Shiels, Hassett, Dunn and Puoch all taken in 'W' Draft

• ‍Isobel Borlase, Miela Sowah and Maddi Rocci going to WNBA‍
• $6M: Alanna Smith signs richest contract in history‍
• Opal Ezi Magbegor lands $2M Storm supermax offer

Four Australian women’s basketballers – Saffron Shiels, Amelia Hassett, Charlise Dunn, and Manuela Puoch – were selected in today’s 2026 WNBA Draft in Manhattan, New York.

Australian representative Shiels, 19, went at pick 26 to Opals head coach Sandy Brondello’s Toronto Tempo. Kentucky Wildcats star Hassett followed at 35 to the Los Angeles Sparks. Just one pick later, at 36, Davidson’s Dunn joined the Tempo. Rounding out the group, the New York Liberty selected Puoch with pick 41.

Both Hassett and Dunn just finished outstanding NCAA careers, while Shiels and Puoch have proven themselves at FIBA under-aged tournaments.

It caps an extraordinary 72 hours for Australian women’s basketball.

• Alanna Smith signs a three-year supermax contract with the Dallas Wings.
• Ezi Magbegor signs a one-year supermax with the Seattle Storm.
• Reigning WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase signs a Rookie Scale Contract with the Atlanta Dream.
• Rebecca Allen signs a contract with the New York Liberty.
• Townsville Fire WNBL champion Miela Sowah signs a Rookie Scale Contract / Training Camp Contract with the Golden State Valkyries.
• Anneli Maley signs a Training Camp Contract with the New York Liberty.
• Maddison Rocci signs a Rookie Scale Contract / Training Camp Contract with the Toronto Tempo.
• Nyadiew Puoch signs a Rookie Scale Contract with the Portland Fire.
• The Portland Fire extends a Reserved qualifying offer to Chloe Bibby.
• Sami Whitcomb re-signs with the Phoenix Mercury
• Jade Melbourne signs with the Seattle Storm
• Steph Talbot signs a one-year contract with the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

Saffron Shiels – Toronto Tempo (Selected 26th)

Date of Birth: January 18, 2006 (20 years old)
‍Height: 188 cm
‍Nationality: Australia
🇦🇺 National Team: Australian Youth Teams

Player Snapshot

• Versatile 188 cm forward with a strong rebounding presence
• Proven performer across multiple FIBA youth tournaments
• Impacted games across scoring, boards and playmaking

Career Averages (FIBA Youth)

Points: 10.2 │ Rebounds: 6.0 │ Assists: 3.2 │ Efficiency: 12.6

Best Tournament

2024 – FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup (Division A)
18.0 PPG │ 11.6 RPG │ 3.8 APG │ 22.8 EFF

• Named All-Star Five
• Led Australia to a gold medal

International Resume

• Gold – 2024 U18 Asia Cup (Division A)
• Gold – 2023 U17 Oceania Championship
• Gold – 2022 U18 Asia Championship (Division A)
• Gold – 2022 U16 Asia Championship (Division A)
• 5th – 2022 U17 World Cup
• 9th – 2023 U19 World Cup

Playing Profile

• Strong inside-out forward with rebounding instincts
• Capable secondary playmaker (3.2 APG career youth average)
• Physical presence around the rim on both ends

Amelia Hassett – Los Angeles Sparks (Selected 35th)

Position: Forward
‍Height: 190 cm
‍Hometown: Albury, NSW
🇦🇺College: Kentucky (SEC)
‍Class: Senior

Player Snapshot

• Stretch forward with high-volume perimeter shooting.
• Reliable two-way contributor with rebounding presence
• Durable starter – 67 games, 67 starts across two seasons

2025–26 Season (Senior)

Games: 36 │ Minutes: 32.5 │ Points: 10.5 │ Rebounds: 5.3 │ Assists: 1.6 │ FG: 39.7% │ 3PT: 36.1% │ FT: 85.7% │ eFG: 55.6% │ PER: 17.7 │ Win Shares: 5.1

Career (Kentucky)

Games: 67 │ Minutes: 32.8 │ Points: 9.6 │ Rebounds: 6.5 │ Assists: 1.7 │ FG: 40.0% │ 3PT: 34.8% │ FT: 83.8% │ eFG: 54.1% │ PER: 17.1 │ Win Shares: 9.3

By the Numbers

• 154 made threes across two seasons
• 36.1% from three on 7.6 attempts per game (2025–26)
• 85.7% from the line – elite efficiency
• +1.9 PPG jump from junior to senior season

Pathway

• Australian product (Tumut / Albury region)
• JUCO development (2022–24) before stepping into the SEC starting role
• Immediate impact at Kentucky with back-to-back full starting seasons

Charlise Dunn – Toronto Tempo (Selected 36th)

Position: Guard
‍Height: 188 cm
‍Hometown: Victoria, Australia
🇦🇺College: Davidson (A-10) | Virginia Tech (ACC)
‍Class: Senior

Player Snapshot

• Tall, versatile guard with strong rebounding impact
• Three-time All-A-10 selection
• High-usage scorer with consistent two-way production

2025–26 Season (Senior – Davidson)

Games: 33 │ Minutes: 33.6 │ Points: 15.3 │ Rebounds: 7.4 │ Assists: 1.9 │ FG: 40.8% │ 3PT: 30.9% │ FT: 83.5% │ eFG: 48.0% │ PER: 23.4 │ Win Shares: 5.6

Career (NCAA)

Games: 95 │ Minutes: 28.1 │ Points: 12.1 │ Rebounds: 5.9 │ Assists: 1.6 │ FG: 39.4% │ 3PT: 30.9% │ FT: 82.1% │ eFG: 47.1% │ PER: 23.0 │ Win Shares: 13.4

Davidson Career (3 Seasons)

Points: 13.5 │ Rebounds: 6.6 │ Assists: 1.8

• 84 games, 74 starts
• Primary scoring option by senior year

By the Numbers

• +3.3 PPG jump from junior to senior season
• 7.4 RPG as a guard in 2025–26
• 83.5% FT – reliable late-game option
• 23.4 PER – elite impact at A-10 level

Pathway

• Developed at Lake Ginninderra College (ACT system)
• Began at Virginia Tech before transferring to Davidson
• Emerged as a featured A-10 performer and team leader

Manuela Puoch – New York Liberty (Selected 41st)

Position: Forward
‍Height: 184 cm
‍Date of Birth: October 5, 2006 (19 years old)
‍State: Victoria
🇦🇺WNBL Team: Southside Flyers

Player Snapshot

• Emerging forward with strong rebounding instincts
• Active two-way contributor at the international youth level
• Developing perimeter threat with inside scoring touch

2025 Season (Southside Flyers)

Games: 23 │ Points: 4.43 │ Rebounds: 1.26 │ Assists: 0.35 │ FG: 39.5% │ 3PT: 34.1% (15/44) │ FT: 67.6%

Career (WNBL)

Games: 34 │ Points: 4.6 │ Rebounds: 1.7 │ Assists: 0.5 │ FG: 41.2% │ 3PT: 33.8% │ FT: 78.8%

International – 2025 U19 World Cup (Silver Medal)

Points: 9.5 │ Rebounds: 6.8 │ Assists: 2.8

• Top-10 rebounder in tournament (6.8 RPG)
• 80.0% from the free throw line
• Key quarter-final performance vs Hungary:
  12 pts │ 9 reb │ 2 ast (29 mins)

By the Numbers

• +5.1 RPG gap between WNBL and international play (role expansion)
• 5.5 defensive rebounds per game at the U19 level
• 33.3% from three internationally on low volume
• Consistent across all categories: scoring, boards, and playmaking

Pathway

• Victorian product progressing through the national team system.
• Silver medallist – 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup