A PAIR of Australia’s best basketballers are heading back to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), with Sami Whitcomb and Anneli Maley both set to rejoin the world’s top competition for the upcoming season.

With the new generation of Aussies being picked up in the draft over the past few years, the WNBA is becoming a much more common landing spot for those looking to compete at the top level. The likes of Jade Melbourne and Isobel Borlase have ensured the future is bright for Australians in the WNBL.

Now, they will see some familiar faces on the court, with two of the country’s most established talents joining the competition in the past 24 hours. Both players have enjoyed standout campaigns in the WNBL during the 2024/25 season, with Whitcomb shining in particular.

Despite being in the twilight of her career, Whitcomb has been putting together an MVP-calibre season with the Bendigo Spirit this year, leading the team to finish atop the standings at the conclusion of the 2024/25 fixture. The veteran has been leading from the front with her scoring ability, averaging the most points per game in the WNBL at 21.5.

Her ability to score across all three levels has been a huge weapon for the Spirit, and she has shown no signs of slowing down. Previously, Whitcomb played six seasons for the Seattle Storm, winning two WNBA championships in the process, but will be making the move to the Phoenix Mercury.

She will provide a valuable veteran presence in the Mercury locker room, and can also have an offensive impact throughout her playing time, as she has shown in the past. Whitcomb ranks second all-time in WNBA made threes off the bench, and will bring her experience to the table.

“Sami is a savvy guard who can spread the floor with her shooting and does all the little things,” said Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren. “Her veteran and championship experience will be a big boost to our team.”

Also returning to the WNBA is Maley, who will be a member of the Los Angeles Sparks for the upcoming season. Maley has been suiting up for the Perth Lynx, captaining the team for the 2024/25 WNBL season, and has been leading by example to help her side to a finals berth.

Currently, Maley ranks second in the WNBL for rebounds at 12.5 per game, a constant that has always been there throughout her career. The 26-year-old also won the competition’s MVP award as a member of the Spirit in 2022, and has emerged as one of the best talents the competition has to offer.

She has previously played in the WNBA as a member of the Chicago Sky in 2022, but received limited opportunities and averaged just 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds throughout her four-game stint. Although she received a training camp invite the following season, Maley did not make the final cut. However, she gets a shot to make her mark in the WNBA once again with the Sparks.