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Australians are no strangers to the WNBA spotlight.

From Sami Whitcomb and Alanna Smith to Ezi Magebor and Georgia Amoore, the league has benefited from a steady pipeline of Australian talent.

Now, with growing global awareness of the WNBL and easier access to the Australian market, WNBA teams are casting an even wider net — welcoming more Aussies into training camps and preseason rotations.

This weekend’s slate offered further proof.

Two WNBL standouts, Miela Sowah and Anneli Maley, took full advantage of their preseason opportunities, delivering eye-catching performances for Golden State and New York respectively.

Sowah Shines in Golden State Debut

Golden State guard Miela Sowah wasted no time making her mark.

The 25-year-old sparkplug came off the bench against the Seattle Storm and showed zero hesitation offensively, pouring in 14 points in just 14 minutes. Even more impressive: Sowah was a perfect 4-from-4 from beyond the arc, providing instant energy and offensive stability in Golden State’s 78–76 preseason-opening win.

Her confidence mirrored the form she displayed throughout the 2025–26 WNBL season, where she finished third in the league in scoring at 17.2 points per game. That scoring punch translated seamlessly to the WNBA floor, as Sowah helped tilt the momentum with timely shot-making.

It was the kind of debut that turns heads — and hints that her game is well suited to the pace and spacing of the WNBA.

Maley Makes Her Case in the Big Apple

Over in New York, Anneli Maley also capitalised on extended preseason minutes.

Facing the Indiana Fever, Maley came off the bench and delivered a well-rounded performance, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in 30 minutes of action. Standing at 6’1”, Maley’s size, motor, and versatility were on full display as she impacted the game on both ends.

Those minutes weren’t unexpected.

The Liberty entered the season as legitimate title contenders after retaining their core three and adding a ‘unicorn’ in Satou Sabally.

For New York, preseason is about identifying complementary pieces — and Maley fits the profile. Her ability to play multiple positions, rebound, defend, and push the pace makes her a player worth monitoring as the exhibition schedule continues.

If opportunity aligns with consistency, Maley has the tools to carve out a meaningful role in a stacked Liberty rotation, thanks in part to the new CBA’s expanded roster capacities — could be a fitting outcome for a player who openly swooned over recording an assist to Stewie.

This story is written by Ella Hewson from the University of Canberra