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Jun
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Champs land Borlase in first big move of free agency
Isobel Borlase of the Lightning shoots during the round eight WNBL match between Sydney Flames and Adelaide Lightning at Quay Centre, on December 22, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
The young Olympian has made the switch from the Adelaide Lightning to the Bendigo Spirit.
- Olympian Isobel Borlase has signed with defending WNBL champions the Bendigo Spirit
- Borlase is a ready-made replacement for 2024-25 WNBL MVP Sami Whitcomb who signed in Turkey
- The young guard averaged 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last WNBL season
Olympian Isobel Borlase has left her home state to sign with defending WNBL champions, the Bendigo Spirit, in the first major move of free agency.
The Spirit announced the signing of Borlase, who makes the switch after three full seasons with the Lightning, where she won the league's Sixth Woman of the Year and the WNBL's Breakout Player of the Year following the 2022-23 season.
A former Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence scholarship holder, Borlase impressed at the 2024 Paris Olympics for the Opals including a big game against the gold medal-winning USA. She was also selected at pick eight in the second round of last year's WNBA Draft (20th overall) by the Atlanta Dream.
The 20-year-old joining the Spirit is a huge coup for Bendigo and coach Kennedy Kereama after losing WNBA star and last season's WNBL MVP Sami Whitcomb after she signed in Turkey. But the youngster is a ready made piece to fit alongside veterans Marianna Tolo, Kelly Wilson and the supporting cast at the Spirit.
Borlase averaged 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game during the 2024-25 WNBL season for the Lightning and also represented the Opals in the Trans-Tasman Throwdown series against New Zealand last month.
While her signing is a massive addition for the Spirit, it is also a major loss for a revamped Adelaide Lightning and new coach Kerryn Mitchell who lose a homegrown talent as they look for a bounce back season after missing the playoffs and were almost out of the league after previous ownership group, the Pelligra Group, handed back the license to Basketball Australia last month.
It is believed Borlase won't be the only major loss for the Lightning, who were saved by the South Australian Government, with talented young big Issie Bourne also rumoured to be on the move to Victoria, which is yet to be confirmed.
Borlase, who is currently playing NBL1 for the Melbourne Tigers, is the second signing made after free agency started on Monday after former TCU star Agnes Emma-Nnopu signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Flames earlier this week.
See our full and updated WNBL roster tracker here.
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