Stars to Shine in NBL1
The nationwide NBL1 basketball season tips off this week with Olympians, Opals, rookie sensations and WNBL stars in action.
With a successful WNBL basketball season done and dusted, a large number of players will seek to maintain match fitness, fine tune their skills, and in some cases press for Australian selection when the NBL1 league tips off around the country this week.
NBL1 is divided into five conferences around Australia who compete to become champions. The five conferences winners, plus the previous year‘s winner, then come together at the end of the season for the national championships.
It’s an exciting time for the women’s game in particular, with the new ownership set to take over in coming days.
From a player perspective, many of the Australian players will be looking to use NBL1 to push for Opal selection in 2025.
There is a national training camp coming up in April, and a significant number of that squad are already named to line up in NBL1. With both the Tasman Throwdown series coming up in May, plus an Asian Cup later in the year, there’s plenty to play for.
Here’s a brief guide to each Conference.
SOUTH
The reigning national champions, Waverley, hail from the strong South conference, which comprises teams from Melbourne, regional Victoria and Tasmania. South conference has a huge number of big name players who will be turning out in the NBL1, from Paris bronze medalist Izzy Borlase, 2022 World Cup medalist Sara Blicavs, recently crowned Bendigo WNBL champion stars Abbey Wehrung, Casey Samuels and Ash Hannan, plus College-bound besties Bonnie Deas and Opal Bird.
NORTH
The North conference, which takes in Queensland and Darwin, has publicly released minimal information about player signings at time of posting this article.
Townsville Fire leader and WNBL All-first team member Courtney Woods moves from Darwin, where she played last season, to the Northside Wizards. ‘Woody’ is coming off a career best season in the WNBL.
HER WAY sources indicate some more big names look set to be announced in coming days, including one who has had an incredible past 12 months both in Australia and overseas.
EAST
One of the best guard prospects in the nation, teen Ruby Perkins will suit up for Norths alongside veteran star Jolene Anderson and Flames breakout player Carla Pitman, while the national Centre of Excellence from Canberra will again provide a team of next gen stars.
A number of WNBL players will feature in the East conference, especially from the Sydney Flames, with a handful of their finals squad aligned to East teams.
CENTRAL
Without doubt the biggest story of the NBL1 off-season was the announcement of cross code superstar Erin Phillips signing with Woodville.
The World Cup champion, 2 x WNBA champ and 3 x AFLW premiership star will step back on the court, in a move which should see crowds swell for Warriors games.
Gangurru Olympian Lauren Mansfield heads up the list of other WNBL stars in action for the Central conference.
WEST
Last but certainly not least, there’s some genuine star power in the West conference, but some will only be there for a short time.
After an incredible season where she won WNBL MVP and her first title with Bendigo, Sami Whitcomb will play some games with Perry Lakes before she heads to the US to join her new WNBA team Phoenix.
Three of the four Gangurrus who played in Paris are also linked with West sides, however Anneli Maley and Ally Wilson will also have short stints before they head to WNBA training camps with LA and Chicago respectively.
On top of basketball stars from Australia and abroad, keep an eye out also for some other cross code athletes, particularly from AFLW. Erin Phillips’ 2022 Adelaide Crows premiership teammate Jaz Simmons will be in action for Central Coast in the East, Port Adelaide’s Olivia Levicki will feature for West Adelaide, while Hawthorn draftee Lavinia Cox will play some hoops with Bendigo before joining the Hawks.
NBL1 games can be streamed on the NBL1 app, with games of the week from each conference to be streamed on Kayo (check viewing guide for teams/times).
Here’s a list of just some of the WNBL and national stars in action in NBL1 for season 2025. (Most recent WNBL or overseas side, then their NBL1 team):
SOUTH
Keely Froling (Geelong, Launceston)
Alicia Froling (Townsville, Knox)
Bonnie Deas (Sydney, Frankston)
Steph Reid (Europe, Diamond Valley)
Izzy Borlase (Adelaide, Melbourne)
Issie Bourne (Adelaide, Keilor)
Gemma Potter (Geelong, Geelong)
Hannah Hank (Geelong, Geelong)
Abbey Wehrung (Bendigo, Ballarat)
Saffron Shiels (Townsville, Knox)
Maddy Rocci (Southside, Keilor)
Dallas Loughridge (Southside, Dandenong)
Bec Cole (Southside, Waverley)
Nyadiew Puoch (Capitals, Dandenong)
Manuela Puoch (Southside, Dandenong)
Ash Hannan (Bendigo, Bendigo)
Jaz Shelley (Geelong, Geelong)
Casey Samuels (Bendigo, Bendigo)
Sara Blicavs (Opals, Melbourne)
Ella Tofaneono (Capitals, Melbourne)
India Bowyer (Capitals, Melbourne)
Opal Bird (Bendigo, Ballarat)
Abbey Ellis (Townsville, Diamond Valley)
Isabella Brancatisano (Sydney, Mt Gambier)
EAST
Sherrie Calleja (Sydney, Hills)
Nicole Munger (Capitals, Newcastle)
Carla Pitman (Sydney, Norths)
Tahlia Tupaea (Sydney, Inner West)
Ruby Perkins (U18 Aus, Norths)
Piper Anderson (Sydney, Sydney Comets)
WEST
Sami Whitcomb (Bendigo, Perry Lakes)
Ally Wilson (Perth, Mandurah)
Marena Whittle (Gangurrus, Rockingham)
Chloe Foster (Perth, Warwick)
Anneli Maley (Perth, Perth Redbacks)
Ally Fowler (Townsville, Perry Lakes)
Zitina Aokuso (Europe/Opals, Willetton)
Alex Clinch-Hoycard (Perth, Goldfields)
Alex Sharp (Geelong, Rockingham)
Alex Ciabattoni (Perth, Rockingham)
Daniel Jaber (Geelong, Cockburn)
Steph Gorman (Perth, Cockburn)
CENTRAL
Erin Phillips (Opals legend, Woodville)
Lauren Mansfield (Townsville, Nth Adelaide)
Brooke Basham (Adelaide, Nth Adelaide)
Maddy Freer (Adelaide, Forestville)
NORTH
Courtney Woods (Townsville, Northside)
Mikaela Ruef (Sydney, Brisbane Capitals)