Where to find your WNBL and WNBA stars in NBL1

• WNBL MVP Sami Whitcomb will stay in WNBA shape with Perry Lakes
• Courtney Woods is lining up for Northside Wizards
• Bec Cole and Carley Ernst have re-signed with Waverley Falcons

While the WNBL season finished up earlier this month, plenty of the league’s stars will be back in action this weekend and beyond as NBL1 seasons get underway across the country.

NBL1 South, East and Central all tip off their respective seasons on Saturday, while NBL1 West starts April 4^th and NBL1 North on May 1^st. All this means there will be plenty of basketball to enjoy over the winter months as some of Australia’s best ply their trade.

We’ve got you covered so you can keep track of where your favourite WNBL players will be suiting up across all NBL1 conferences.

NBL1 South

It’s fair to say NBL1 South is the standout conference when it comes to WNBL talent. Everywhere you look, teams have WNBL stars or rising young guns.

Last year’s NBL1 South Champions, the Waverley Falcons — who also took out the National Championship — have re-signed Southside pair Bec Cole and Carley Ernst, both of whom were crucial to the Falcons’ success. Cole is a superstar of the WNBL and continues that form each winter in the NBL1. She averaged 19.4 points, 5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2 steals per game last season for the Falcons.

Keilor were a force last season and they’ll be strong again in2025, led by the re-signings of Maddy Rocci and Issie Bourne. Rocci stood tall for Southside, despite the wins being few and far between and will be looking to continue to dominate the NBL1, where she averaged 17.1 points, 5.9 assists,5.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Bourne took her game to a new level with the Lightning this past season and after averaging close to a double-double last season for Keilor (20 points and 9.2 rebounds per game), I can see her being one of the best bigs in the conference in 2025.

You’re going to want to watch Melbourne! Securing the signing of Izzy Borlase is a monster boost, while Australian basketball fans will be thrilled to see Sara Blicavs back on the court after undergoing back surgery last year and having to sit out the WNBL season.

Townsville duo Alicia Froling and Saffron Shiels will be teaming up at Knox. Shiels is just 19 years old, but didn’t look out of place for the Fire this past season and she’s one to keep tabs on in the future asI’m sure the Opals will come calling.

Diamond Valley have levelled up by signing the WNBL’s Breakout Player of the Year, Abbey Ellis, and former Fire player Steph Reid,who made the move to Europe this season. That is a scary back court proposition for opponents, with both being absolute bulldogs on the defensive end, not to mention their offensive brilliance.

Geelong United have done a great job at keeping some of their WNBL stars local with both Jaz Shelley and Gemma Potter set to suit up for Geelong in NBL1, while Bonnie Deas – who had a stellar rookie season with the Sydney Flames – has returned to her hometown team, Frankston. Deas has committed to Arkansas University for the 2025/26 college season.

Nyadiew Puoch is another that will be suiting up for her hometown team. After starring for Dandenong last season – averaging 19 points,7.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game – Puoch is back again for the 2025season.

Dallas Loughridge is another young gun to watch at Dandenong. She had a breakout season with the Flyers and continues to improve every time she steps on the court.
The Puoch and Loughridge pairing will be a lot of fun.

Keely Froling led Geelong United from the front all season long and she’ll be doing the same for Launceston, where she will be a dominant player in the paint.

NBL1 West

While some of these stars might not play the entire season as the WNBA is calling, it’s exciting nonetheless to see Sami Whitcomb, Ally Wilson and Anneli Maley all signed on for the 2025 NBL1 West season.

Whitcomb just completed one of the most impressive individual seasons in the WNBL history and she will be suiting up for Perry Lakes, alongside Alex Fowler, before she jets off to play for the Phoenix Mercury.

Whitcomb will transform Perry Lakes’ offense and what an incredible opportunity for the rest of the Hawks players to learn from such a superstar talent and leader.

Fowler will be a focal point for the Hawks, fresh off a prominent season with the Fire, where she was a vital piece of their front court as they made their way to the Grand Final series.

Ally Wilson — a 2025 All-WNBL First Team member — has gone from strength to strength in recent seasons and after dominating NBL1, then the WNBL, she has now signed a training camp deal with the Chicago Sky. In NBL1, she has made the move from Bendigo to Mandurah and will be one of the most exciting players to watch in the country.

Much like Wilson, Anneli Maley also has a WNBA training camp deal, having signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. After averaging a ridiculous 23 points, 16.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists across 11 games for the Perth Redbacks last season, Maley is back on deck with the Redbacks in 2025 and I can’t see how any team will be able to slow her down.

After making the move to Europe in late 2024, Alex Sharp returned to the WNBL as a mid-season signing with Geelong United. She added instant offence and rebounding, and will be doing plenty of that for the reigning Champion Rockingham Flames. Last season she was crowned Grand Final MVP and averaged 16.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in the regular season.

NBL1 East

It’s Nicole Munger’s world and those in NBL1 East are just living in it. Munger is back with Newcastle after leading the Falcons to theNBL1 East Championship last season, while also winning conference MVP honours. Just as she is with Canberra, Munger is the heart and soul of Newcastle and averaged a monster double-double of 24.6 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists per game last season.

Tahlia Tupaea has made the move from the Penrith Panthers to the Inner West Bulls and will be a tough cover for any team across the conference. After averaging 24.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season, the Bulls are built around Tupaea and will be relying heavily on her on both ends of the court.

NBL1 North

There have been few players in the WNBL who have improved as much as Courtney Woods has over the past couple of seasons. Now a superstar of the WNBL, who was named to the All-WNBL First Team this past season, Woods will be in dangerous form as she returns to her hometown side, the Northside Wizards.

After a WNBL season that saw her really make a name for herself in Canberra, Monique Bobongie will be suiting up for Mackay in theNBL1. Such a young and exciting prospect, I’m looking forward to watching her take control of the team and showcase her full game.

Mikayla Ruef had an injury-riddled WNBL season with Sydney, playing just seven games, but she remains one of the most dominant paint players in the country and will be vital for the Brisbane Capitals in 2025.

NBL1 Central

There’s a buzz around Woodville and that’s because one of Australia’s best athletes is set to suit up for the Warriors. Former Opals superstar, WNBL Champion, 2x WNBA Champion and perhaps the best-ever AFLW player, Erin Phillips is making her return to basketball for the Woodville Warriors.

It will be a moment to savour for Australian basketball fans to see Phillips back on the hardwood.  

Lauren Mansfield was a key piece off the bench for Townsville this past WNBL season and she will be leading the way for North Adelaide. Mansfield played just six games for the Rockets in 2024, but when she did play, she put on a show, averaging 15 points, 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.