A Dream Realized: Maddy Rocci’s Journey to the WNBA
When Maddy Rocci was a child, she had big dreams and aspirations. She made a list of everything she wanted to achieve in her basketball career. From playing for the Opals in the Olympics to featuring in America’s WNBA, the point guard was always dreaming big. On Monday, she took a significant step closer to ticking off one of her bucket-list items.
Rocci received a training-camp contract with the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo. This means she will have two weeks to prove to mentor Sandy Brondello—also the Australian Opals coach—why she deserves a spot on the team. If successful, she’ll earn her first fully guaranteed WNBA contract.
“I had missed calls from my agent, and after my game yesterday I saw a contract sitting in my inbox from the Toronto Tempo,” Rocci told AAP. “When he (the Toronto agent) called me, he just said ‘Congratulations,’ and I was more shocked because you never know where your basketball journey will take you.”
“When I was a little kid, I wrote down my goals and what I wanted to do as a basketball player, and it was to play in the WNBA.”
Rocci isn’t the only Australian to receive a training deal. Miela Sowah (Golden State Valkyries), Anneli Maley (New York Liberty), and Ally Wilson (Washington Mystics) have also secured contracts ahead of the camps, which begin this month.
“Women’s basketball (in Australia) is definitely thriving … the future is in such good hands,” Rocci said.
Rising Stars in the WNBA
Elsewhere on Monday, Isobel Borlase signed a rookie-scale contract with the Atlanta Dream after a stellar season with the Bendigo Spirit, where she earned the WNBL’s MVP award. She became the youngest winner in more than a decade.
The 21-year-old’s WNBA contract happened after she was drafted by the Dream in 2024 but didn’t take the court. Australian sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb reportedly signed a $US1.4 million ($A2 million) two-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury after helping the Arizona-based side reach the grand final last season.
Fellow Opals guard Jade Melbourne inked a reported $US500,000 ($A712,000) deal with the Seattle Storm after spending the past two seasons with Washington. Seattle drafted the UC Capitals star in 2022, and in 2023 she became one of the youngest athletes to play in the league.
Melbourne will join Ezi Magbegor, who re-signed with Seattle after reportedly being offered a $1.4 million ($A2 million) contract.
A Surge in Australian Signings
The flurry of signings comes as teams scramble to strike deals with players during the WNBA free agency period, ahead of the league’s draft on Tuesday (AEST) and season start in May.
Tasmanian Alanna Smith signed a $US3.68 million ($5.2 million) contract with the Dallas Wings on Sunday, making it the richest contract ever signed by an Australian woman in team sport.
Key Players and Their Contracts
Here are some of the notable signings:
- Isobel Borlase – Signed a rookie-scale contract with the Atlanta Dream after a stellar season with the Bendigo Spirit.
- Sami Whitcomb – Signed a $US1.4 million ($A2 million) two-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury.
- Jade Melbourne – Inked a reported $US500,000 ($A712,000) deal with the Seattle Storm.
- Ezi Magbegor – Re-signed with the Seattle Storm after being offered a $1.4 million ($A2 million) contract.
- Alanna Smith – Signed a record-breaking $US3.68 million ($5.2 million) contract with the Dallas Wings.
