Players to Watch Round 12

Heading into the New Year, here's five players you need to keep an eye on!

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‍Jessica McDowell-White

Coming in to replace former WNBL 2020 Grand Final MVP Olivia Epoupa, Jess McDowell-White has been the spark plug Sydney desperately need.

Earning a Player of the Game performance with 17 points against Canberra and following it up with four assists against the Southside Melbourne Flyers – the 24-year-old guard is making a real case to get a full contract in WNBL27.

With the final spot for finals wide open, can Jess beat her sister, Hayley and the Bendigo Spirit to give Sydney a roaring start to 2026?

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‍Charlotte Whittaker

As a late-season addition, Charlotte Whittaker will give Adelaide another option inside as the Lightning attempt to make the top four.

The 6’3” Tall Fern played 27 minutes in her debut against the Southside Melbourne Flyers with her impact felt immediately, starting alongside WNBA talent Sania Feagin, Whittaker’s size, boxing out and poise are welcome additions.

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‍Ally Wilson

Making a real case for this seasons All-WNBL Team, Olympian Ally Wilson has been the driving force of Perth’s six-game win streak.

With the addition of Han Xu, Wilson has been the secondary focus on oppositions but still the most dangerous for the Lynx. Averaging 17.7 points (five more than her season average) in the past four games, her shotmaking and playmaking have gone to another level – making Perth nearly impossible to guard.

With a two-game Round 12, can Wilson continue Perth’s streak into the New Year?
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Isabelle Bourne

Averaging a career-high 16 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, the Opals rising star will have to be the x-factor if the Southside Melbourne Flyers want to make the top four.

With games against some of the league’s best bigs in Geelong’s Mackenzie Holmes, Bendigo’s Kelsey Griffin and Townsville’s Alex Fowler – Bourne will have to maintain her confidence and composure to help lead her side into finals.

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Miela Sowah

Miela Sowah came into the Townsville Fire as the missing piece from last season, and her explosive scoring has resulted in Townsville becoming the team to beat in WNBL26.

Averaging 18 points, 3.3 three-pointers and 2.4 free throws made per game, she has been exactly what Townsville was missing during last season’s Grand Final. A flamethrower on the court, the Opal sharpshooter faces an important test across Round 12 as she goes head-to-head with Adelaide’s Dallas Loughridge and Geelong’s Shyla Heal and Jaz Shelley.

Can she lead Townsville back to the top of the ladder?
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