Ellis on fire: Abbey Ellis joins Bec Cole

Victorian Abbey Ellis has quickly established herself as one of the nation's most promising talents, with a remarkable trajectory that has seen her rise from college basketball in the United States to representing Australia on the international stage.

From Victorian Junior to American College Star

Ellis' basketball journey began in Victoria's junior leagues before she made the increasingly common move to the American college system. At Cal Poly from 2019 to 2021, Ellis immediately made her mark, earning Big West Conference All-Freshman Team honours while averaging an impressive 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

Her sophomore season brought even more accolades as she secured First Team All-Big West honours while increasing her output to 15.5 points, nearly 5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. These performances caught the attention of larger programs, prompting a transfer to Purdue University.

At Purdue, Ellis continued to excel both on and off the court. Over three seasons from 2021 to 2024, she earned two All-Big 10 honourable mentions while simultaneously securing two Academic All-Big 10 honours, proving her dedication to both athletic and academic excellence.

Her fifth and final year at Purdue brought a milestone moment when Ellis scored her 1,000th point for the university – an achievement she remembers fondly.

"It was amazing. They had a little countdown going on in the crowd on some posters," Ellis recalls. "Coach actually drew up a play at the end of the game and she was like, 'Is this for you, just get your point.' It was a cool moment. The team really got around me."

The College Experience

While many might view collegiate basketball as solely a pathway to professional playing opportunities, Ellis embraced the educational aspect just as seriously. She completed a degree in early childhood education and special needs, including practical student teaching experience.

"I was studying early childhood education and special needs. So basically a teacher and a special needs teacher," Ellis explains. "Now I'm able to come back and be a registered teacher. My parents sent me away not to play basketball, but to get that degree and come back."

This balanced approach reflects a pragmatic awareness often necessary in women's professional sports, where even at the highest levels, many athletes maintain parallel career paths.

Ellis credits her college experience with significantly developing her game, particularly in adjusting to the increased physicality and athleticism of the sport at higher levels.

"I felt like it was very much the opportunity to play against bigger, more athletic players," she says. "When I first got there, I was like, 'Oh, I'm a bit behind the eight ball. Everyone's faster and bigger and stronger,' which is, you know, usually as a freshman, that's a very normal, humbling experience."

Beyond the competition, Ellis highlights the resources available to collegiate athletes as transformative: "You're able to get so many opportunities to have a basketball in hand and learn, watch film with the coaches. I was really getting to the gym as much as I could, taking care of my body, and being with the coaches all the time, getting feedback."

Returning to Australia

Upon returning to Australia, Ellis signed her first WNBL contract with the Townsville Fire, initially expecting to serve as an impact player coming off the bench. However, injuries created an opportunity that she seized with both hands, moving into a starting point guard role.

"It was definitely when some injuries happened and opportunities opened up," Ellis shares. "Shannon [Seebohm, Townsville coach] had so much belief in me, and so did the team. Courtney Woods, all the older girls, they were behind me, supporting me, saying, 'You got this kid. It's nothing you can't handle. He wouldn't put you in a position that you thought you were out of your depth for.'"

This support system proved invaluable as Ellis quickly adapted to the professional game, displaying a confidence and authority that belied her rookie status. Her performance caught the attention of fans and experts alike, culminating in her being named the 2024-2025 WNBL Breakout Player of the Year.

"My heart dropped a bit," Ellis says of the moment her name was called at the awards. "It was kind of after the award when you sit down, took the photos, kind of reminiscing about the whole journey, like all those early mornings, those tournaments your parents took you to when you were a kid. It was a full circle moment."

Ellis' first WNBL season included the valuable experience of playing in the finals, where the Fire ultimately fell to Bendigo in a hard-fought series. Despite the disappointment, Ellis views it as a building block.

"It was very intense. I learned a lot as a player, and I think we learned a lot as a team," she reflects. "We didn't hang our heads. We're really proud of what we did with such a new team."

Looking ahead to next season, having re-signed with Townsville alongside several core teammates, Ellis has clear aims: "We definitely just want to get a championship. That's a top priority. Everyone's hungry to get that championship. It's also just developing as players and developing our chemistry."

During the WNBL off-season, Ellis has returned to the Diamond Valley Eagles in NBL1, where she's using the competition to expand her game alongside experienced players like Stephanie Reid.

"I think taking the opportunity to be aggressive, that's something that NBL1 can help provide," Ellis explains. "There's a bit more freedom in NBL1, which is great, so you can be a bit more creative. I just really want to work on that skill set of ball handling, those different types of shots that you might not be able to get in the WNBL."

The partnership with Reid, an established WNBL star, has proven particularly valuable: "Just her energy. She's so smart in the way that she plays, her IQ is amazing. She's obviously a scoring machine, but that's actually not all she does. She's nonstop, both ends of the court."

From hopeful to Opal

Perhaps the most significant milestone in Ellis' rapid ascent came with her call-up to the Australian Opals squad. The surprise invitation to camp came late one evening after an NBL1 game.

"It was insane. It was like a Tuesday night right after an NBL1 game," she remembers. "I just had a text from Shannon. He goes, 'Call me ASAP right after your game.' I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm off the WNBL team!' But he just was like, 'Listen, champ, you get the call up, you deserve it.'"

That initial camp experience soon led to selection for the Trans Tasman Showdown against New Zealand, giving Ellis the opportunity to represent her country at the senior international level.

"Hearing those words, like getting to represent the green and gold on home soil, it's like my little kid was screaming inside of me," Ellis shares. "I was skipping up and down the court. Every kid dreams of that when they first pick up a basketball."

When the moment came to step onto the court as an Opal for the first time, the emotions were overwhelming: "My legs wouldn't stop shaking on the bench. I was doing that little jitter. The real moment that got me was doing the anthem at the start. I was like, 'Oh my God, this is just so real.'"

Adding to the significance of the moment was sharing it with Fire teammates Alex Fowler and Courtney Woods, who had also earned selection: "It was so cool just to watch everyone's kind of hard work and such a great season just have that little payoff. I think that's a great reward for all the work."

Looking to the Future

Having experienced such a rapid rise, Ellis is focused on continuing to develop her game, particularly in the mental aspects of point guard play.

"I think the WNBL is and has been that consistent point guard role throughout the whole game," she explains. "Each game was different and presented different challenges, and I think next season, being ready for those challenges from the get-go, from the jump ball, and adapting to the game styles. Every game's different."

Ellis recognises that as a point guard, her role extends beyond her own performance: "You're the leader of the team as well. So, make sure everyone else is there with you and knows the game plan, and if there's a change in the game plan, let everyone know. So I think being that authority but also having that IQ to recognise that."

When asked if she expected to be in this position so quickly, Ellis is refreshingly humble: "Absolutely not. A year ago I was still in Indiana, graduating. WNBL was a goal of mine, and I'm so grateful it ended up the way it did. But everything else, I think it's just opportunity after opportunity. You just gotta take them and take them in your stride."

Who is Bec Cole

Rebecca Cole is one of Australian basketball's most accomplished shooting guards, known for her scoring ability and championship success across multiple leagues.

Name: Rebecca Cole
Age: 33
Team(s): Southside Flyers (WNBL), Waverley Falcons (NBL1 South)
Position: Shooting guard
Size: 178 cm

Five Fast Facts

1. Played for six different Victorian-based teams throughout her career
2. Attended Caulfield Grammar School before beginning her professional career
3. Has maintained a professional career spanning over 15 years (2009-present)
4. Won championships in both the WNBL and NBL1 during the 2024 season
5. Represented the Bulleen Boomers in two different leagues (WNBL and Big V)

Career Highlights Timeline

2009: Began professional career with the Australian Institute of Sport

2012: Joined the Bulleen Boomers for her first WNBL club signing

2018: Transferred to Dandenong Rangers (later Southside Flyers)

2019: Runner-Up WNBL MVP, Selected to the WNBL All-Star Five for the first time

2020: Won first WNBL championship with Southside Flyers

2022: Joined Waverley Falcons in NBL1 South

2024: Completed championship double, winning WNBL title with Southside Flyers and NBL1 National championship with Waverley Falcons, earning Finals MVP honours

2025: Joined basketball.com.au as a key expert on Australian basketball