'Incredible": Jade circles dates against Aussie mates

• Australian point guard Jade Melbourne spells out goals for her 2025 WNBA season
• Washington Mystics drafted Melbourne's Victorian juniors teammate Georgia Amoore, who injured her ACL in training camp
• Melbourne led the Australian Opals to the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

Opals point guard Jade Melbourne said playing for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA was "incredible" but it was the games against her Australian teammates are the ones she most looked forward to in 2025.

"Playing in the WNBA is incredible because every game is a challenge and every game is tough," she told UC Capitals News.

"The opportunity to play against the best players in the world is amazing.

"[But] the games I circle though are definitely the ones against another Aussie, which is a lot this year.

"I love getting to see a familiar face and the opportunity to catch up for dinner or coffee is always a highlight."

Melbourne, 22, was all set to her a permanent Australian teammate in the backcourt with her this year after the Mystics drafted former Victorian juniors guard Georgia Amoore with the sixth pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft. But Amoore hurt her ACL in training camp and will likely miss the entire season.

Melbourne-born Melbourne is heading into her second season with the Mystics after being drafted by the Seattle Storm in with the 33rd pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft.

The Mystics have reloaded for 2025 and they are ready to run.

"We made lots of changes over the off season from players to coaching staff so, it’s been cool getting to know everyone on and off the court," Melbourne said.

"I’m surrounded by lots of great people which has made training camp really enjoyable.

"You can expect a very fast style of play which I love. You can expect to see us pushing the ball every chance we get.

"We’re a super smart team so we’re combining athleticism with IQ to play a really fast but free style of basketball.

"It’s been really fun learning everyone’s strengths and seeing the style come to life over the last few weeks.

Melbourne heads into the 2025 WNBA season focussed on becoming a better player and teammate.

"My individual goals for the season are just to continue to build my consistency in this league and help the team in any way I can that contributes to winning," she said.

"Last season I was good some games and average in others so just continuing to build confidence in myself, so the team knows what they are getting for me every game.

In 2017, Melbourne earned selection to the Australian Under-16 squad (Sapphires) for the FIBA U16 Asian Championship. Australia dominated the tournament, winning all six games to claim the gold medal. She appeared in the first five matches, averaging 5.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals in 15.4 minutes per game.

The following year, Melbourne was the youngest player on the Sapphires roster for the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, where Australia secured the bronze medal. She featured in four games, contributing 1.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 11.3 minutes per contest.

In 2021, Melbourne captained the Australian Under-19 team (Gems) at the FIBA U19 World Cup, leading the squad to a silver medal. She delivered standout performances throughout the tournament, averaging 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steal in 29.6 minutes per game. She earned her a place in the tournament’s All-Star Five.

Later that year, Melbourne made her senior national team debut with the Opals at the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. Initially named as an emergency, she became the youngest member of the squad and played in all six games. She averaged 3.2 points, 0.8 assists, and 0.7 steals in 7.9 minutes, helping Australia win the bronze medal.

In 2024, Melbourne was part of the Opals squad that competed at the Belém Olympic Qualifying Tournament, playing a key role in helping Australia secure a berth at the Paris Olympics. She appeared in all three qualifying games, averaging 5.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.7 steals in 13.4 minutes per game.

At the 2024 Olympic Games, Melbourne stepped into the starting point guard role and played a pivotal part in Australia’s bronze medal campaign.

In the quarterfinal win against Serbia, she delivered a standout performance with 18 points and five assists, becoming the first Australian to record at least 15 points and give assists in an Olympic knockout game. Over the tournament, she averaged 7.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals while playing 22.7 minutes per game.

Melbourne returned to the WNBL to play for the UC Capitals in 2024-25 before heading back to the US for her second season with the Mystics.