Mums blossoming within the NBL1 South

Once unusual, the rarity, maybe even to the majority it was viewed as not possible; but a gradually growing number of mothers are returning to basketball and playing at the highest levels.

Whilst the return of athlete-mums to compete is special, the family culture around the teams in which they play brings a new dynamic to pre-game preparation and training sessions, it is the level of play and success from mum's that is taking the NBL1 South by storm! 

Diamond Valley is just one example of the success of the team network growing to include young children and a demonstration as to the impact mothers are having.

Led by Head Coach Dee Butler whose own daughter Sia is always present, always cheering for mum and her team; the standard for the team is set, one where the on-court intensity is matched by the off-court balance of elite sport and motherhood.

Mother of two Carly Turner was a star junior of the Diamond Valley program and she returned to her home club in 2024 to play NBL1 South. Carly's first daughter 20 month old Mila was regularly courtside through much of 2024, but it was in March 2025, just weeks before season tipoff, when Carly had her second child.

Turner returned to the court after three months and slotted straight back into the lineup, her impact felt immediately on both ends of the floor, but in particular off the court with her leadership.

Orla O'Reilly has taken a path since arriving in Victoria, playing with Sunbury to Waverley and most recently with Diamond Valley. By Orla's side are her two young sons who are regulars at all home games; but they're also at the age where exploring the stadium and meeting lots of new people is sometimes more exciting than sitting still at basketball!

These are special moments not just for mother and child, but one the wider family network can connect with and share. One could argue that extended family network grows with the introduction of a child or children to the team.

Often the child/ren quickly adopt a large groups of new 'aunties'! More than just the mothers themselves, there is a sense of togetherness that forms around these teams. 

The rise of mothers blossoming in NBL1 South doesn't stop at Diamond Valley though; who can’t forget the return of Carey Ernst? What a 12 month period, the mother of one has had! Ernst and her Falcons took out the 2024 NBL1 South Championship, then going on to win the 2024 NBL1 National Finals.

We've all seen the video from the most recent Falcons game at Nunawading, where Carley fell to the ground, somehow regained balance and strength and made a shot from the floorboards!

Clare Camac from Dandenong is just another great example of a player returning successfully to NBL1 South as a mother, but Camac adds another bow, she has been developing her coaching craft as well, maybe preparing for the transition from athlete-mum to coach-mum as her own coach Larissa Anderson has done so successfully for 15 years.

The long road trip to play a single or double header game presents a whole different challenge when you're a parent, as all our mothers and their support networks face. Spare a thought then for Hobart Charger Kayla Steindl and husband Clint with two young children and the challenge of being on the road for multiple weekends a season to play on the mainland. 

Whilst we name and celebrate just a few of the mothers in the NBL1 South and the support and culture it has generated within their teams, they're also very quick to point out the importance of their partner and/or their families.

These people play a vital role behind the scenes—juggling routines, managing travel and game nights, or simply being present in the chaos and backing their ambitions every step of the way. It’s a shared effort that allows these athletes to perform at their peak while embracing the fullness of family life.

Associations across our basketball community continue to highlight what's possible when culture, community and wellbeing are highly valued. These women and many others have shown that elite performance and parenthood are not competing paths, but powerful forces that can drive each other forward!

For the Diamond Valley squad, they have their club's first women's finals berth in their sights and are demonstrating that when the nest is strong, the flight is even stronger.