Fabulous freshman fire in first week of Division 1

• ‍Adelaide star Lara Somfai is Stanford standout already‍
• Joel Foxwell pilots Portland with five 3s, 23 points‍
• Full coverage latest news of Every Aussies in NCAA basketball
• Pania Davis delivers double-double in 24 minutes

Twelve Australian women's basketball stars, including several fabulous freshman, got off to hot starts in NCAA Division 1 2025-26 season this week.

There are more than 110 Australians competing for US colleges this season with games every day. basketball.com.au is dedicated to delivering the best coverage of NCAA women's basketball in Australia.

Bonnie Deas – Arkansas Razorbacks (Fr, G, 5'9", Melbourne, VIC)

• ‍Season Stats: 18.3 PPG │ 9.3 RPG │ 3.7 APG │ 37.0 FG%

The women’s college basketball world has quickly learned all about Bonnie Deas, with the freshman guard taking the SEC by storm. In her college debut, Deas was the architect of Arkansas’ comeback win after the Razorbacks stumbled out of the gates to find themselves trailing Louisiana Tech 17-2 after six minutes.

She would come alight in the third quarter, scoring 13 of her 25 points, leading Arkansas to a memorable 93-81 win. She did a bit of everything with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals as well.

She backed up that remarkable debut with back-to-back double-doubles, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists in a big win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff, and 18 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in the overtime win against Central Arkansas.

Her monster debut week, averaging 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2 steals, was recognised with SEC Freshman of the Week honours.

Lara Somfai – Stanford Cardinal (Fr, F, 6'3", Adelaide, SA)

• ‍Season Stats: 14.3 PPG │ 10.3 RPG │ 0.7 APG │ 42.9 FG%

While Deas was recognised, Lara Somfai’s debut week at Stanford was also duly rewarded with ACC Rookie of the Week honours.

Somfai has settled into life at Stanford seamlessly, posting two double-doubles and a debut game against UNC Greensboro which netted 15 points and 8 rebounds in 19 minutes of action.

The Cardinal have won all three games by an average of 33.7 points, completely dominating opponents and Somfai has been a huge reason why. Against Santa Clara, Somfai posted 14 points and 13 rebounds, before taking care of business against Cal Poly with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals.

She has all the tools to be a force for Stanford, and just three games into her college career, she’s already showing exactly why.

Mia Jacobs – Oregon Ducks (Sr, F, 6'2", Perth, WA)

• ‍Season Stats: 16.3 PPG │ 4.0 RPG │ 1.7 APG │ 53.6 FG%

Having transferred from Fresno State to Oregon, Mia Jacobs is already proving why she was so highly sought after in the transfer portal, having an immediate impact for the Ducks.

In three blow-out wins for Oregon, minutes have been shared around, but the senior is already averaging 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 23 minutes per game, and she shot 60%+ from the field in two out of three games, highlighting her efficiency.

Her best game so far came against Grand Canyon. Jacobs went to work in the paint, and the Lopes had no way of containing her as she got the free throw line 13 times (12 makes) to finish with 26 points in 29 minutes.

As the Ducks take on tougher opponents, Jacobs’ minutes will rise, and I look forward to watching her face that challenge head on.

Amelia Hassett – Kentucky Wildcats (Sr, F, 6'4", NSW)

• ‍Season Stats: 13.8 PPG │ 6.3 RPG │ 1.8 APG │ 50.0 FG%

It’s been a hectic start to the season for Kentucky, with four games in 10 days, but it hasn’t worried the Wildcats as they’ve jumped out to a 4-0 start and Amelia Hassett has been involved in everything.

Averaging over 2.3 triples and 2.7 blocks per game, Hassett’s versatility on both ends of the court has been on full display as she stretches the floor for her teammates, but shrinks the floor for her opponents.

She scored a season-high 20 points (4/9 3PT FG) in the mammoth 60-point win, 90-30, over South Carolina Upstate and is averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game through four games.

Lily Carmody – Boston College Eagles (So, G, 5'11", Melbourne, VIC)

• ‍Season Stats: 13.8 PPG │ 4.8 RPG │ 3.3 APG │ 50.0 FG%

After transferring from Butler to Boston College over the off-season, Lily Carmody has been everything the Eagles could’ve hoped for.

Averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, Carmody is continuing to impress after a strong freshman campaign at Butler.

She played 36 minutes against New Hampshire and led Boston College to the 69-57 win with 21 points (3/3 3PT FG), 4 steals, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

Last-Tear Poa – Arizona State Sun Devils (Sr, G, 5'11", Melbourne, VIC)

• ‍Season Stats: 5.0 PPG │ 4.0 RPG │ 10.0 APG │ 50.0 FG%

In her first game for Arizona State, Last-Tear Poa dished out a career-high 10 assists and made the most of new role on a new team.

After three seasons at LSU, Poa transferred to Arizona State with the opportunity to earn more minutes. She helped the Sun Devils claim a 67-53 win over Coppin State on opening night with 10 assists, 5 points and 4 rebounds.

Unfortunately, she sustained a hand injury during that win and hasn’t played since, currently listed as day-to-day.

Sienna Harvey – Washington Huskies (Fr, G, 5'10", Geelong, VIC)

• ‍Season Stats: 12.0 PPG │ 4.0 RPG │ 1.0 APG │ 33.3 FG%

Freshman Sienna Harvey put on a show in her collegiate debut for the Huskies and while I wasn’t sure how many minutes she would earn in a loaded Washington backcourt, it’s great to see her already playing key minutes.

In the season-opener, Harvey poured in 15 points in 16 minutes, giving Huskies fans a glimpse into what they can expect from her as the season goes on.

Such a smooth operator, Harvey is gaining vital early season experience which will only help her going forward.

Charlise Dunn – Davidson Wildcats (Sr, G, 6'2", Victoria Point, QLD)

• ‍Season Stats: 14.5 PPG │ 6.5 RPG │ 1.5 APG │ 41.7 FG%

After a tough shooting night in the season-opening loss to Mississippi State, Charlise Dunn has found her range in the last three games which have all resulted in Davidson wins.

In the three wins on the trot for the Wildcats, Dunn has averaged 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 50% (9/18) on triples.

In her first full season back from an ACL injury, Dunn continues to build and impress, and will remain the focal point of the Davidson offence going forward.

Hilary Fuller – Belmont Bruins (So, F, 6'2", Brisbane, QLD)

• ‍Season Stats: 14.5 PPG │ 6.0 RPG │ 0.5 APG │ 45.5 FG%

After a freshman season at Belmont where Hilary Fuller averaged just five minutes per game, she’s earned a much larger role in her sophomore year and is already taking that opportunity with both hands.

Fuller played a strong season-opener coming off the bench against #6 ranked Oklahoma, finishing with 12 points and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes, and with that she earned the starting role the following game against Brown.

It’s fair to say that she delivered, scoring a team and career-high 17 points and career-high 8 rebounds in 22 minutes.

Pania Davis – Florida State Seminoles (Jr, C, 6'6", Perth, WA)

Season Stats: 11.0 PPG │ 6.5 RPG │ 0.5 APG │ 37.2 FG%

After a season in JUCO at New Mexico Junior College, Pania Davis has made the jump to Division 1 with Florida State and is already holding her own.

The Seminoles sit at 3-1, with their lone loss coming to #1 ranked UConn, and Davis has started all four games, including recording her first double-double yesterday as Florida State defeated Nicholls, 89-64. The 6’4” (198cm) centre got to work with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in 24 minutes of action.

Antoniette Emma-Nnopu – Weber State Wildcats (Sr, F, 5'11", Geelong, VIC)

• ‍Season Stats: 13.7 PPG │ 12.0 RPG │ 1.7 APG │ 61.3 FG%

In her senior year, Antoniette Emma-Nnopu is off to a flying start, providing a real presence inside for Weber State. Much like we see her sister, Agnes, doing for the Sydney Flames in the WNBL, Antoniette will fight tooth and nail for every rebound, and came away with an equal career-high 16 boards against UC Davis yesterday.

Despite the Wildcats sitting at 1-2, Emma-Nnopu is doing all she can, averaging 13.7 points and 12 rebounds per game, while shooting a ridiculously efficient 68.2% from the field.

Lulu Twidale – California Golden Bears (Jr, G, 5'10", Sunshine Coast, QLD)

• ‍Season Stats: 12.0 PPG │ 5.7 RPG │ 2.3 APG │ 30.0 FG%

Despite her shots not falling from deep, Lulu Twidale is still finding ways to contribute to winning for California.

The renowned long-range shooter is just 1/22 from deep this season, but she’s getting to the free throw line, and the Golden Bears sit at 2-1, having won their last two games.

Twidale had her best game of the season in the 60-52 win over Pacific earlier this week, hitting 6/9 shots from inside the arc and keeping the scoreboard ticking over by going 7/7 from the free throw line to finish with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

It’s only a matter of time until Twidale breaks out of her long-range shooting slump.