Homecoming queen is Jewel in Tassie crown

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Taylor Mole’s place in Tasmanian basketball history is assured – she will forever be the Jewels' first home-grown rostered player in the new WNBL club’s history.

Mole, 27, signed with Claudia Brassard‘s side on Monday, June 15, 2026.

“It gives me goosebumps, I’m so honoured,” Mole said.

“I was that little kid who looked up to our local players and dreamed of being like them one day.

“I’d hang around after games wanting to get a single high five from a player.

“Now, I have the privilege of being part of an elite women’s team that can be that to little girls and boys now, and see their faces light up, I just can’t wait.”

The 1.88m wing will form part of the Jewels core, including Steph Reid, Keeling Froling, and Darcee Garbin.

Mole isn’t the only Tasmanian already on the roster after Brassard signed Andie Smith and Nikki Parker as development players.

Taylor Mole

• Age: 27 (born June 10, 1999)
• Height: 188cm (6'2")
• Position: Swingman (Guard-Forward)
• Nationality: Australian
• Born: Hobart, Tasmania
• College: UC Santa Barbara (2020-2023), Colorado State (2018-2020)
• Current club: Ringwood Hawks (NBL1 South, 2026)
• WNBL: Adelaide Lightning, Geelong United
• NBL1: Cairns Dolphins, Mackay Meteorettes, Geelong United, Ringwood Hawks

“I was 16 years old and in Grade 11 at St Mary’s when I moved,” Mole said.

“I knew it was my only choice if I wanted to play basketball at the highest level.

“Now, to be able to move back home, to play for a Tasmanian WNBL team, it means everything to me, it’s everything I dreamed of as a kid.”

Career Timeline

• 2015-16: Hobart Chargers
• 2017-18: Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence
• 2018-20: Colorado State
• 2020-23: UC Santa Barbara
• 2023: Cairns Dolphins (NBL1 North) – 15.8ppg, 6.2rpg
• 2023-24: Adelaide Lightning (WNBL)
• 2024: Mackay Meteorettes – 22.1ppg, 7.5rpg
• 2024-25: Geelong United (WNBL)
• 2025: Geelong United (NBL1) – shot 43.1% from three
• 2026: Ringwood Hawks (NBL1 South)

Honours

• Australian SEABL South Champion (2015)
• All-Big West Honourable Mention (2021)
• Big West Tournament Finalist (2023)
• NBL1 Player of the Week (Round 30, 2024)
• NBL1 South Regular Season Champion (2025)
• NBL1 South Finalist (2025)

Mole played her first two seasons of NCAA women’s basketball at Colorado State between 2018 and 2020, but it was her move to UC Santa Barbara on the Southern California coast that elevated her game to the next level.

Her junior season was a breakout, averaging 14.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 assists to go with an All-Big West Honourable Mention.

At the end of her five-year college career, she returned to the WNBL with Adelaide Lightning, Geelong United (Venom) and now the Jewels.

“We’ll be competitive from the jump,” Mole added.

“Steph is one of the best point guards going around anywhere, then you add in Darcee and Keely, and it doesn’t get much better than that.

“I’ve never been part of a team with this level of experience and leadership.

“I’m just going to be a sponge and soak up everything.”

Brassard said Mole’s length, athleticism and ability to shoot the basketball were the reasons she became the team’s first Tasmanian-born player.

“Taylor is one of the best talents to come out of Tassie,” Brassard said.

“She’s long, athletic, and can shoot the ball at a really good rate; she’s a knockdown three-point shooter.

“On top of that, anyone you talk to about Taylor will tell you she’s the best person, she comes highly recommended and regarded by her teammates, and that tells you a lot.

“She’s going to win games for us, and she clearly has a future ahead of her in leadership, too.”