FIBA: Three reasons to get excited for the 2024-25 WNBL season

The WNBL returned to action on October 30, with the season running into the first half of March.

From now until then, enjoy watching exciting games featuring some of world basketball’s biggest names. The Australian Women’s National Team, known as the Opals, won bronze in this summer’s Olympics and most of that roster will be present on the courts of Adelaide, Perth or Sydney. Seeing those players play in front of home crowds, feeding off their energy, is one of the reasons to watch the WNBL.

The Opals are the third-best national team in the world

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The Opals have been among the top women’s basketball national teams for decades, both in 5×5 and 3×3 settings. Players like Alice Kunek or Rebecca Cole are established vets, who missed out on the Olympics, but it will be refreshing to see the two friends play on the Southside Flyers, the WNBL’s reigning champs. Sami Whitcomb and Marianna Tolo, two Olympians, will be starting for the Bendigo Spirit. For Whitcomb, it will be her third team in three seasons. For Jade Melbourne, it will be her fourth season serving as the floor general for the UC Capitals, where she returns following a solid year off the bench for the Washington Mystics. And speaking of the Capitals…

Charli Collier takes her talents to Australia

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Swish Appeal asked Charli Collier about her goals for her first WNBL season, and here’s what she said:

First and foremost, to win. To jolt my teammates and just get a good feel for the WNBL, as it’s my first season here in Canberra. So I’m just excited to get everything going. I would say ultimately team goals are first. You know, obviously for me myself getting 1% better each day is another goal, but ultimately just winning.

The former No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft is the biggest name to join the WNBL this season. Her WNBA career didn’t go as expected, but joining an unstable organization—in seven seasons the Dallas Wings have gone through five coaches, and will be hiring their sixth this offseason—definitely didn’t help her find her footing as a pro. Out of the league since 2022, Collier has played in Italy, Israel, Mexico, Poland and China. She’s only 25 years old and we wouldn’t mind seeing her play in the W again after successful season for the UC Capitals.

New players on the block

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The Melbourne Boomers are no more. The one-time champs have traded their license to Geelong United, citing financial losses and general frustration with the league as the reasons behind that decision. This is not mere relocation, but a new team with a new roster. The star of that roster is supposed to be Jaz Shelley, the 2019 WNBL Rookie of the Year who played college basketball at Oregon and Nebraska and was selected No. 29 by the Phoenic Mercury in the 2024 WNBA Draft. While she’s yet to play in her first WNBA game, it will be interesting to see her test her all-around skills against the pros.

US players in the WNBL

Adelaide Lightning: Brianna Turner, Japreece Dean

Bendigo Spirit: Veronica Burton

Geelong United: Haley Jones, Lynetta Kizer

Perth Lynx: Teige Morrell

Southside Flyers: Mikayla Vaughn, Naz Hillmon

Sydney Flames: Celeste Taylor, Mikaela Ruef, Yemiya Morris

Townville Fire: Nya Lok

UC Capitals: Charli Collier, Nicole Munger