Gems squad cut to 18, Jessie May-Hall not named

• Under-19 Australian Gems squad cut from 24 to 18 ahead of May camp
• Sitaya Fagan, Bonnie Deas and Ruby Perkins all made the cut
• It is unclear if injury has ruled out star NSW guard Jessie May-Hall

Australian "cheat code" Sitaya Fagan, Arkansas Razorbacks freshman Bonnie Deas and US-bound Sydney guard Ruby Perkins have made it into the final cut for the Under-19 Australian Gems FIBA World Cup in Czechia between July 12, 2025 and July 20, 2025.

The squad has been trimmed from 24 to 18 with the 12-player World Cup team expected to be selected after a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra between May 12, 2025 and May 15, 2025.

Perkins' star NSW backcourt teammate Jessie May-Hall is not in the 18-player squad but she took a hard fall against the Sydney Comets in NBL1 on April 13, 2025.

It is unclear if May-Hall, who fell hard on her back attacking the rim, hit her head and needed to be helped off by teammates, is missing the camp because of injury with the potential of being recalled.

Shooting The Breeze on X reported: "Both Saffron Shiels & Lara Somfai, both attendees at Nike Hoops Summit last month will not be available for GEMS camp in May due to injury."

Basketball Australia then reported South Australian Somfai withdrew from the squad today.

NSW's Callie Hinder and Victorian Asha Nightingale have both been added to the squad after the first training camp between March 31, 2025 and April 3, 2025.

Fagan, 17, is a 193cm wing who has 18 NCAAW scholarship offers including South Carolina, LSU, Texas and UCLA.

Fagan told basketball.com.au contributor Hayley Wildes: “You watch all the games on TV and you watch the head coaches, then all of a sudden you're on a call with them, it's surreal. It’s going to be a big decision and because I've been at the CoE, which is basically a college environment, that has made me more excited.

"If you asked me five years ago if I go [to college], I'd probably have said no. After these past couple of years, especially with big names like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, it's just crazy. All the opportunities you get, how big women's basketball is now, I couldn't miss that opportunity.”

Equally, Deas has had an elite freshman season with the Razorbacks as well as the Under-18 Australian team at the Asia Cup in June 24. She averaged 13.8 points, six rebounds and 2.4 assists on 52.5% from the field and 75% from the free-throw line.

“Bonnie has the great ability to play downhill, she’s dynamic and she does a great job getting into the lane," NBA International Elite Women’s Operations Lead Cinnamon Lister said.

"She also stretches the floor with her ability to shoot from deep. Bonnie is a true competitor, she is not averse to taking the big shots or making big plays, and she is a tremendous teammate."

Australian Under-19 FIBA World Cup Squad

• Monique Bobongie (QLD)
• Jade Crook (NSW)
• Emilija Dakic (VIC)
• Bonnie Deas (VIC)
• Sitaya Fagan (VIC)
• Erica Finney (NSW)
• Sienna Harvey (VIC)
• Callie Hinder (NSW)*
• Prasyus Notoa (QLD)
• Asha Nightingale (VIC)*
• Emma Petrie (QLD)
• Manuela Puoch (VIC)
• Ruby Perkins (NSW)
• Zara Russell (ACT)
• Monique Williams (WA)
• Kiara Waite (WA)
• Madison Ryan (VIC)

Not named in the squad

• Lucy Aherne (TAS)
• Opal Bird (NSW)
• Teyahna Bond (QLD)
• Alleah Hanson (QLD)
• Sienna Lehmann (SA)
• Jessie May-Hall (NSW)
• Sarah Portlock (VIC)
• Saffron Shiels (NSW)

*Added to the squad after the first training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra between March 31, 2025 and April 3, 2025.

About the Author

Peter Brown is the head coach of the Sydney Comets Women’s Youth League team in the Waratah Basketball League in NSW. He is also the assistant coach for the Comets NBL1 women’s team in the NBL1 East Conference. Peter is a 30-year journalist, starting as a sports reporter at the NT News in the early 1990s. He played junior basketball for the Northern Territory at national championships from U16 to U20 and for the Territory’s senior men’s team at numerous international tournaments. Peter has been a basketball fan since the early 80s, especially the NBA. Basketball is his passion — and his opinions his own. Email peter.brown@basketball.com.au with feedback. Any email feedback on articles sent to Peter can be published on basketball.com.au for others to read.