'Shell-shocked': Petrik on Anneli Maley's Opals snub

• ‍WNBA-bound Anneli Maley has 30-REBOUND triple double‍
• It's a Cole World with Perth Lynx star Anneli Maley‍
• Sandy Brondello's challenge: 'How do we get elusive gold'

Perth Lynx head coach Ryan Petrik said he'd "get fired" if he was honest about his star forward Anneli Maley's omission from the Australian Opals 19-player squad selected for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Istanbul in March.

Australian head coach Sandy Brondello announced the squad on Saturday, December 20, 2025 it didn't include the 27-year-old WNBL26 leading rebounder (13.25), who earned an invite to the Los Angeles Sparks 2025 WNBA training camp.

"Do you want the diplomatic answer or the brutally honest one? I’ll get fired if I give the brutal one," Petrik said after the Lynx demolished the Adelaide Lightning 109-82 on Sunday, December 21, 2025 in Adelaide.

"I’ll say again — shell-shocked. I’m not sure what else she’s meant to do. We’ll leave it there."

Maley was dominant playing next to Chinese international superstar Han Xu. She had 19 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists.

"She’s playing really, really well. I think all of us are a little bit shell-shocked that she wasn’t in that Opals squad, because her form has been elite," he added.

"Everyone who made that roster is really talented, so I’m not taking anything away from them.

"But if you’re picking on form, with how she’s playing and with us sitting where we are on the ladder despite being at half to three-quarter strength most of the season, I’m not sure what else she’s meant to do.‍"

Maley's teammate Amy Atwell, 27, was named in the squad, which includes teammate Alex Wilson, WNBL26 MVP candidate Isobel Borlase from Bendigo, and Abbey Ellis, Alex Fowler and Miela Sowah, all from Townsville.

"It’s the highest honour," Atwell said.

"Every little girl dreams of playing for Australia. To have my name among the 19 best players in the country is a true honour, and it never really gets old."

Australia Squad – World Cup Qualifying

• Amy Atwell – Perth Lynx (WNBL). Age: 27
• Abbey Ellis – Townsville Fire (WNBL). Age: 24
• Isobel Borlase – Bendigo Spirit (WNBL). Age: 21
• Jade Melbourne – Canberra Capitals (WNBA / WNBL). Age: 23
• Steph Reid – Dongguan New Century (WCBA). Age: 29
• Maddy Rocci – Southside Melbourne Flyers (WNBL). Age: 27
• Alex Wilson – Perth Lynx (WNBL). Age: 31
• Courtney Woods – Townsville Fire (WNBL). Age: 28

• Zitina Aokuso – Canberra Capitals (WNBL). Age: 27
• Chloe Bibby – Uni Girona CB (WNBA / Liga Femenina de Baloncesto). Age: 27
• Sara Blicavs – Canberra Capitals (WNBL). Age: 32
• Issy Bourne – Southside Melbourne Flyers (WNBL). Age: 25
• Alex Fowler – Townsville Fire (WNBL). Age: 24
• Miela Sowah – Townsville Fire (WNBL). Age: 25
• Steph Talbot – Adelaide (WNBA / WNBL). Age: 31

• Cayla George – Southside Melbourne Flyers (WNBL). Age: 36
• Ezi Magbegor – Seattle Storm (WNBA). Age: 26
• Alanna Smith – Minnesota Lynx (WNBA). Age: 29
• Sami Whitcomb – Beşiktaş (WNBA / Turkish Super League). Age: 37

Brondello has selected a comprehensive roster that showcases the depth of Australian women's basketball talent, with players drawn from the WNBL, WNBA, and international leagues.

The timing of the qualifying tournament has provided Brondello with an unprecedented opportunity to assess her full talent pool during the WNBA off-season.

"Availability is hugely important and honestly a luxury we don't often have in the international space. Having full access to the talent pool gives us real clarity and confidence," Brondello explained.

The comprehensive selection process considered sustained performance over time, including Asia Cup and WNBA contributions, current form across respective leagues, and how players integrate within Australia's system.