WNBL stars add 'Fire' to NBL1 rosters in 2026

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Two-thirds of WNBL26 players are suiting up for 2026 NBL1 clubs including five Townsville Fire champions – Courtney Woods (Townsville), Chantel Horvat (Sydney Comets), Alicia Froling (Knox), Chloe Forster (Warwick Senators), Abbey Ellis (Diamond Valley Eagles) and Catelyn Van Es (Kilsyth Cobras).

Grand Final MVP Courtney Woods has stayed in Townsville while Hovart, Froling and Ellis were the stars of the two-game WNBL26 Grand Final Series against the Perth Lynx.

NBL1 South has the largest concentration of WNBL26 rostered players in the 2026 NBL1 season, with 28 players spread across the conference.

Ballarat, Cockburn, Rockingham, Norths Bears, Warwick, Casey and Keilor each have three WNBL26 players on their 2026 rosters, making them the leading NBL1 clubs for WNBL talent.

Sydney Flames have the biggest WNBL footprint across NBL1, with 12 players, followed by UC Canberra Capitals with 10, Adelaide Lightning with nine, and Bendigo Spirit with eight.

By WNBL Club

• 12 – Sydney Flames
• 10 – UC Canberra Capitals
• 9 – Adelaide Lightning
• 8 – Bendigo Spirit
• 7 – Perth Lynx
• 6 – Geelong Venom
• 6 – Southside Flyers
• 6 – Townsville Fire

By NBL1 Conference

• 28 – South
• 14 – West
• 12 – East
• 6 – North
• 4 – Central

Top NBL1 Teams x WNBL Talent

• 3 – Ballarat
• 3 – Cockburn
• 3 – Rockingham
• 3 – Norths Bears
• 3 – Warwick
• 3 – Casey
• 3 – Keilor
• 2 – Diamond Valley
• 2 – Southern Districts
• 2 – Knox
• 2 – Mt Gambier
• 2 – Kilsyth
• 2 – Dandenong
• 2 – Ringwood
• 2 – Geelong
• 2 – Melbourne
• 2 – North Adelaide
• 2 – Bendigo Braves
• 2 – Sutherland

Club Stacking

• 3 – Cockburn players from Perth Lynx
• 2 – Ballarat players from Bendigo Spirit
• 2 – Norths Bears players from Sydney Flames
• 2 – Casey players from Adelaide Lightning
• 2 – Melbourne players from UC Canberra Capitals
• 2 – Keilor players from Southside Flyers
• 2 – North Adelaide players from Adelaide Lightning
• 2 – Bendigo Braves players from Bendigo Spirit
• 2 – Sutherland players from Sydney Flames