Four Australians selected in 2026 WNBA Draft, headlined by Saffron Shiels to Toronto Tempo.
Four Australian women’s basketballers – Saffron Shiels, Amelia Hassett, Charlise Dunn, and Manuela Puoch – were selected in today’s 2026 WNBA Draft in Manhattan, New York.
Australian representative Shiels, 19, went at pick 26 to Opals head coach Sandy Brondello’s Toronto Tempo. Kentucky Wildcats star Hassett followed at 35 to the Los Angeles Sparks. Just one pick later, at 36, Davidson’s Dunn joined the Tempo. Rounding out the group, the New York Liberty selected Puoch with pick 41.
Both Hassett and Dunn just finished outstanding NCAA careers, while Shiels and Puoch have proven themselves at FIBA under-aged tournaments.
It caps an extraordinary 72 hours for Australian women’s basketball.
Saffron Shiels – Toronto Tempo (Selected 26th)
Date of Birth: January 18, 2006 (20 years old)
Height: 188 cm
Nationality: Australia
🇦🇺 National Team: Australian Youth Teams
Player SnapshotVersatile 188 cm forward with a strong rebounding presenceProven performer across multiple FIBA youth tournamentsImpacted games across scoring, boards and playmakingCareer Averages (FIBA Youth)
Points: 10.2 │ Rebounds: 6.0 │ Assists: 3.2 │ Efficiency: 12.6
Best Tournament
2024 – FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup (Division A)
18.0 PPG │ 11.6 RPG │ 3.8 APG │ 22.8 EFF
Named All-Star FiveLed Australia to a gold medalInternational ResumeGold – 2024 U18 Asia Cup (Division A)Gold – 2023 U17 Oceania ChampionshipGold – 2022 U18 Asia Championship (Division A)Gold – 2022 U16 Asia Championship (Division A)5th – 2022 U17 World Cup9th – 2023 U19 World CupPlaying ProfileStrong inside-out forward with rebounding instinctsCapable secondary playmaker (3.2 APG career youth average)Physical presence around the rim on both endsAmelia Hassett – Los Angeles Sparks (Selected 35th)
Position: Forward
Height: 190 cm
Hometown: Albury, NSW
🇦🇺College: Kentucky (SEC)
Class: Senior
Player SnapshotStretch forward with high-volume perimeter shooting.Reliable two-way contributor with rebounding presenceDurable starter – 67 games, 67 starts across two seasons2025–26 Season (Senior)
Games: 36 │ Minutes: 32.5 │ Points: 10.5 │ Rebounds: 5.3 │ Assists: 1.6 │ FG: 39.7% │ 3PT: 36.1% │ FT: 85.7% │ eFG: 55.6% │ PER: 17.7 │ Win Shares: 5.1
Career (Kentucky)
Games: 67 │ Minutes: 32.8 │ Points: 9.6 │ Rebounds: 6.5 │ Assists: 1.7 │ FG: 40.0% │ 3PT: 34.8% │ FT: 83.8% │ eFG: 54.1% │ PER: 17.1 │ Win Shares: 9.3
By the Numbers154 made threes across two seasons36.1% from three on 7.6 attempts per game (2025–26)85.7% from the line – elite efficiency+1.9 PPG jump from junior to senior seasonPathwayAustralian product (Tumut / Albury region)JUCO development (2022–24) before stepping into the SEC starting roleImmediate impact at Kentucky with back-to-back full starting seasonsCharlise Dunn – Toronto Tempo (Selected 36th)
Position: Guard
Height: 188 cm
Hometown: Victoria, Australia
🇦🇺College: Davidson (A-10) | Virginia Tech (ACC)
Class: Senior
Player SnapshotTall, versatile guard with strong rebounding impactThree-time All-A-10 selectionHigh-usage scorer with consistent two-way production2025–26 Season (Senior – Davidson)
Games: 33 │ Minutes: 33.6 │ Points: 15.3 │ Rebounds: 7.4 │ Assists: 1.9 │ FG: 40.8% │ 3PT: 30.9% │ FT: 83.5% │ eFG: 48.0% │ PER: 23.4 │ Win Shares: 5.6
Career (NCAA)
Games: 95 │ Minutes: 28.1 │ Points: 12.1 │ Rebounds: 5.9 │ Assists: 1.6 │ FG: 39.4% │ 3PT: 30.9% │ FT: 82.1% │ eFG: 47.1% │ PER: 23.0 │ Win Shares: 13.4
Davidson Career (3 Seasons)
Points: 13.5 │ Rebounds: 6.6 │ Assists: 1.8
84 games, 74 startsPrimary scoring option by senior yearBy the Numbers+3.3 PPG jump from junior to senior season7.4 RPG as a guard in 2025–2683.5% FT – reliable late-game option23.4 PER – elite impact at A-10 levelPathwayDeveloped at Lake Ginninderra College (ACT system)Began at Virginia Tech before transferring to DavidsonEmerged as a featured A-10 performer and team leaderManuela Puoch – New York Liberty (Selected 41st)
Position: Forward
Height: 184 cm
Date of Birth: October 5, 2006 (19 years old)
State: Victoria
🇦🇺WNBL Team: Southside Flyers
Player SnapshotEmerging forward with strong rebounding instinctsActive two-way contributor at the international youth levelDeveloping perimeter threat with inside scoring touch2025 Season (Southside Flyers)
Games: 23 │ Points: 4.43 │ Rebounds: 1.26 │ Assists: 0.35 │ FG: 39.5% │ 3PT: 34.1% (15/44) │ FT: 67.6%
Career (WNBL)
Games: 34 │ Points: 4.6 │ Rebounds: 1.7 │ Assists: 0.5 │ FG: 41.2% │ 3PT: 33.8% │ FT: 78.8%
International – 2025 U19 World Cup (Silver Medal)
Points: 9.5 │ Rebounds: 6.8 │ Assists: 2.8
Top-10 rebounder in tournament (6.8 RPG)80.0% from the free throw lineKey quarter-final performance vs Hungary:
12 pts │ 9 reb │ 2 ast (29 mins)By the Numbers+5.1 RPG gap between WNBL and international play (role expansion)5.5 defensive rebounds per game at the U19 level33.3% from three internationally on low volumeConsistent across all categories: scoring, boards, and playmakingPathwayVictorian product progressing through the national team system.Silver medallist – 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup