Gliders load up for final World Cup push

• The Australian Gliders will contest the 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage Tournament in Madrid from 8–11 June
• Paralympians Hannah Dodd and Isabel Martin return alongside US college standout Laura Davoli
• Eight nations will battle for the final four spots at the World Championships in Ottawa this September

The Australian Gliders have confirmed a full-strength roster for the 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage Tournament in Madrid, chasing one of four remaining berths at September's World Championships in Ottawa.

One last shot at Ottawa

Under Head Coach Jeremy Synot, the Gliders will travel to Spain from 8–11 June for a winner-takes-all qualification tournament, with eight nations scrapping for the final four tickets to the IWBF Women's World Championship in Canada.

It's a high-stakes window for Australian women's wheelchair basketball, and Synot believes the squad has matured significantly since their Osaka Cup campaign in February.

"We had a really productive camp in May which played a key role in our selection process," Synot said.

"The athletes have done a great job in their home programs with their DPE coaches and were able to showcase the improvements they've made since the Osaka Cup in February."

Australian Gliders Team

• Lucinda Bueti
• Laura Davoli
• Hannah Dodd
• Katelin Gunn
• Sara Houston
• Maryanne Latu
• Isabel Martin
• Shelley Matheson
• Georgia Munro-Cook
• Taishar Ovens
• Ebony Stevenson
• Sarah Vinci

Off-court reset fuelling on-court direction

Synot pointed to the group's culture work as a key driver heading into the Repechage, with the squad reaffirming its identity and long-term vision during the May camp.

"We've also worked really hard off the court, reconnecting with our purpose as a group and reinforcing our goals and vision moving forward," he said.

Overseas trio returns to bolster the Gliders

In a major boost ahead of Madrid, the Gliders will welcome back three players who have been honing their craft abroad:

• Hannah Dodd – returning from a professional stint in Germany
• Isabel Martin – continuing her college career at the University of Alabama
• Laura Davoli – wrapping up her debut season at the University of Texas Arlington

Dodd and Martin both bring Paralympic experience to the floor, and Synot says their pedigree will be invaluable in the Spanish capital.

"Having three players of their calibre return to the group is a huge boost for us. Isabel and Hannah are both Paralympians, so having athletes with that level of experience and capability will really complement our playing style and strengthen the group overall," he said.

"Laura is coming off a successful first season in the US college system and went from strength to strength throughout last year's WNWBL season. She'll be a significant addition for us on both ends of the floor."

Final preparation camp looms

The Gliders will reconvene for one last preparation block next week before flying out to Spain, with Synot stressing the importance of the camp for cohesion and structural fine-tuning.

"It'll be the first time we've had the entire group together since AOZ in 2025 and it gives us a valuable opportunity to fine-tune and work through our adjusted offensive and defensive structures," he said.

"We're hoping those adjustments will put us in the best possible position to achieve success in Madrid and secure a place at the World Championships in Canada this September."

What's at stake in Madrid

The 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage Tournament represents the final pathway to Ottawa for nations that missed direct qualification. With eight teams chasing four spots, every possession, every defensive stop and every shot from outside will carry weight.

For the Gliders, Madrid is more than a tournament – it's a measuring stick for the program's trajectory under Synot and a chance to cement Australia's place among the world's elite in women's wheelchair basketball ahead of the LA 2028 Paralympic cycle.

The Gliders' Repechage campaign tips off on 8 June in Madrid.