knowing what to expect! The first camp was challenging because it really is such a different style of game from 5×5. The more I have played 3×3, I have fallen in love with it more and more.”16

On the style of play in 3×3 and how it has helped her in the traditional five on five format of basketball Wilson told The Pick and Roll “3×3 is super tough and they don’t really call fouls! So, it has made me tougher in that sense with finishing under contact and being more physical defensively. The style of play is super quick with only having 12 seconds to shoot the ball, so it has helped with getting my shot off quicker under pressure and making quick decisions.”17

Ally Wilson driving to the basket playing for Bendigo Spirit against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2023

In a 7Sport television segment recorded at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Wilson commented “I am a proud Ngarrindjeri woman from South Australia. We have the aboriginal flag obviously and then the blue flag is the flag of my mob. Really special for me to have that out with the girls and I said to them after the game that I appreciate their love and support and holding it up, it means a lot to me and my people, yeah it means everything.”

Later in the 7Sport segment Wilson commented “Yeah, love being in the village in this environment and getting to meet people from so many different places. My path hasn’t always been easy, been told no a lot so it is all about that perseverance and resilience. Obviously getting to play with these girls is the highlight. Never give up, I know that is so cliché but that’s sort of been a big part of my story.”

Wilson played her second consecutive season with Norwood Flames in the NBL1 Central Conference in 2022. In 15 games for Norwood in 2022 Wilson averaged 19.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Wilson led the NBL1 Central conference for assists per game, ranked second for steals and ninth in scoring. With her superb 2022 season Wilson earnt selection in the 2022 NBL 1 Central All-Star Five.

During the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Wilson played her second consecutive WNBL season with Bendigo Spirit. In Bendigo’s first game of Round 11 against the UC Capitals at Red Energy Arena on 19 January Wilson scored 18 points shooting at 46.7% from the field, took five rebounds, made five assists and had an equal team-high two steals in the Spirit’s 86-74 victory. In Bendigo’s road game against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 22 January Wilson scored 10 points, took five rebounds and made seven assists. Wilson was recognised for her excellent performances with selection in the WNBL’s Round 11 Team of the Week. In a seven game stretch from 6 to 25 January Wilson averaged 5.6 assists per game and had at least five assists in a game six times.

Ally Wilson playing for Bendigo Spirit against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 22 January 2023

Wilson played her 200^th WNBL game on 5 February in Bendigo’s road game against Melbourne at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville and achieved another milestone in the game by recording the 500^th assist of her career. Below is a link to an article published on Milestones and Misses celebrating Wilson achieving these two milestones:

Proud Ngarrindjeri woman Ally Wilson’s path to reach 200 WNBL games and 500 career assists

Wilson played all 21 games for Bendigo in 2022/23 and averaged 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists (ranked 13^th in the WNBL) and 30.3 minutes court-time per game. Wilson ranked equal 14^th in the league with 1.6 three-pointers made per game and ranked 13^th for assists per game.

For the second year in a row Singapore was the host city for FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 with the tournament held from 29 March to 2 April. The quartet that are playing for the Australian Gangurrus team at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 of Maley, Whittle, Mansfield and Wilson dominated at FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 to win the gold medal in convincing fashion. Australia won three qualifying draw games and five main draw games by at least 10 points each and defeated Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 21-11 in the final to win the gold medal.

Wilson was a member of the Australian Gangurrus team along with Whittle, Keely Froling and Miela Goodchild at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup Qualifier held in Eilia, Israel on May 6 and 7, 2023. Australia won all three games to finish first and qualify for the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023. In Australia’s opening game of the tournament Wilson scored a game-high eight points in a 21-9 victory against Madagascar.

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

In her third consecutive NBL1 Central season with Norwood Flames Wilson filled up the stat sheet in a home game against North Adelaide on 25 April with a game-high 48 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, an equal game-high three assists and three steals. Wilson made a game-high seven three pointers from 14 attempts at 50% and had a field goal accuracy of 60%.

During the 2023 NBL1 Central season Wilson was phenomenal for Norwood Flames to earn selection in the conference’s All-Star 5 and played a pivotal role in Norwood winning the NBL1 Central Championship. In Norwood’s 80-65 Grand Final victory against Sturt Wilson scored 23 points, took 16 rebounds and made six assists to set game-highs in all three categories and won the Finals MVP. Wilson played 16 games for the Norwood Flames during the 2023 NBL1 Central season and ranked in the conference’s top five for points, rebounds and assists per game to earn selection in the conference’s All-Star 5. At the 2023 NBL1 National Finals Wilson was incredible in her two games for Norwood to average 46 points and 13 rebounds per game to earn selection in the Tournament’s All-Star 5.   

Ally Wilson playing for Bendigo Spirit against the Townsville Fire at Geelong Arena on 7 January 2024

In a WNBL road game for Bendigo against Perth Lynx on 20 January 2024 Wilson scored 15 points, took seven rebounds and made a game-high and season-high 13 assists in a 95-74 victory at Bendat Basketball Centre. In Bendigo’s last two games of the season Wilson recorded double-doubles with a points-rebounds combination. Against Townsville Fire at the Townsville Entertainment Centre In Bendigo’s 93-60 Round 14 road victory Wilson scored a game-high 22 points, took 10 rebounds and made two assists. Wilson shot the ball adeptly against Townsville to have a field goal accuracy of 53.8% and made three of seven three-pointers at 42.9% on 18 February. Wilson scored 16 points, took an equal game-high 12 rebounds and made a game-high five assists in Bendigo’s Round 15 home game at Red Energy Arena against Perth Lynx on 24 February.

Ally Wilson shooting a free throw for Bendigo Spirit against Sydney Flames at Red Energy Arena on 25 November 2023

Wilson played all 21 games for Bendigo in 2023/24 and averaged 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists (ranked 4th in the WNBL) and 32.3 minutes court-time (10^th) per game. Wilson’s 1.5 made three-pointers per game ranked 13^th in the league. Wilson was selected in the WNBL’s Team of the Round three times in 2023/24, Rounds 5, 11 and 14.

In 2024 Wilson switched conferences to play for NBL1 South club Bendigo Braves and was teammates with partner and Australian Opals 2024 Olympic Games team member Amy Atwell. Wilson scored a season-high 27 points in a home game against Sandringham Sabres on 27 April 2024. Wilson played 12 games for the Bendigo Braves in the 2024 NBL1 South season and averaged 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

The Gangurrus quartet of Maley, Mansfield, Whittle and Wilson have finished first at four FIBA 3×3 tournaments in 2024. The Gangurrus finished first at Asia Cup 2024 in late March and won the FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 2024 in early May to qualify for the Paris Olympics.  AtAsia Cup 2024 Ally Wilson averaged 5.2 points per game, ranked first at the tournament with a total player value of 41.6 and won the tournament MVP Award. In the Gangurrus 19-16 victory against Canada in the UOQT 2 Final Wilson scored an equal game-high eight points. The Gangurrus have competed in two Stops of the Women’s Series 2024 and have won them both – Chengdu Stop in June and Guba Stop in July.

Wilson has joined Perth Lynx for the 2024/25 WNBL season and will be teammates with her partner Atwell and Gangurrus teammate Maley. Wilson commented “I am so excited to be play for the Perth Lynx. The club has been highly successful in recent years and I look forward to being a part of that. I have always admired the style of play and how Ryan (Petrik) coaches the program. I think it fits me as player down to the ground and it’s an environment I could thrive in. I look forward to getting over there and getting to work.”18

At the 2024 Paris Olympics Wilson will become the fourth Indigenous female basketball player to represent Australia at the Olympic games joining Rohanee Cox and Tully Bevilaqua (both 2008 Olympics) and Leilani Mitchell (2016, 2020) in this select group. Wilson told Basketball Australia “It’s so special to be amongst these incredible women. I remember as a kid when Rohanee went to the Olympics, she had an Aboriginal flag with her when the Opals won a silver medal, and then I got to play with her at Sydney and that was a big thing. I also played with Leilani in a championship in Sydney. Representation is super important and you can’t be what you can’t see so for me to have seen it with Rohanee and now little girls and boys will be able to turn on the TV and see me represent Australia at an Olympics is very cool and very important.”19

 WNBL Achievements:    Betty Watson Rookie of the Year 2013/14

WNBL Championship 2014/15 (with Townsville Fire), 2016/17 (with Sydney Uni Flames)

3×3 Achievements for Australia: Gold medal FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023, 2024

Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Chengdu Stop 2024

Finished first FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Guba Stop 2024

        Bronze medal 3×3 Commonwealth Games 2022

        Bronze medal FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023

Most Valuable Player (MVP) FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024

Article and photographs by Dean Andrews

Twitter – @DeanAndrews7777

References

1 https://www.olympics.com.au/news/nervous-start-for-history-making-gangurrus/

2 https://www.olympics.com.au/news/nervous-start-for-history-making-gangurrus/

3 https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports/3×3-basketball

4 https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/venues/la-concorde

5 https://downloads.ctfassets.net/yxx4cuxf15ar/5JZHuHp8WyOacsyFzYB2cD/a81127c1c6bca18a7a50122818c78f0c/Paris_GUIDE_3x3_DIGITAL_v07.pdf

6 https://www.australia.basketball/news/3939164/gangurrus-gear-up-for-3×3-asia-cup

7 https://www.olympics.com.au/news/nervous-start-for-history-making-gangurrus/

8 https://australia.basketball/3×3-womens-gangurrus-teams-prepare-for-jam-packed-weekend/

9 https://www.australia.basketball/news/3939164/gangurrus-gear-up-for-3×3-asia-cup

10 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/league-mvp-anneli-maley-signs-with-the-perth-lynx-for-season-2023-24/

11 https://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/news/adelaide-lightning-sign-shooting-guard-lauren-mansfield

12 https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/veteran-guard-lauren-mansfield-joins-townsville-fire-for-upcoming-wnbl-season/

13 https://www.3x3hustle.com/news/whittle-thrives-on-pressure-to-perform-in-3×3/

14 https://www.australia.basketball/news/3562377/bronze-for-aussie-gangurrus

15 https://pickandroll.com.au/p/awareness-and-opportunities-cubillo

16 https://pickandroll.com.au/p/games-flames-and-spirit-its-been

17 https://pickandroll.com.au/p/games-flames-and-spirit-its-been

18 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/paris-bound-wilson-joins-lynx-in-massive-coup/

19 https://www.australia.basketball/news/4056637/wilson-to-represent-her-country-family-and-the-women-who-came-before-her

Milestones and Misses

Milestones and Misses publishes articles to celebrate the achievements of sportspeople. In sport as with life in general it is common that milestones are only achieved after overcoming adversity. Whilst the articles on the Milestones and Misses website celebrate sportspeople achieving milestones they also cover the misses along the journey such as a player having minimal game-time or spending a prolonged period on the sidelines due to injury.

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