Australia’s Top 20 US college hoops stars chasing WNBA glory, with Georgia Amoore No.1

With the Opals coming off a first Olympic medal in 12 years and the WNBA booming, the fortunes of Aussie women’s basketball are on the rise.

Here are the top Down Under talents who putting their names up in lights.

1. Georgia Amoore (23): 168cm, PG, Kentucky - transfer from Virginia Tech

Touted as a future Opals star, Georgia Amoore is entering her final college year and is already generating 2025 WNBA draft buzz. A highly-skilled point guard and lights out three-point shooter, Amoore was named back-to-back All ACC First Team (2023, ‘24) and led her former team Virginia Tech to their first ACC title in 2023. Developed craft and advanced basketball IQ has appealed to the Opals’ coaching staff, and made her senior green and gold debut at February’s Olympic qualifiers.

2. Tess Heal (20): 177cm, G, Stanford - transfer from Santa Clara

One of the most complete scorers in Australian basketball, Tess Heal has made the move to Stanford for her third collegiate season, following two years with Santa Clara. The former Eltham Wildcat impressed last season, where she averaged 19.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists across 34 games and was named on the WCC All-Academic Team. Cousin of Opal Shyla Heal, Tess starred across the Australian U19 Gems’ gold medal World Cup campaign in 2023 and looms as one of the country’s brightest international prospects.

3. Georgia Woolley (21): 182cm, G, Syracuse

Entering her final year within the collegiate system, Georgia Woolley is one of Syracuse’s strongest shooters and defenders. Woolley has had to forge her own path to Division 1, sourcing her own coaches and mentors to develop her game and put her in front of the right people before landing a spot at Buffalo. Averaged 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds as a transfer with Syracuse last campaign. We’re yet to see Woolley line up in the green and gold, but expect the 2019 Basketball Without Borders All-Star MVP to make an appearance on the national team in the near future.

4. Chyra Evans (19): 188cm, F, Utah - transfer from Michigan

A Centre of Excellence product, Evans spent a year developing her game on the Sydney Flames roster across the WNBL22 season before jetting off to college. Evans’ powerful frame helps her dominate the defensive end and clean the glass, where she averaged 4.4 rebounds last season. Only 19, the sky’s the limit for Evans as she tests herself against bigger bodies in her collegiate career. A name on the national team’s radar, Evans contributed to the Gems’ silver medal at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup.

5. Millie Prior (21): 187cm, F, Davidson

After sitting out the 2022-23 season at Fordham due to injury, Millie Prior transferred to Davidson and made an instant impact, averaging 9.8 points, a team-high 7.6 rebounds (including a season-high 19 rebounds) and 1.9 blocks (third in A-10). A high-motor tall who relishes the crash and bash physicality, Prior has been dubbed a great leader by coach Gayle Fulks. Notched up double-doubles on four occasions and led the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage at 55.8 per cent. Prior has also featured in junior national competitions, and won silver with the U19 Gems.

6. Isla Juffermans (19): 194cm, C, Louisville

MVP of the 2023 U20 Junior National Championships as a bottom-ager for NSW, giant Juffermans has had all eyes on her at a young age. Continually jumps over the challenges in front of her, including a serious knee injury suffered at this year’s nationals. One of the most powerful players at her age, she has the skills and desire to match, as a rebounding machine who is unstoppable on the block and can handle the ball. Joins a high-level program after a season as a development player with the Sydney Flames, which will hold her in good stead to round out her game ahead of what looms as a long professional career.

7. Dyani Ananiev (20): 185cm, G-F, Portland

With her first season under her belt, Dyani Ananiev is just settling into the college system. A long and lean defensive beast who possesses the frame and skills of an ideal wing player. After Ananiev was named the WCC Freshman of the Week seven times last season, the most of any player across the year, she was recognised conference wide with WCC All-Freshman Team honours. Averaged 8.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in her freshman year, Ananiev ranked in the top 12 in both steals and blocks per game and recorded a team high of 48 three-pointers for the season. Impressive in her first year, Ananiev will soon be catching the eye of national team selectors — if she hasn’t already.

8. Isabelle Morgan (21): 178cm, G, Davidson

A CSC All-District Honoree last season, Issy Morgan is a true team player, averaging 3.4 assists in her third Davidson campaign as she recorded a season-leading seven dimes on three occasions, placing her eighth in the Atlantic 10. Also able to impact the scoreboard, Morgan notched up a season-high 18 points while tallying eight double-figure games. The guard makes for a strong all rounder, able to impact in any direction. Morgan was also part of the U19 silver winning Gems in 2021 and could be one who appears in future Opals camps.

9. Jess Petrie (19): 189cm, F, Nebraska

The daughter of former NBL forward Anthony and WNBL dual-champion Sarah, Jess Petrie is now carving a path of her own in Nebraska. Played a limited role in her freshman year but, when she did get on the floor, quickly made an impact. The 2022 Basketball Queensland Female Player of the Year was named best defensive player at the 2022 U20 Nationals and represented the national team at every level — U16, 17, 18 in 2022 and U19 in 2023 — before — before she began her college career.

10. Sophie Burrows (19): 186cm, G, Syracuse

NBL1 fans would recognise the Burrows name after her two seasons at Diamond Valley. Off the back of being named the Diamond Valley MVP in 2022, after a season averaging 15.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists and steals, Burrows caught the eye of Syracuse coach Felisha Leagette-Jack, who admires her tough defence laser sharp jump shot. The former Melbourne Boomers development player performed a crucial role in the U18 national team’s gold medal at the 2022 Asia Cup, where she averaged 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds.

11. Last-Tear Poa (22): 180cm, F, LSU

Named in honour of her grandmother, who predicted her birth but died not long after, shedding one Last Tear from her left eye as she passed. The Cook Islands-born, Melbourne-raised guard, who sports a beauty mark below her left eye, has made a big impact on the powerhouse LSU program. A teammate of WNBA rookie sensation Angel Reese last season, Poa is a reliable point guard who can set the table and excels at the defensive end; especially getting in front of opponents, with a penchant for taking big charges.

12. Summah Hanson (19): 188cm, F, UC Irvine - transfer from Sacramento State

Daughter of Australian rowing legend Bo Hanson, a three-time Olympic bronze medallist, Summah is forging her own sporting path on the court. As a freshman with Sac State, Hanson immediately stepped into a key role for the Hornets, averaging 14 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals across 31 games, earning herself the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. Genuine international talent who will is on Opals and WNBA radars after making the switch to California Irvine.

13. Chloe Hodges (22): 183cm, G-F, Drexel

An accomplished player at Drexel, Chloe Hodges last year contributed to the program’s third CAA title. Her first double-double (23 points, 10 rebounds) and a game-winning bucket that sent Drexel to the championship game were highlights for the South Australian. Having overcome a serious injury that sidelined her for the 2021-22 season, Hodges made her way back off the bench in her junior year and was then a started all 34 games last campaign, where she averaged 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds. Her stellar season was capped with the Iron Dragon Award, plus the Liz Berry, Most Improved Player and Steven Sher Academic awards, in addition to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honours. From a sports family, Chloe is now a graduate student set for her final year of college eligibility. Younger sister Coco is one of the brightest talents in SA basketball, likely to also follow the US college path.

14. Ruby Vlahov (20): 190cm, F, UC Santa Barbara - transfer from St Mary’s

Following in the footsteps of her dad, legendary Boomer Andrew Vlahov — who won three NBL championships with the Perth Wildcats — Ruby is a tough-as-nails forward. Coming off the bench and averaging 13.9 minutes per game in her first collegiate season at St Mary’s, Vlahov will continue learning how to overpower the big bodies at Santa Barbara. Captained her WA U19 and 20 state teams and spent the 2022-23 WNBL season with the Perth Lynx on an amateur contract. Australian basketball fans would love to see the Vlahov name return to the national league. Could we see Ruby continue the Vlahov success in Perth and return to the WNBL after her college career?

15. Kelsey Rees (22): 197cm, F, Oregon State

A monster forward, Kelsey Rees is another young Aussie talent with a basketball heritage; her size, power and skill passed down from four-time NBL champion dad Paul and mum Nicole Guy-Rees, who had a seven-year WNBL career. A 6’5” Centre of Excellence alum, Kelsey elevated her game in all key stats last year. Previously, she was one of two Australians invited to the 2020 NBA Basketball Without Borders camp and has also been part of national team junior programs and tournaments.

16. Lulu Laditan-Twidale (19): 174cm, G, California

A combo guard, Lulu Laditan-Twidale’s length, sharp-shooting and craftiness with the ball impressed California coach Charmin Smith. When granted extended minutes, Laditan-Twidale can really fill it up, producing a monster 24-point showing toward the end of her freshman season. Co-captained the U17 national team in a qualifying tournament and contributed 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds to a gold medal U17 World Cup triumph.

17. Olivia Pollerd (21): 190cm, F, Santa Clara

Using her long frame to average 14.7 points and 3.6 rebounds for Santa Clara last season, the sharp-shooting Olivia Pollerd notched First-Team All-WCC honours and finished eighth in the country for three-pointers made with 95 — the second-most in program history. The former Melbourne Boomers development player led Santa Clara’s block count (42) in her junior season. Made huge leaps over the past three seasons, developing from only playing five games in her first year at Washington to transferring to Santa Clara and playing in all 34 games (starting 32). Has also been part of junior national team programs, appearing at the U16, 17 and 19 FIBA competitions.

18. Lizzy Williamson: 196cm, C, North Carolina State

After a transfer from Utah to NC State for her senior year, Lizzy Williamson’s role diminished. A powerhouse centre, Williamson’s physical presence and dynamism at her size allowed her average just under a double-double during her junior year — 9.6 points and 10 rebounds — which earned her the 2022-23 Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award. Now a graduate student, Williamson is being counted on by NC State to play a bigger role in her final year of college eligibility.

19. Emilie Bessell (18): 178cm, G, Davidson

A fresh Aussie face in the college system, Emilie Bessell joins the Davidson roster off the back of captaining her U18 NSW team to silver at last year’s U20 nationals. Tough, physical guard with leadership qualities and great composure on the floor. Named MVP of her high school team at Redlands and part of the U18 Gems training squad earlier this year.

20. Charlise Dunn (20): 184cm, G, Davidson

One of Australia’s most promising young talents, Charlise Dunn would be far higher on this list were she not to be forced out of the season after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus early this year. It’s unclear when she may return but likely she’ll miss the first portion of the upcoming season. Dunn’s dynamic ability in the open court had Davidson head coach Gayle Fulks especially excited upon her signing. Despite the injury, Dunn still earned A-10 All Conference Second Team selection after averaging 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds across her 23 games played. Before heading to the college system, Dunn was a Melbourne Boomers development player throughout their championship-winning season and a regular at the junior national team tournaments.

Aussie takeover of US college hoops

“We go to all the BA National Championships, U16-18-20, and we provide education sessions for all the athletes and parents on the eligibility requirements and the process,” says Darren Smith, founder of the Basketball Australia Pathways program.

“What we can do is really help the athletes understand what level their talent might (translate) to in the US, in the entire collegiate landscape, and then we try to connect those athletes to those programs and coaches, make an introduction and kind of advocate on those athletes behalf.

“It comes down to an individual choice. Some athletes are a lot better staying home being with their family, and still do unbelievably well and make it to the highest level. Ezi Magbegor and Izzy Borlase, as an example, never went to college but made it to the Olympics and the WNBA.”