Source : ABC NEWS
Rising star Nyadiew Puoch has been rewarded for her stellar season with the WNBL’s UC Capitals, having now been selected by the Portland Fire in the WNBA’s expansion draft.
Puoch was the breakout star for the Capitals last season, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals as her team fell just short of the WNBL finals.
Her biggest moment came in the dying seconds of Canberra’s 77-74 win against the Perth Lynx in January, when she nailed a half-court buzzer beater to snatch the victory.
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Being chosen 16th in the draft to join Portland’s 12-player roster is another achievement for the 21-year-old after her 2024 draft selection by the Atlanta Dream, although she delayed her rookie season to continue her development in the Australian league.
“Honestly, if you spoke to me this time three years ago, I wouldn’t believe any of this would happen,” Puoch said.
“I go out there, have fun, play basketball and these opportunities have opened up for me.
“It means a lot. It’s a new expansion team in the WNBA, so I’m excited.”
Puoch is not the only Australian to make the Fire’s roster, with Opal Chloe Bibby acquiring the 11th pick, after spending last season with Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever and the Golden State Valkyries.
“It makes it less daunting having someone there, and Chloe’s been at a different expansion team at the Bay [Golden State] as well,” Puoch said.
“She’s a great player and a great human, so being able to be around her is really exciting and cool. We also have two members at the club who are Australian as well.”
Australian two-time WNBA champion coach Sandy Brondello is also spearheading second expansion team the Toronto Tempo and selected one of her Olympic bronze medal-winning Opals, Kristy Wallace, from the Fever as pick 21.
The Fire and Tempo are the 14th and 15th teams in the league and were allowed to select from players on current rosters, although the existing teams were allowed to protect a maximum of five players to keep them off the table in the expansion draft.
The teams will round out their rosters at the WNBA Draft on April 13.
Puoch, Bibby and Wallace will join several other Australian stars in the competition that begins on May 8, after the league and players’ union completed talks for a new collective bargaining agreement on March 24.
The agreement will create a new revenue-sharing system, increase the salary cap to $US7 million ($10 million) from $US1.5 million ($2.1 million), and grow one-year salaries to a maximum of $US1.4 million.
AAP
