BASKETBALL FIBA BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   IN what will be her third time repping the green and gold at the top level, Traralgon’s Jade Melbourne will be heading over to Germany this September. Officially selected to the Australian Opals squad ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup, Melbourne gets the chance to make it back-to-back medals for her country. The 12-player squad was announced on Monday (July 27), featuring six members of the 2024 Olympic bronze medal team, which included Traralgon’s own. Melbourne has familiarity with Alanna Smith, team captain Sami Whitcomb, Steph Talbot and WNBA teammate of the Seattle Storm Ezi Magbegor (who has visited the Latrobe Valley in recent years). New WNBL teammate at the Bendigo Spirit, Isobel Borlase, is also in the World Cup squad and won the bronze medal with Melbourne. The Opals are again being coached by Sandy Brondello, who has coached the Australian women’s national team since 2017, having won silver and bronze medals at the 2018 and 2022 world cups, as well as the recent Olympic bronze medal. “I’m very confident in this group. We have a great mix of experience, talent and chemistry,” Brondello said. “Sami is the Opals captain and is an amazing leader. She will (be) well supported by Ezi, Alanna, Steph and Jade. “While our preparation is short with this full group, we trust the work we’ve done over the past few years, we believe in each other, and know it’s about being at our best when it matters most. “If we play to our identity, we know we can compete with anyone.” Brondello is supported with a coaching contingent of Paul Goriss, Kennedy Kereama and Renae Garlepp, the latter of which is the latest WBL head coach of Moe’s Jaz Shelley at the Sydney Flames. Shelley was listed on the extended Opals squad in the lead-up to the final announcement. Over in the WNBA, Melbourne’s Seattle Storm are struggling immensely. The Storm have won just six of its 29 games at the all star break of the season, with Melbourne averaging career-highs in points (8.8 per game), assists (3.8), rebounds (two) and steals (0.9). Melbourne played five World Cup qualifying games for the Opals this year, but her trip to Germany from September 4 to 13 will be her World Cup debut.

BASKETBALL WNBL BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   IN line with Jade Melbourne’s arrival at the Bendigo Spirit, the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) announced more games in the Traralgon local’s hometown for the upcoming season. After hosting its first game in the Latrobe Valley last year since 2023, the Spirit are back for two more matches once the next season tips off. Bendigo will face-off against Sydney Flames, who posses the talents of Moe’s Jaz Shelley, on December 18 at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium. When each of the Latrobe Valley locals matchup in the Friday night blockbuster, it will be the first time either are in new colours in the WNBL. Shelley exited Geelong Venom after two seasons, firstly signing with NBL1 East club Norths Bears, before agreeing to a deal with WNBL-affiliate Sydney a short time after. On January 31, 2027, the Spirit will then take on latest WNBL expansion franchise, Tasmania Jewels, at GRISS in the last round before finals. The Jewels will be the ninth team in the competition, and the first since Geelong in 2024, who’s debut player signing was Shelley. Bendigo General Manager, Dan Jackson said the club is proud to again be playing games across regional Victoria. “While Bendigo will always be our home, we are also passionate about being regional Victoria’s team, creating access, visibility and inspiration for young girls and boys right across the state,” he said. “The support we’ve received in Ballarat and Traralgon over recent seasons has been fantastic, and we’re excited to return to those communities again this year. “Particularly, having signed Jade – who started her basketball journey in Traralgon – we know these games will resonate strongly with fans right across the region.” Bendigo featured in a regular season game against Perth Lynx at GRISS last November, after the top women’s basketball league vacated the Latrobe Valley for a number of years. The now defunct Melbourne Boomers were central in matches played in Traralgon across multiple seasons dating back to 2018, which in the latter years included games against Melbourne and the University of Canberra Capitals. In a exclusive interview with the Express in 2024, when the Boomers were transitioning out of the WNBL, former club chairperson Tony Hallam said playing games in Traralgon with its local star (Melbourne) was central to further regional opportunities. However, once it returned last year, that did not happen. Local WNBL supporters will now be treated to double the Latrobe Valley talent, with both of its stars returning home.

BASKETBALL WNBL By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   TRARALGON’S Asha Nightingale has started her 2025 as well as you possibly can. Nightingale featured in Bendigo Spirit’s WNBL championship-winning side as a development player this season, an appropriate stepping stone as she heads towards her Davidson College career in the US in a few months time. After a season as a training player with the Spirit, Nightingale was elevated to a development player for the 2024/25 WNBL season, which meant she was available to play in games. “I was very excited. It was the fact that Kennedy (Kereama, Bendigo coach) had faith in me and from watching me train and show up every day, (he) had confidence in me to then go to that next level and be able to suit up for a WNBL team,” Nightingale told the Express. “It was pretty special because it was more than anything I could have dreamed of for this season.” Nightingale played 14 games across the season, which included debuting in Round 1 against Adelaide Lightning where she scored her first points. The following game, Bendigo was matched against Geelong United featuring Moe’s Jaz Shelley. Nightingale produced her best game of the season with seven points and three rebounds. While she was only exposed to limited minutes throughout the year, Nightingale took away plenty of wisdom among a vastly experienced side. Despite securing their last WNBL title more than a decade ago, Bendigo is scattered with winners the likes of now five-time WNBL champions Kelly Wilson and Kelsey Griffin, and WNBA champion Sami Whitcomb. The Spirit featured over 1000 games of experience, including Wilson as the WNBL games record holder with 475 appearances. Her first Grand Final was in 2004, before three Bendigo players (including Nightingale) were even born. Nightingale said she particularly drew to Griffin and Marianna Tolo as mentors in her first year of WNBL. “I think it’s because we’re the same position and just all the things they’ve had to deal with in their careers and just finding out about their stories and what to take from it,” Nightingale said. “There’s so much I’ve taken from this season. I think a really big one is being a big advocate for yourself and making sure that you get the treatment that you deserve in these sorts of environments but also just to keep pushing (and) don’t let the small things effect how you play, you’ve got to keep moving on and just be tough.” After finishing high school last year, Nightingale has a six-month break before she ventures off to Davidson College in North Carolina. In the meantime, she’ll enter her third season with NBL1 team Casey Cavaliers, which also happens to feature fellow Traralgon player Myah Healey (who also plays for Victorian Netball League club Gippsland Stars). “I’ve really been taking every moment as it comes, (I’m) really trying to live in the moment because so many things have happened these past few months that I get a bit excited but also emotional thinking about the months ahead moving halfway across the world,” Nightingale said. Nightingale has been in consistent contact with her future teammates and coaches ahead of the NCAA season. While it is difficult to look too far ahead with already so much close in frame, Nightingale is excited to see what doors can open from her time at Davidson. “I guess we’ll see where I end up at the end of my college career… one of my biggest bucket list things to do after college at the moment is go and play in Europe, kind of connect with my roots a bit and get to experience what basketball is like over there,” she said. “But also if the opportunity presents itself and I can work hard enough, I’d love to one day get an opportunity to go somewhere like the WNBA but also definitely want to come back and win a WNBL championship as a fully rostered player.”