26

Aug

Free Agency

WNBL27 Roster Tracker: Every move in free agency

Written By

basketball.com.au

WNBL27 Roster Tracker: Every move in free agency
WNBL27 Roster Tracker: Every move in free agency

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Big re-signings and even bigger departures headline a busy free agency period for season 2026-27

The race to build a WNBL27 championship contender is heating up as clubs continue to reshape their rosters ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The biggest move of the off-season came when Australian Opals and Seattle Storm point guard Jade Melbourne signed with reigning champions Bendigo Spirit, while Southside Melbourne Flyers landed Chinese international star Wang Siyu to headline a revamped backcourt under new coach Sam Mackinnon. The free agency market has also seen Australian stars Sami Whitcomb, Steph Reid, Steph Talbot and Zitina Aokuso find new homes, while imports continue to arrive and several marquee players remain unsigned.

Below is basketball.com.au's complete WNBL27 roster tracker, featuring every contracted player, new signing, departure and projected depth chart for all nine clubs. This page will be updated throughout the off-season as every roster move is confirmed.

Adelaide Lightning 2026-27 Roster Tracker

Head Coach: Aja Parham-Ammar

Contracted

Steph Talbot • Zitina Aokuso • Tayla Brazel • Jess McDowell-White • Gemma Potter • Elissa Brett • Shay Ciezki (I) • Kiara Waite • Aspen Crase* • Maddy Westbeld (I)* • Coco Hodges (DP)

New arrivals

Maddy Westbeld (Import, WNBA)* • Aspen Crase (Basketball Australia CoE)* • Kiara Waite (Perth Lynx) • Shay Ciezki (Import, Phoenix Mercury) • Elissa Brett (Geelong Venom) • Gemma Potter (Geelong Venom) • Jess McDowell-White (Sydney Flames) • Zitina Aokuso (UC Capitals) • Coco Hodges (Development Player)

Departures

Ella Tofaeono (Tasmania Jewels) • Brooke Basham (Tasmania Jewels) • Dallas Loughridge (NCAA) • Charlotte Whittaker (UC Capitals) • Sharne Robati (UC Capitals)

Transactions

  • July 29: Maddy Westbeld signs as an import off her rookie WNBA season, pending league approval.
  • July 13: Brooke Basham departs for the Tasmania Jewels after five seasons at the Lightning.
  • July 9: Kiara Waite signs from the Perth Lynx.
  • July 2: Shay Ciezki signs from the Phoenix Mercury, filling the vacancy left by Dallas Loughridge.
  • July 2: Ella Tofaeono departs for the Tasmania Jewels.
  • June 25: Dallas Loughridge departs for a US college opportunity. June 22: Elissa Brett signs from Geelong.
  • May 28: Charlotte Whittaker departs for the UC Capitals.
  • May 21: Coco Hodges signed as a development player.
  • May 19: Gemma Potter signed from Geelong.
  • May 13: Zitina Aokuso joined on a one-year deal. May 13: Jess McDowell-White signed.
  • April 30: Sharne Robati departs for the UC Capitals.
  • April 29: Tayla Brazel agreed to a two-year extension.
  • March 26: Tess Madgen appointed general manager.

*pending league approval • (I) import • (DP) development player

Projected Adelaide Lightning Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import · (DP) denotes a development player
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Shay Ciezki* Jess McDowell-White Steph Talbot Maddy Westbeld* Zitina Aokuso
Rotation Tayla Brazel Gemma Potter Aspen Crase Kiara Waite
Depth Coco Hodges(DP) Elissa Brett
Projection only — the Adelaide Lightning have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Aja Parham-Ammar. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. Maddy Westbeld and Aspen Crase are both pending league approval. The roster tracker still showed the starting power forward slot as vacant; Westbeld signed as an import on 29 July and fills it. Kiara Waite is shown at power forward because Adelaide call her a forward, while the WNBL list her as a 6’3” centre — if the league is right she is the second centre behind Zitina Aokuso, who is otherwise alone in that column.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (2 of the 11 players listed); (DP) marks a development player (1 of the 11 players listed).

WNBL26 roster: Ella Tofaeono, Serena Sundell (Import), Dallas Loughridge, Ruby Porter, Steph Talbot, Maddy Freer, Sharne Robati, Jordyn Freer, Jasmin Fejo, Sania Feagin (Import), Ashlee Strawbridge, Tayla Brazel.

Bendigo Spirit 2026-27 Roster Tracker

Head coach: Kennedy Kereama

Contracted

Jade Melbourne • Isobel Borlase • Abbey Wehrung • Olivia Pollerd • Georgia Booth • Casey Samuels • Kelsey Rees • Kelsey Griffin

New Arrivals

Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals)

Still to sign

• Marianna Tolo

Departures

Megan McConnell (UC Capitals) • Emma Clarke (Townsville Fire)

Transactions

  • July 16: Kelsey Griffin re-signs with the Bendigo Spirit
  • June 30: WNBA star and former Canberra Capitals point guard Jade Melbourne signs with the Bendigo Spirit.
  • May 8: Kennedy Kereama signed a two-year contract extension after winning WNBL26 Coach of the Year.
  • April 29: Abbey Wehrung re-signed on a one-year contract.
  • March 30: Georgia Booth re-signed after her first full WNBL season.
  • March 27: Olivia Pollerd signed a new two-year contract.
  • March 20: Isobel Borlase re-signed on a one-year deal after her MVP season.

Projected Bendigo Spirit Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Jade Melbourne Isobel Borlase Abbey Wehrung Kelsey Griffin
Rotation Georgia Booth Casey Samuels Kelsey Rees
Depth Olivia Pollerd Marianna Tolo
Projection only — the Bendigo Spirit have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Kennedy Kereama. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. Marianna Tolo is still to sign, so she is shown in the frontcourt with the starting centre slot unfilled above her rather than being written in as the starter.

WNBL26 roster: Hayley McDowell-White, Georgia Booth, Megan McConnell (Import), Micah Simpson, Olivia Pollerd, Catherine MacGregor, Marianna Tolo, Abbey Wehrung, Isobel Borlase, Casey Samuels, Kelsey Griffin, Kelsey Rees, Emma Clarke (Injury Replacement Player)

UC Capitals 2026-27 Roster Tracker – Roster Complete

Head coach: Paul Goriss

Contracted

Isabella Brancatisano • Nyadiew Puoch • Sharne Robati • Nicole Munger (I) • Megan McConnell (I) • Amy Atwell • Isabel Palmer • Charlotte Whittaker • Manuela Puoch • Caitlyn Jones

New arrivals

Megan McConnell (Bendigo Spirit) • Caitlyn Jones (NBL1 Canberra Nationals) • Manuela Puoch (Southside Melbourne Flyers) • Charlotte Whittaker (Adelaide Lightning) • Isabel Palmer (University of Utah) • Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx) • Sharne Robati (Adelaide Lightning)

Departures

Jade Melbourne (Bendigo Spirit) • Zitina Aokuso (Adelaide Lightning) • Teige Morrell (Perth Lynx)

Transactions

  • August 18: Megan McConnell signs as the 10th and final player
  • August 10: Caitlyn Jones joins for her WNBL debut, doubling as a club Community Coach.
  • July 29: Nat Hurst returns to the Capitals bench as lead assistant to Paul Goriss.
  • July 10: Nicole Munger re-signs with the Capitals
  • May 14: Amy Atwell signed from the Perth Lynx.
  • April 30: Sharne Robati signed from the Adelaide Lightning.
  • March 31: Isabella Brancatisano re-signed with the Capitals for WNBL27.

Projected UC Capitals Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Isabella Brancatisano Amy Atwell Nyadiew Puoch Sharne Robati Charlotte Whittaker
Rotation Megan McConnell* Isabel Palmer Nicole Munger* Manuela Puoch
Depth Caitlyn Jones
Projection only — the UC Capitals have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Paul Goriss. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. This roster is complete at ten players. Megan McConnell signed on 19 August as the tenth and final player, pending WNBL review and approval, and Caitlyn Jones joined on 10 August for her WNBL debut. The roster tracker was still listing a starting centre and wing depth as still to sign.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (2 of the 10 players listed).

WNBL26 roster: Tayha Watkins, Teige Morrell, Sharn Hayward, Jade Melbourne, Abby Solway, Zara Russell, Monique Bobongie, Nicole Munger (Import), Nyadiew Puoch, Zitina Aokuso, Jayda Clark, Isabella Brancatisano, Kadiatou Sissoko (Import), Sara Blicavs

Geelong Venom 2026-27 Roster Tracker

Head coach: Cheryl Chambers

Contracted

Maddy Rocci • Lilly Rotunno • Bec Cole • Alex Sharp • Dakota Crichton • Han Xu (I) • Wanglai Zhang (I) • Indiah Bowyer • Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard

New arrivals

Han Xu (Import, Perth Lynx) • Wanglai Zhang (Import, Chinese National Team) • Indiah Bowyer (Southside Melbourne Flyers, via NBL1 Geelong United) • Dakota Crichton (Townsville Fire) • Maddy Rocci (Southside Melbourne Flyers) • Bec Cole (missed WNBL26)

Still to sign

Backcourt depth

Departures

Jaz Shelley (Sydney Flames) • Casey Benson (Import) • Bec Allen • Gemma Potter (Adelaide Lightning) • Kate Oliver • Shyla Heal (Europe) • Elissa Brett (Adelaide Lightning) • Taylor Mole (Tasmania Jewels)

Transactions

  • July 27: Chinese stars Han Xu and Wanglai Zhang sign for WNBL27
  • June 18: Indiah Bowyer promoted from Geelong United's NBL1 team.
  • May 15: Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard re-signed with the Venom.
  • May 8: Dakota Crichton signed from Townsville.
  • May 5: Maddy Rocci signed from Southside Melbourne.
  • May 4: Lilly Rotunno re-signed.
  • April 22: Bec Cole returned to the WNBL with Geelong.
  • March 31: Alex Sharp re-signed for a third consecutive season.

Projected Geelong Venom Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Maddy Rocci Bec Cole Indiah Bowyer Alex Sharp Han Xu*
Rotation Lilly Rotunno Wanglai Zhang* Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard Dakota Crichton
Projection only — the Geelong Venom have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Cheryl Chambers. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard is new to this chart. She re-signed on 15 May and appeared only in the club’s own transaction log, in neither its roster lines nor its depth chart. Han Xu is here rather than at Perth: she signed with Geelong on 28 July, while the tracker still listed her as a Perth signing still to come. The roster tracker’s Geelong section is also the one club entry with no head coach line; Cheryl Chambers is named as coach elsewhere in the same article and by the WNBL.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (2 of the 9 players listed).

WNBL26 roster: Tayli Dimarco, Lilly Rotunno, Poppy Stevens, Jazmin Shelley, Elissa Brett, Georgia Taylor, Alex Sharp, Gemma Potter, Taylor Mole, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, Shyla Heal, Alissa Pili (Import), Mackenzie Holmes (Import)

Perth Lynx 2026-27 Roster Tracker

Head coach: Ryan Petrik

Contracted

Sami Whitcomb • Alex Ciabattoni • Nya Lok • Anneli Maley • Teige Morrell • Steph Gorman • Haley Peters (I)* • Samantha Ashby

New arrivals

Samantha Ashby • Haley Peters (Import, Southside Melbourne Flyers)* • Sami Whitcomb (Phoenix Mercury) • Nya Lok (Southside Melbourne Flyers) • Teige Morrell (UC Capitals)

Still to sign

Wing depth

Departures

Kiara Waite (Adelaide Lightning) • Ally Wilson (Sydney Flames) • Amy Atwell (UC Capitals) • Han Xu (Geelong Venom) • Brianna Turner (Import) • Yemiyah Morris (Import)

Transactions

  • August 26: Guard Samantha Ashby (NBL1) signs with the Lynx.
  • August 25: Import Haley Peters signs with the Perth Lynx
  • July 9: Kiara Waite departs for the Adelaide Lightning after two seasons and 22 games.
  • May 21: Teige Morrell returned to the Lynx after one season with the UC Capitals.
  • May 14: Sami Whitcomb signed a two-year deal with Perth.
  • May 6: Nya Lok signed a two-year deal after leaving Southside Melbourne.
  • May 5: Alex Ciabattoni re-signed after a career-best WNBL26 season.
  • May 4: Perth confirmed Amy Atwell would not return.
  • May 4: Ally Wilson signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Flames.

Projected Perth Lynx Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Sami Whitcomb Nya Lok Haley Peters* Anneli Maley Teige Morrell
Rotation Alex Ciabattoni Steph Gorman
Depth Samantha Ashby
Projection only — the Perth Lynx have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 26, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Ryan Petrik. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. Samantha Ashby is new to this chart, committing to Perth on 25 August subject to WNBL review and approval. The local Western Australian guard arrives from the Perth Redbacks after a 2026 NBL1 West season of 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.5 made three-pointers and 2.5 steals a game, and selection in the All-NBL1 West Second Team. Perth have not given her a depth position, calling her a guard and one of the league’s most dangerous perimeter shooters, so third shooting guard is our reading rather than the club’s. She takes the roster to eight. Haley Peters is also new to this chart, committing to Perth on 25 August pending league approval. She is the club’s first import of WNBL27: both of their WNBL26 imports, Brianna Turner and Yemiyah Morris, had gone and neither had been replaced. The American forward arrives from the Southside Melbourne Flyers, where she played alongside fellow Lynx recruit Nya Lok in WNBL26, and has appeared in the WNBA with Connecticut, San Antonio, Washington and Atlanta as well as professionally in France, Spain, Turkey and Italy. Perth have not given her a specific forward position, calling her a versatile forward and naming the frontcourt, so she is shown as the starting small forward, the one column this chart carried empty, and that placement is ours. Steph Gorman is a re-signing, not an arrival; the tracker filed her under new arrivals.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (1 of the 8 players listed).

Southside Melbourne Flyers 2026-27 Roster Tracker

Head coach: Sam Mackinnon

Contracted

Wang Siyu (Import) • Haylee Andrews • Carly Ernst • Cayla George • Lara Edmanson • Saffron Shiels • Tess Heal • Hannah Hank • Claire Jacobs • Isobelle Wightman • Holly Griffiths (DP)*

New arrivals

Holly Griffiths (Development Player, Grand Canyon)* • Claire Jacobs (La Salle / Nevada, NBL1 West Mandurah) • Wang Siyu (Import, China) • Saffron Shiels (Townsville Fire) • Tess Heal (Kansas State) • Hannah Hank (Australian Gangurrus 3x3)

Promoted

Isobelle Wightman (development player to the full roster)

Still to sign

Starting small forward • Frontcourt depth

Departures

Manuela Puoch (UC Capitals) • Indiah Bowyer (Geelong Venom) • Isabelle Bourne (Sydney Flames) • Nya Lok (Perth Lynx) • Maddy Rocci (Geelong Venom) • Haley Peters (Perth Lynx)

Transactions

  • August 20: Holly Griffiths returns to the Flyers on a development player contract
  • August 17: Claire Jacobs joins after five US college seasons across La Salle and Nevada.
  • August 14: Isobelle Wightman promoted from development player to the full roster.
  • June 17: Manuela Puoch departs for the UC Capitals.
  • June 18: Indiah Bowyer departs for the Geelong Venom.
  • June 2: Tess Heal signed after completing her NCAA career at Kansas State.
  • May 28: Wang Siyu signed with the Flyers.
  • May 26: Saffron Shiels signed from the Townsville Fire.
  • May 14: Hannah Hank signed with the Flyers.
  • March 31: Sam Mackinnon appointed head coach, replacing Kristi Harrower.

Projected Southside Melbourne Flyers Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Wang Siyu* Saffron Shiels Lara Edmanson Carley Ernst Hannah Hank
Rotation Haylee Andrews Tess Heal Isobelle Wightman
Depth Claire Jacobs
Projection only — the Southside Melbourne Flyers have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Sam Mackinnon. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. Claire Jacobs is new to this chart, signing on 17 August after five US college seasons across La Salle and Nevada. Lara Edmanson and Isobelle Wightman remain absent from the roster tracker itself: Edmanson is an Australian forward out of Villanova signing her first WNBL contract, and Wightman was promoted from development player to the full roster on 14 August. Neither has been given a position by the club, so their placement and their order here are ours. Cayla George is not on this chart: she announced on 5 August that she is expecting her second child and will not play WNBL27, although the WNBL’s own 14 August release still lists her on the roster.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (1 of the 9 players listed).

WNBL26 roster: Cayla George, Nikita Young, Indiah Bowyer, Nya Lok, Maddi Rocci, Haylee Andrews, Imogen Rock, Isobelle Wightman, Makenna Marisa (Import), Tera Reed, Manuela Puoch, Haley Peters, Isabelle Bourne

Sydney Flames 2026-27 Roster Tracker (Complete)

Head coach: Renae Garlepp

Contracted

Jaz Shelley • Ally Wilson • Lauren Nicholson • Isabelle Bourne • Isabelle Morgan • Charlise Dunn • Agnes Emma-Nnopu • Maya Dodson (I) • Yang Shuyu (I) • Darcy Rees • Shaneice Swain (Out for WNBL27 with an ACL injury)

New arrivals

Darcy Rees (NBL1 Illawarra Hawks) • Yang Shuyu (Import, China) • Maya Dodson (Import) • Isabelle Bourne (Southside Melbourne Flyers) • Ally Wilson (Perth Lynx) • Jaz Shelley (Geelong Venom) • Charlise Dunn (Davidson Wildcats)

Departures

Keely Froling (Tasmania Jewels) • Ruby Perkins (California Golden Bears)

Transactions

  • July 13: Darcy Rees signs (Illawarra Hawks NBL1)
  • June 11: Maya Dodson signed a one-year deal.
  • May 8: Issy Bourne signed from the Southside Melbourne Flyers.
  • May 4: Ally Wilson returned to the Flames on a two-year deal.
  • May 1: Jaz Shelley signed a two-year deal.
  • April 17: Charlise Dunn signed a two-year deal after her NCAA career at Davidson.
  • July 2026: Shaniece Swain suffered a season-ending ACL injury while playing NBL1 South.

Projected Sydney Flames Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Jaz Shelley Ally Wilson Lauren Nicholson Issy Bourne Maya Dodson*
Rotation Issy Morgan Charlise Dunn Agnes Emma-Nnopu Yang Shuyu* Darcy Rees
Projection only — the Sydney Flames have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Renae Garlepp. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. Shaniece Swain is signed but is not on this chart. She suffered a season-ending ACL injury playing NBL1 South in July, so Sydney have eleven players signed and ten available. Two names on this chart are published more than one way across our own pages — Ally Wilson also appears as Alex Wilson, and Issy Bourne as Isabelle Bourne — and are shown here as the club lists them.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (2 of the 10 players listed).

WNBL26 roster: Olivia Epoupa, Lauren Nicholson, Isabelle Morgan, Mikhaela Cann, Carla Pittman, Shaneice Swain, Zoey Miller, Agnes Emma-Nnopu, Caitlin Martin, Lara McSpadden, Keely Froling, Ruby Perkins, Madeleine Norris, Unique Thompson (Import)

Tasmania Jewels 2026-27 Roster Tracker (Roster Complete)

Head coach: Claudia Brassard

Contracted

Steph Reid • Gianna Kneepkens (I) • Madina Okot (I) • Darcee Garbin • Keely Froling • Katie Deeble • Brooke Basham • Taylor Mole • Mia Jacobs • Ella Tofaeono

Development players: Andie Smith • Chloe Broomhall • Portia Chopping • Ava McDonald • Georgia Taylor

New arrivals

Madina Okot (Import, Atlanta Dream) • Gianna Kneepkens (Import, Connecticut Sun) • Brooke Basham (Adelaide Lightning) • Mia Jacobs (Oregon Ducks) • Katie Deeble • Steph Reid (Sopron Basket) • Taylor Mole (Geelong Venom) • Ella Tofaeono (Adelaide Lightning) • Darcee Garbin (NBL1 Cockburn Cougars) • Keely Froling (Sydney Flames) • Andie Smith (Basketball Australia CoE)

Transactions

  • August 5: Madina Okot signs as the club's second import and the final player on the inaugural roster.
  • July 26: Sign American guard Gianna Kneepkens as the club's first import
  • July 13: Brooke Basham signs with the Jewels
  • July 7: Mia Jacobs signed after four years in NCAA basketball
  • June 15: Taylor Mole became the first Tasmanian-born player signed by the Jewels.
  • June 1: Steph Reid signed from Sopron Basket.
  • May 10: Darcee Garbin signed with Tasmania.
  • April 17: Keely Froling signed after departing the Sydney Flames.
  • April 7: Andie Smith joined as a development player.

Projected Tasmania Jewels Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import · (DP) denotes a development player
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Steph Reid Gianna Kneepkens* Darcee Garbin Keely Froling Madina Okot*
Rotation Katie Deeble Brooke Basham Taylor Mole Mia Jacobs Ella Tofaeono
Depth Andie Smith(DP) Nikki Parker
Projection only — the Tasmania Jewels have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Claudia Brassard. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. This roster is complete. Madina Okot signed on 5 August as the second import and the final player on the inaugural roster, so the tracker’s “still to sign” line no longer applies. Two names here need settling. Nikki Parker appears on the roster tracker’s chart with no signing recorded anywhere on that page, and is carried here unchanged rather than removed. Ella Tofaeono’s surname is published three ways across our own pages; Adelaide’s spelling is used here.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (2 of the 12 players listed); (DP) marks a development player (1 of the 12 players listed).

Townsville Fire 2026-27 Roster Tracker

Head coach: Shannon Seebohm

Contracted

Abbey Ellis • Miela Sowah • Courtney Woods • Alex Fowler • Alicia Froling • Chloe Forster

New arrivals

Emma Clarke (NBL1 North); Lauren Jensen (Import)

Still to sign

Starting centre/forward depth

Departures

Dakota Crichton (Geelong Venom)

Transactions

  • July 24: American import guard Lauren Jensen signs for WNBL27
  • June 2: Emma Clarke signed with the defending champions ahead of the FIBA Women's 3x3 World Cup.
  • May 8: Dakota Crichton departed for the Geelong Venom after helping Townsville win the WNBL26 championship.

Projected Townsville Fire Depth Chart

WNBL27 roster projection · depth tiers · * denotes an import · (DP) denotes a development player
Depth PG SG SF PF C
Starters Abbey Ellis Miela Sowah Courtney Woods Alex Fowler Marie Gulich*
Rotation Chloe Forster Lauren Jensen* Emma Clarke Alicia Froling
Depth Catelyn Van Es(DP) Bree Stephens(DP)
Projection only — the Townsville Fire have not named a starting five. Last updated: August 19, 2026.
Positions run across the top and depth runs down, so the top row is the projected starting five. Head coach: Shannon Seebohm. This chart is built from basketball.com.au’s WNBL27 roster tracker and the club and league releases behind it. It carries no contracted-roster count, unlike the NBL charts, because the WNBL27 roster limit and its import rules have not been confirmed — a cap is not something to infer from a roster that may simply be unfinished. Marie Gulich is new to this chart, a 196cm German international who signed as an import on 29 July with 66 WNBA games behind her. The roster tracker was still listing a starting centre as still to sign three weeks later. Bree Stephens and Catelyn Van Es signed as development players on 5 August and were also absent; neither has been given a position by the club, so their placement here is ours.
An em dash means no player is currently projected in that slot. * marks an import (2 of the 11 players listed); (DP) marks a development player (2 of the 11 players listed).

WNBL27 FREE AGENCY MOVES - BY DATE

Megan McConnell, Point Guard (WNBL26: Bendigo Spirit)

  • August 19 - The American completes the UC Capitals roster as their tenth and final player, pending WNBL review and approval, after averaging 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in her WNBL debut season

Claire Jacobs, Guard (WNBL26: Did not play)

  • August 17 - The Perth-born 24-year-old joins the Southside Melbourne Flyers after five US college seasons across La Salle and Nevada, and 21.5 points a game for Mandurah in NBL1 West

Isobelle Wightman (WNBL26: Southside Melbourne Flyers)

  • August 14 - Promoted from development player to the full Flyers roster after three appearances in WNBL26, two of them semi-finals

Caitlyn Jones, Guard (WNBL26: NBL1 Canberra Nationals)

  • August 10 - Joins the UC Capitals for her WNBL debut and doubles as a club Community Coach, after 22.0 points a game as the Nationals' leading scorer

Aspen Crase, Position not stated (WNBL26: Centre of Excellence)

  • August 6 - The Sapphires gold medallist signs with the Adelaide Lightning, pending league approval

Madina Okot, Centre (WNBA)

  • August 5 - The Kenyan-born 21-year-old, the 13th pick in the 2026 WNBA draft and currently at the Atlanta Dream, becomes the Tasmania Jewels' second import and the final player on their inaugural roster

Bree Stephens (WNBL26: NBL1 Townsville Flames)

  • August 5 - Earns her first WNBL contract with the Townsville Fire through the development player pathway

Catelyn Van Es (WNBL26: Townsville Fire)

  • August 5 - Re-signs with the Fire for a second season as a development player after winning their Community Player of the Year award

Nat Hurst, Coach (WNBL26: UC Capitals)

  • July 29 - The seven-time WNBL champion returns to the Capitals bench as lead assistant to Paul Goriss

Maddy Westbeld, Forward (WNBL26: Did not play)

  • July 29 - The 24-year-old American signs with the Adelaide Lightning as an import off her rookie WNBA season, pending league approval. Her sister Kathryn played for the Lightning in 2019

Marie Gülich, Centre (Import)

  • July 29 - The 196cm German international joins the reigning champion Townsville Fire as an import, having been the 12th pick in the 2018 WNBA draft with 66 WNBA games behind her

Han Xu, Centre (WNBL26: Perth Lynx – Import

  • July 28 - The 211cm Chinese international joins the Geelong Venom on a one-year deal after being named WNBL26 Defensive Player of the Year and All-WNBL Second Team

Wanglai Zhang, Forward/Guard (Import)

  • July 28 - The back-to-back WCBA champion signs with the Geelong Venom on a one-year deal, announced alongside Han Xu

Gianna Kneepkens (WNBL26: Import)

  • July 26 - The 15th pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, off her rookie season at the Connecticut Sun, becomes the Tasmania Jewels' first import

Lauren Jensen, Guard (WNBL26: Did not play)

  • July 24 - The 178cm American signs with Townsville as an import, arriving from AEO Proteas Voulas after a Creighton career that took her past 2,000 points

Kelsey Griffin (WNBL26: Bendigo Spirit)

  • July 16 - The 2019 MVP and five-time champion re-signs for an 11th season at Bendigo and a 15th in the WNBL, after averaging 11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in WNBL26

Brooke Basham, Combo Guard (WNBL26: Adelaide Lightning)

  • July 13 - The 28-year-old South Australian rounds out the Tasmania Jewels' Australian rostered players after five seasons at the Lightning and 21.7 points a game for Cairns in NBL1

Darcy Rees, Centre (NBL1 Illawarra Hawks)

  • July 13 - The 6'4" 26-year-old completes the Sydney Flames roster after five years at Washington and stints in Switzerland, England and Germany

Nicole Munger, Wing (WNBL26: UC Capitals)

  • July 10 - The Capitals re-sign their longest-tenured player on a one-year import deal for a fifth straight season

Kiara Waite (WNBL26: Perth Lynx)

  • July 9 - The 19-year-old joins the Adelaide Lightning after two seasons and 22 games at Perth. Adelaide call her a forward and the WNBL call her a 6'3" centre

Mia Jacobs, Forward (Oregon Ducks)

  • July 7 - The 22-year-old 6'2" forward signs with the Tasmania Jewels after four US college years ending at Oregon and 1,774 career college points

Shay Ciezki, Guard (Import)

  • July 2 - The 22-year-old Phoenix Mercury developmental guard signs her first international deal with the Adelaide Lightning, filling the vacancy left by Dallas Loughridge

Ella Tofeoana, Centre (WNBL26: Adelaide Lightning)

  • July 2 - The New Zealand international and 40-game WNBL veteran joins the Tasmania Jewels. See the spelling note below, this name is published three different ways

Shuyu Yang, Guard (Import)

  • June 30 - The captain of the Chinese national team signs with the Sydney Flames as an import

Jade Melbourne, Guard (WNBL26: UC Capitals)

  • June 29 - The Opals guard leaves Canberra after six seasons and signs with the Bendigo Spirit as a marquee player

Katie Deeble, Point Guard (WNBL26: Did not play)

  • June 29 - The 22-year-old signs with the Tasmania Jewels

Jack Fleming, Zoe Mesman, Matt Clarke and Shakira Bone, Coaches (WNBL26: various)

  • June 26 - The Tasmania Jewels name their assistant coaching staff, with Bone in a newly created development coach position

Chloe Broomhall, Portia Chopping, Ava McDonald and Georgia Taylor, Development Players (WNBL26: various)

  • June 25 - Four development players signed out of the Tasmania Jewels' open try-outs, three Tasmanians and one Victorian

Dallas Loughridge (WNBL26: Adelaide Lightning)

  • June 25 - The reigning WNBL Breakout Player of the Year departs the Lightning for a US college opportunity

Elissa Brett, Guard (WNBL26: Geelong Venom)

  • June 22 - The South Australian returns home to the Adelaide Lightning, most recently with Ballarat in NBL1

Indiah Bowyer, Guard (WNBL26: Southside Melbourne Flyers)

- June 18 - The 23-year-old Cairns product commits to the Geelong Venom

Manuela Puoch, Forward (WNBL26: Southside Melbourne Flyers)

  • June 17 - The 19-year-old signs a two-year deal with the UC Capitals, joining her sister Nyadiew, after Australian Gems silver in 2025

Taylor Mole, Wing (WNBL26: Geelong Venom)

  • June 15 - The 27-year-old becomes the first Tasmanian-born player signed by the Tasmania Jewels

Maya Dodson, Centre (Import)

  • June 11 - The 191cm American joins the Sydney Flames as their first import, arriving from Leganes in Spain

Ryan Petrik, Coach (WNBL26: Perth Lynx)

  • June 3 - Re-appointed by the Lynx on a multi-year deal after three grand final series in five years

Tess Heal, Guard (WNBL26: Did not play)

  • June 3 - Signs with the Southside Melbourne Flyers for two seasons after completing her NCAA career at Kansas State

Steph Reid, Point Guard (WNBL26: Sopron Basket)

  • June 1 - The 29-year-old Opal signs as the Tasmania Jewels' marquee player, returning from Europe and Asia

Emma Clarke (WNBL26: Did not play)

  • May 29 - The 26-year-old 3x3 star signs with the reigning champion Townsville Fire ahead of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, with five WNBL seasons behind her

Wang Siyu, Guard (Import)

  • May 28 - The Chinese national team guard, known as Rainy, signs with the Southside Melbourne Flyers as an import

Charlotte Whittaker, Power Forward (WNBL26: Adelaide Lightning)

  • May 28 - The New Zealand Tall Fern signs a two-year deal with the UC Capitals, having been an injury replacement player at Adelaide

Saffron Shiels, Guard (WNBL26: Townsville Fire)

  • May 26 - Shiels joins the Southside Flyers after missing the entire WNBL26 season through injury

Teige Morrell, Centre (WNBL26: UC Capitals)

  • May 21 - Morrell returns to the Lynx after a season in the nation's capital

Coco Hodges, Guard (WNBL26: Juniors)

  • May 21 - The star South Australian junior signs with the Adelaide Lightning as a development player

Steph Gorman, Guard (WNBL26: Perth Lynx)

  • May 19 - The defensive stopper and three-point specialist rejoins the Perth Lynx on a one-year deal, making it her fourth season with the club

Gemma Potter, Forward (WNBL26: Geelong Venom)

  • May 19 - Recovering from a devastating ACL injury. Potter signs a one-year deal with the Adelaide Lightning

Isabel Palmer, Guard (WNBL26: NCAA - University of Utah)

  • May 19 - The former University of Utah standout guard signs a two-year deal with the UC Capitals. Palmer is currently playing NBL1 North with the Sunshine Coast Phoenix

Zitina Aokuso, Centre (WNBL26: UC Capitals)

  • May 13 - The veteran Opals centre joins the Adelaide Lightning on a one-year deal

Darcy Garbin, Forward (WNBL26: Did not play, NBL1 Cockburn Cougars)

  • May 10 – signs with the Tasmania Jewels.

Issie Bourne, Forward/Centre (WNBL26: Southside Melbourne Flyers)

  • May 8 - Bourne signs a one-year deal to join the Sydney Flames under Renae Garlepp

Dakota Crichton, Forward (WNBL26: Townsville Fire)

  • May 8 - The WNBL26 champion with the Fire returns home to join the Geelong Venom

Kennedy Kereama, Coach (WNBL26: Bendigo Spirit)

  • May 8 - The WNBL26 Coach of the Year extends with the Bendigo Spirit for two more seasons

Maddison Rocci, Guard (WNBL26: Southside Melbourne Flyers)

  • May 5 - Rocci signs a deal to join former Flyers coach Cheryl Chambers and championship teammate Bec Cole at the Geelong Venom

Alex Ciabattoni, Guard (WNBL26: Perth Lynx)

  • May 5 - The veteran combo guard re-signs with the Perth Lynx after a career-best season in WNBL 26

Nya Lock, Guard (WNBL26: Southside Melbourne Flyers)

  • May 5 - Southside announced Lock would be on the move for next season with the defensive stopper reportedly switching to another playoff team from last season
  • May 6 - Lock signs a two-year deal to join the Perth Lynx

Lilly Rotunno, Guard (WNBL26: Geelong Venom)

  • May 4 - The Queensland product re-signs with the Geelong Venom after a breakout WNBL26 season

Alex Wilson, Guard (WNBL26: Perth Lynx)

  • May 4 - The 2025-26 WNBL All-First Team member will return to the Sydney Flames where she played from 2015-2020, signing a two-year deal to join coach Renae Garlepp

Amy Atwell, Guard (WNBL26: Perth Lynx)

  • May 4 - The Lynx announce Atwell will not be returning to Perth for next season with the sharpshooter believed to be making a big move east

Jaz Shelley, Guard (WNBL26: Geelong Venom)

  • May 1 - The former Geelong Venom captain has moved to the Harbour City, signing a two-year deal with the Sydney Flames

Sharne Robati, Forward (WNBL26: Adelaide Lightning)

  • April 30 - The Kiwi international has made an off-season move, joining the UC Capitals on a one-year deal

Tayla Brazel, Guard/Forward (WNBL26: Adelaide Lightning)

  • April 29 - South Australian product Tayla Brazel returns to the Adelaide Lightning, signing a two-year extension with the club

Abigail Wehrung, Guard (WNBL26: Bendigo Spirit)

  • April 29 - The former Sixth Woman of the Year announces her return to the Bendigo Spirit, re-signing a one-year deal with the regional Victorian club

Bec Cole, Guard/Forward (WNBL26: Missed last season)

  • April 22 - The two-time WNBL champion with the Southside Flyers is back in the WNBL, reuniting with Cheryl Chambers at the Geelong Venom after missing WNBL26

Charlise Dunn, Forward (WNBL26: NCAA - Davidson Wildcats)

  • April 17 - One of Australia's brightest young prospects signs a two-year deal with the Sydney Flames

Andie Smith, Forward/Centre (WNBL26: Basketball Australia CoE)

  • April 7 - The sister of AustralianOpals star Alanna Smith signs on with the Tasmania Jewels as a development player

Isabella Brancatisano, Guard (WNBL26: UC Capitals)

  • March 31 - One of Canberra's leaders in Isabella Brancatisano will return to the nation's capital for WNBL27

Alex Sharp, Forward (WNBL26: Geelong Venom)

  • March 31 - Sharp has re-signed with the Geelong Venom, returning to the club for a third consecutive season

Georgia Booth, Guard (WNBL26: Bendigo Spirit)

  • March 30 - Booth re-signs with the Bendigo Spirit after shining in her first season as a fully contracted player in WNBL26

Olivia Pollerd, Forward (WNBL26: Bendigo Spirit)

  • March 27 - The young sharpshooting forward signed a new two-year deal with the Spirit after an impressive rookie campaign

Isobel Borlase, Guard (WNBL26: Bendigo Spirit)

  • March 20 - Last season's MVP returns to the Bendigo Spirit on a one-year deal after leading the Spirit to the playoffs

OTHER NEWS

  • March 31 - Southside Melbourne Flyers announce Australian basketball legend Sam Mackinnon as their new head coach, replacing Kristi Harrower after two seasons at the helm
  • March 26 - Former Australian Opals skipper Tess Madgen was named the new general manager of the Adelaide Lightning

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