Anneli Maley’s grind earns fresh WNBA opportunity

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Australian forward Anneli Maley’s Phoenix Mercury debut box score reads 6 minutes, one point, two rebounds, a foul and -1 against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the opening weekend of the 2026 WNBA season.

But as far as box scores go, it pales in comparison to the Melbourne-born forward's arrival in Arizona on Sunday, May 10, 2026 (AEDT).

“I’m just trying to try really hard,” she said after recording the only triple-double of WNBL26 with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Sydney Flames.

Her own words sum up her past 12 months: Opals omission; and championship loss to the Townsville Fire.

Maley, 27, has landed a second WNBA opportunity in 2026 after being claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Mercury following her preseason stint with the New York Liberty.

She was part of Mercury’s first win – 99-66 – to thoroughly spoil the Aces’ opening night ring ceremony.

In the Liberty’s 79–67 preseason win against the Connecticut Sun on May 4, 2026 (AEDT), Maley produced 13 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

She didn’t make the cut. But as one door closes, another opens.

The Perth Lynx star shattered the all-time NBL1 single-game scoring record in April, exploding for 65 points and 17 rebounds for the Perth Redbacks against the Willetton Tigers while posting an extraordinary 85% True Shooting percentage.

65 pts │ 17 reb │ 5 ast │ 21–29 FG │ 4–7 3PT │ 19–21 FT

Despite her form – leading WNBL26 in rebounding with 14.4 boards per game – Maley was controversially omitted from the Australian Opals squad for the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, prompting Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik to admit he was “shell-shocked” by the decision.

"Do you want the diplomatic answer or the brutally honest one? I’ll get fired if I give the brutal one," Petrik said after the Lynx demolished the Adelaide Lightning 109-82 on Sunday, December 21, 2025 in Adelaide.

"I’ll say again – shell-shocked. I’m not sure what else she’s meant to do. We’ll leave it there."

Maley was dominant playing next to Chinese international superstar Han Xu, who has been signed by the New York Liberty. She had 19 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists.

"She’s playing really, really well. I think all of us are a little bit shell-shocked that she wasn’t in that Opals squad, because her form has been elite," he added.

"Everyone who made that roster is really talented, so I’m not taking anything away from them.

"But if you’re picking on form, with how she’s playing and with us sitting where we are on the ladder despite being at half to three-quarter strength most of the season, I’m not sure what else she’s meant to do.‍"

Now, after impressing in New York’s preseason rotation, Maley has forced her way onto a WNBA roster with Phoenix as the Mercury continue reshaping their frontcourt depth in 2026.

The move also reunites Maley with a growing Australian presence in the WNBA, with Phoenix already featuring Opals veteran Sami Whitcomb.