WNBL Off-Season Signings 2018

Comings and goings in preparation for the 2018/19 WNBL season. Last updated 21 August 2018.

“Presumed Re-signed” means the player was not on the WNBL Free Agents’ List published on 5 February 2018.

ADELAIDE LIGHTNING

Listed as Free Agents: Abby Bishop, Sara Elsworthy, Ruth Hamblin , Jessica Good, Shannon McKay, Natalie Novosel

Confirmed Signed: Kayla Alexander  (WNBA: Indiana Fever), Stephanie Blicavs (Dandenong Rangers), Chelsea Brook, Aimee Clydesdale, Nia Coffey (WNBA: Las Vegas Aces), Penina Davidson (NCAA: California), Kate Gaze (Uni Canberra Capitals), Lauren Nicholson, Colleen Planeta , Nicole Seekamp

Presumed Re-Signed: Anneli Maley

Departing: Laura Hodges (pregnancy), Vanessa Panousis (Sydney Uni Flames)

Notes: Boti Nagy is reporting that Kate Gaze has signed with the Lightning, leaving the Capitals… Nagy’s earlier report of Stephanie Blicavs joining the Lightning was confirmed by the club on 1 May… The Lightning also announced on 1 May that Laura Hodges will miss the 2018/19 season to give birth to her first child.

BENDIGO SPIRIT

Listed as Free Agents: Rachel Banham , Ashleigh Karaitiana , Betnijah Laney , Heather Oliver, Jess Rennie, Gabrielle Richards, Ebony Rolph, Ashleigh Spencer

Confirmed Signed: Natalie Hurst (Uni Canberra Capitals), Cassidy McLean (Sydney Uni Flames), Nadeen Payne, Jamie Scott , Kara Tessari, Becca Tobin (GER: Wasserburg), Louella Tomlinson (Melbourne Boomers), Abbey Wehrung, Marena Whittle (Townsville Fire), Maddison Wild

Departing: Kelsey Griffin (Uni Canberra Capitals), Ahlise Hurst (NCAA: New Mexico)

DANDENONG RANGERS

Listed as Free Agents: Rachel Antoniadou, Isobel Anstey, Taylah Giliam, Isis Lopes, Laia Palau , Madeline Puli, Sam Richards, Sarid Taylor

Presumed Re-Signed: Tessa Lavey, Carley Mijovic, Rebecca Pizzey, Kiera Rowe

Confirmed Signed: Larissa Anderson (head coach), Sara Blicavs, Rebecca Cole (Melbourne Boomers), Rachel Jarry (Uni Canberra Capitals), Kayla Pedersen , Tayla Roberts, Amelia Todhunter

Departing: Stephanie Blicavs (Adelaide Lightning)

MELBOURNE BOOMERS

Listed as Free Agents: Kasey Burton, Elizabeth Cambage, Courtney Duever , Cassidy Gould, Peri Kalka, Rebecca Ott

Confirmed Signed: Lindsay Allen  (WNBA New York Liberty), Monique Conti, Chelsea D’Angelo, Maddie Garrick, Cayla George (Townsville), Ash Grant, Jenna O’Hea, Ezi Magbegor (Uni Canberra), Kalani Purcell , Jaz Shelley (Big V: Southern Peninsula), Steph Talbot (Phoenix Mercury)

Departing: Rebecca Cole (Dandenong Rangers), Brittany Smart (Sydney Uni Flames), Louella Tomlinson (Bendigo Spirit)

Notes: Cambage appears unlikely to return after telling Fox Sports she would pursue opportunities overseas… The Boomers site lists Ott as Australian but she is a squad member for the New Zealand Tall Ferns.

PERTH LYNX

Listed as Free Agents: Natalie Burton, Alex Ciabattoni, Georgia Denehey, Amanda Dowe , Tahlia Fejo, Alice Kunek, Isabelle Miotti, Mikayla Pirini, Olivia Thompson, Courtney Williams

Confirmed signed: Kaela Davis (WNBA: Dallas Wings), Katie-Rae Ebzery (Sydney Uni Flames), Antonia Farnworth , Shyla Heal (Waratah: Sutherland), Lauren Mansfield (POL: Energa Torun), Alison Schwagmeyer, Kayla Standish , Asia Taylor (Sydney Uni Flames)

Departing: Sami Whitcomb (exercised option)

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY FLAMES

Listed as Free Agents: Natalia Beaumont, Carly Boag, Jennifer Hamson , Kimberley Hodge, Emily Matthews, Hayley Moffatt, Maddie O’Hehir, Susannah Walmsley

Confirmed Signed: Alex Bunton (POL: AZS Gorzow), Cheryl Chambers (head coach, two seasons), Sarah Graham, Shanae Greaves, Amanda Johnson (QBL: Ipswich), Lara McSpadden, Vanessa Panousis (Adelaide Lightning), Belinda Snell, Brittany Smart (two seasons, from Melbourne), Tahlia Tupaea, Alex Wilson

Departing: Katie-Rae Ebzery (Perth Lynx), Cassidy McLean (Bendigo Spirit), Asia Taylor (Perth Lynx)

Notes: Smart joins the Flames after making the 2018 Grand Final with the Melbourne Boomers… Bunton was due to play in Poland last season with AZS Gorzow before suffering an injury.

TOWNSVILLE FIRE

Listed as Free Agents: Haylee Andrews, Miela Goodchild, Mia Murray, Sydney Wiese

Confirmed Signed: Zitina Aokuso (signed through 2019/20), Suzy Batkovic, Stella Beck , Claudia Brassard (head coach, three seasons), Micaela Cocks , Mikhaela Donnelly (one season), Darcee Garbin (signed through 2020/21), Tess Madgen (Poland: AZS UMCS), Laurin Mincy (one season), Casey Samuels (Waratah League: Bankstown)

Departing: Cayla George (WNBL: Melbourne), Marena Whittle (WNBL: Bendigo), Kelly Wilson (Uni Canberra Capitals)

Notes: Andrews, Beck, Garbin and Goodchild are playing for Townsville in the 2018 QBL season.

UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA CAPITALS

Listed as Free Agents: Mistie Bass , Callie Bourne, Jordan Hooper , Chevannah Paalvast

Confirmed Signed: Keely Froling, Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo), Hannah Young (Waratah: Newcastle), Kaili McLaren (TUR: Bornova Becker), Leilani Mitchell (TUR: Hatay), Kia Nurse (WNBA: New York Liberty), Maddison Rocci, Marianna Tolo (TUR: Abdullah Gül Üniversitesi), Kristy Wallace (NCAA: Baylor, two seasons), Kelly Wilson (Townsville)

Presumed Re-Signed: Lauren Scherf

Departing: Kate Gaze (Adelaide Lightning), Natalie Hurst (Bendigo Spirit), Rachel Jarry (Dandenong Rangers), Ezi Magbegor (Melbourne Boomers), Abbey Wehrung (Bendigo Spirit)

Notes: McLaren will cover for the injured Marianna Tolo in October and November.