NBL1 players to watch in the WNBL season

With the WNBL season beginning tonight, players from around the country will suit up for the eight teams heading into the 45th season of the league – the longest-running women’s league in Australia. 

After stellar NBL1 campaigns, check out the must-watch players from each conference in this coming WNBL season below. 

Northside Wizards: Jess McDowell-White (Townsville Fire)

Facilitating a championship-level offence is no easy feat, but this 24-year-old point guard was able to take the Northside Wizards all the way to game three of the Grand Final Series. 

Averaging 11.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds this past season, her playmaking and speed on the ball will add a new dimension to the Townsville Fire’s offence in the WNBL. 

Jessica McDowell-White OH MY ??

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In the Grand Final Series, McDowell-White was outstanding totalling 19 assists and eight three-pointers in a heartbreaking loss to the Rockhampton Cyclones. Being mentored by Lauren Mansfield, McDowell-White will be in good hands in her debut season. 

Norths Bears: Carla Pitman (Sydney Flames)

2023 NBL1 East Champion and star on the rise Carla Pitman will return for her second season with the Sydney Flames. 

After another massive season with the Norths Bears, where she averaged 13.6 points and 5.7 rebounds as a starting guard, she has been rewarded with a full roster spot for this coming season. 

Leading the Bears into the finals, the 20-year-old has already got the experience to make a major impact this season for the title-hunting Flames. 

Waverley Falcons: Carley Ernst (Southside Flyers)

The NBL1 South Finals MVP and National Champion will go into this season hunting her fourth championship within 12 months. 

Claiming the WNBL title with Southside Flyers last season, she carried her momentum into the NBL1 South with the Waverley Falcons – where the team won both the conference and national titles. 

Carley Ernst went OFF ?

24 PTS | 8 REB | 6 3PM ?

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On the Sunshine Coast, Ernst elevated her game averaging 13.3 points and 7.6 rebounds while playing elite defence against the best teams around the country. She was named to the All-Star Five for the tournament and is set to have another outstanding season alongside co-star Bec Cole. 

Forestville Eagles: Maddy Freer (Adelaide Lightning)

The daughter of a club legend, Forestville Eagles star Maddy Freer will play in her first WNBL season with the Adelaide Lightning. 

After being named the NBL1 Central 2024 Youth Player of the Year, the 21-year-old front-court player will have a major chip on her shoulder after a close loss in the NBL1 Central Grand Final. 

In her third season with the club, she displayed excellence across all five categories averaging 13.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game – showing great potential for her debut season. 

Cockburn Cougars: Steph Gorman (Perth Lynx)

Steph Gorman has collated quite the resume in her past two years in the NBL1 West.

In 2023, she was an integral piece to the Cockburn Cougars championship run – taking home the Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP in the same season. 

In 2024, she increased her scoring average and maintained her defensive impact, taking home the West’s Youth Player of the Year in another Grand Finals appearance. 

Heading into her second season with the Lynx, the star on the rise will take on a bigger role with the Grand Finalists from last season after proving her worth once again as a leader of the Cougars. 

The WNBL tips off tonight with Geelong United's debut against the Townsville Fire, tune in live on ESPN from 7:00pm AEST.