150 Club: Mikaela's impact through the Ruef

More than a decade after her WNBL debut, Mikaela Ruef will bring up 150 games on Saturday, when the Tasmania Jewels take on the Adelaide Lightning.

Ruef began her career with the Sydney Uni Flames in 2014-15, before stints with the Adelaide Lightning and Canberra Capitals over the following two seasons, averaging a double-double in both campaigns.

She later joined the Townsville Fire in 2022 and was part of their championship-winning side, claiming the first WNBL title of her career.

Now with the Jewels as an injury replacement player for WNBL27, her fifth WNBL club, Ruef is using her experience to help guide the next generation of Tasmanian talent.

“150, I feel like I’ve been playing in the League forever. I can’t believe it’s only 150; I feel like it’s been 800,” Ruef said.

“I think each training is getting better; each training I’ve got a little bit more fit. I’m trying to help the girls.

“Even if I can’t move as well as I’d like to, I try to share my knowledge, see if I can help them in those ways.”

Tasmania coach Claudia Brassard was full of praise for the veteran, and expects her to play a key role in Saturday’s clash.

“[Mikaela] is one of the best rebounders in the WNBL ever,” Brassard said.

“She’s had two weeks now of fitness and coming into this Adelaide game with the big size and the big bodies, she’s going to be pretty important for us both defensively and offensively.”

Catch every moment of Tasmania’s clash with Adelaide at the SA State Basketball Centre from 3pm AEDT, live on 9Now and ESPN via Disney+.