Players to Watch Round 8

With plenty of stars on display, check out the players to watch below.

See the full fixture here.
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Zitina Aokuso 

After an interrupted start to the season, Zitina Aokuso has fully returned and is ready to reinvigorate the UC Capitals’ season. 

Aokuso is one of the best bigs in Australia, leading the Opals to gold in July’s Asia Cup and has two WNBL Championships (2018, ‘23). She’s been sorely missed in Canberra’s 2-6 start, with the team ranking eighth in points per game coming into Round 8.

Giving up 17 centimetres to Perth’s Han Xu on Saturday, Aokuso had a tall order in her first full game of the season. Heading into Round 8, the 6’4” Opal has more manageable assignments, facing off against Geelong’s Mackenzie Holmes on Sunday and Adelaide’s Sania Fegain on Tuesday. 

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Alicia Froling

Coming off a season-best 22 points and nine rebounds, the Townsville Fire junior will be critical in the upcoming matchups – particularly against her twin, Keely. 

Recently passing 100 games,  Alicia has continued the family’s historic legacy in Australian basketball, with the annual sister vs sister clash a staple in the WNBL fixture.

With the league increasing in size this season, Froling’s frame will be critical in the second half of the season against the likes of Han Xu, Mackenzie Holmes, Cayla George and Keely.

Will Alicia claim bragging rights this weekend? 

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Isabelle Morgan‍

Isabelle Morgan has been a major bright spot for the Sydney Flames as a defensive dynamo and spark plug off the bench. 

In her debut season, the 23-year-old is averaging over 14 minutes per game and has been critical in swinging games in Sydney’s favour. 

Earlier in the season, then-Head Coach Guy Molloy explained how she’s impacted the team’s success. 

“She’s got a great work ethic and high attention to detail. Every day she’s trying to come in and get better, she’s really added to our defensive intensity,” he said post-game. 

With a new coach in Renae Garlepp, can Morgan fit into the Gems’ (U19s) silver medallist coach's new philosophy? 

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Hayley McDowell-White 

Young indigenous star Hayley McDowell-White will come into the line-up to replace three-time Olympian Marianna Tolo – who will miss the rest of the season with her first pregnancy. 

A star in the NBL1 North competition, where she made back-to-back Grand Finals, the 19-year-old has an extremely bright future ahead of her in Australian basketball – averaging 6.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in her last NBL1 season.

While not a replacement by position, the development player will step up into a finals contender and giving Bendigo another option to handle the ball and push the pace. 

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Georgia Woolley

Collegiate basketball star Georgia Woolley has joined the Geelong Venom as an injury replacement for Gemma Potter. 

As a do-it-all scorer for Syracuse University, she averaged 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and three assists. 

The 6’0” tall Queensland junior will be a useful addition to Geelong’s fast-paced offence and will make her professional debut with Venom. 

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