Venom strike deal with US college talent

The Geelong Venom has completed its roster for the WNBL27 season, adding forward Sara-Rose Smith to its roster, pending League approval.

Smith joins the Venom following a five-year college career at the University of Colorado, where she averaged 4.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in her final season.

"I couldn't be more excited to join the Venom for my first WNBL season! Grateful for the opportunity and ready to get to work with this group," Smith said.

Venom coach Cheryl Chambers said Smith's rebounding ability and physicality will be valuable additions to the team.

"Sara-Rose brings a real toughness on the boards that you can't teach; she's proven that against some of the best competition in college basketball over five years in the SEC," Chambers said.

"She's got a great basketball IQ, she competes every possession, and we know from her junior career that she's got the talent to represent this country at the highest level.

"With Sara-Rose in the fold, we've now got our full roster locked in, and I couldn't be happier with the group we've built for 2026-27," said Chambers.

Smith also brings Australian junior representative experience to the Venom, having been named to Australia's selection camp roster for the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup and winning a bronze medal at the 2018 Youth Olympics in 3x3.

She also led Lake Ginninderra College to an Australian Schools Championship in 2019, averaging 20.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, before spending two seasons with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence competing in NBL1.

Smith joins Wanglai Zhang, Han Xu, Maddy Rocci, Alex Sharp, Bec Cole, Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, Dakota Cricton, Lilly Rotunno, Indiah Bowyer, Millie McCarthy, Aleks Connolly, Poppy Stevens and Jasmine King on the Venom roster for WNBL27.