9
Aug
Aussies in the WNBA
Canberra Capitals at heart of 'Fire-Storm' WNBA shootout
Australian teenager Nyadiew Puoch (#13) attacks the basket for the Portland Fire during their WNBA clash with the Seattle Storm at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on August 9, 2026 (AEST). Photo: Jaden Coleman/NBAE via Getty Images
Two Australians combined for 42 points on opposite sides of the same game, and Seattle still lost.
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Seattle Storm and Australian Opals point guard Jade Melbourne went shot for shot with Nyadiew Puoch but lost, the Portland Fire beating the Storm 100-93 in Portland on Sunday, August 9, 2026 (AEST).
Forty-two points between two Australians and former teammates at the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL last season.
Melbourne, 23, signed with the Bendigo Spirit – with the help of Atlanta Dream rising star and WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase in late June.
Puoch, 22, is staying with the Capitals for WNBL27.
Melbourne had 23 of them on 7-from-15 from the field, 4-from-12 from deep and 5-from-6 at the charity stripe, with five assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block in 29 minutes.
Puoch answered with 19 on 6-from-9, 4-from-7 from three and 3-from-4 from the line, adding three steals in 25 minutes.
She was the more efficient of the two by a distance. Puoch finished +2. Melbourne finished -8.
Ezi Magbegor, 26, ran the floor rather than scored on it: seven points on 3-from-7, but six assists, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 26 minutes.
French star Dominique Malonga top-scored for Seattle with 21 and nine, and Jordan Horston added 17 on 6-from-10. Magbegor and Malonga are destined to face each at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in September.
For Portland, Bridget Carleton had 24 and six, Jordan Harrison 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Megan DiLeo 11.
The Fire move to 13-19. The Storm are 6-28.
Stephanie Talbot, 32, played 10 minutes for the Las Vegas Aces in their 98-87 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, finishing with two points on 1-from-2 and a rebound.
Rookie Olivia Miles scored 26 for Minnesota, including a buzzer-beater from beyond halfway to end the first quarter, and Napheesa Collier added 22. Natasha Howard had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Jackie Young led the Aces with 23. A'ja Wilson had 16 and eight.
Minnesota are 26-7, the best record in the league. Las Vegas are 22-10.
Chloe Bibby, 28, did not play for the Lynx.
No Australian featured in the third game, where the Indiana Fever beat the Chicago Sky 90-86. Kelsey Mitchell scored 27 to set a WNBA single-season record with a 16th straight game of 20 or more, and Caitlin Clark had 26 points and 11 assists.
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