Biggest women's moves for the 2023 NBL1 season

The 2023 NBL1 offseason has produced some major moves with WNBL stars, Opals and cross-country moves making waves over this Summer break!

Let’s break down each conference’s biggest move below: 

NBL1 North: Maddi Rocci (South West Metro Pirates)

After a successful season with USC Rip City, Maddi Rocci is headed to the South West Metro Pirates.

Rocci averaged 26 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists for USC, leading them to the first round of the NBL1 North finals against the Southern Districts Spartans. With the WNBL’s Southside Flyers, Rocci is averaging 14.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 28 minutes for the top of the ladder squad.

Maddy Rocci must be kidding! ?

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NBL1 East: Aliza Fabbro (Sutherland Sharks)

In one of two moves from the NBL1 North champions, up-and-coming star Aliza Fabbro is headed to the Sutherland Sharks for the 2023 NBL1 season.

The 21-year-old is currently with the WNBL’s Townsville Fire. The NBL1 North champion is now headed down to the NBL1 East to join Fire teammate and NBL1 East Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Nicholson.

Fabbro averaged 6.4 points for the Townville Flames last season and will bring championship experience to the NBL1 East Grand Finals runners-up from last season.  

READ: Enormous 1538 NBL1 game schedule revealed

NBL1 South: Alanna Smith (Hobart Chargers)

NBL1 North champion and Opal Alanna Smith has signed with her hometown Hobart Chargers for the 2023 NBL1 season. 

Joining the Townsville Flames mid-season, she was critical in their win over the then-undefeated Logan Thunder in the NBL1 North Grand Finals series. 

She averaged 22 points and eight rebounds last season and walked into the competition as one of the best bigs alongside Mikaela Ruef, Cayla George and more. 

Women’s head coach Dwain Davie spoke to the media in Hobart about the signing and said it was a long time in the making. 

“We are very pleased to announce we’ve signed Alanna Smith, an international calibre player," he said.

“Really excited to have her on board… we went pretty close to getting her here last year and it didn’t quite work out. But I think at the end of that conversation I felt it was something we could revisit and I think the club has done a fantastic job of doing that.”

NBL1 Central: Lauren Mansfield (North Adelaide Rockets)

The Adelaide Lightning star has decided to return home for the winter and play for the North Adelaide Rockets this coming NBL1 Central season.

Last season with the Gold Coast Rollers, she averaged 19 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds. With the Lightning, Mansfield is the fourth leading scorer (11.8 points) and the leader in assists with 4.8 per game.

Staying in her home state of South Australia, Mansfield will be one of the key stars for the NBL1 Central season.

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NBL1 West: Stephanie Gorman (Cockburn Cougars)

Stephanie Gorman was one of the key young stars of the NBL1 South season, averaging 12 points and four rebounds for the Ballarat Miners who just missed the NBL1 South finals.

A solid shooter and a versatile defender, the 22-year-old will join a collection of stars on the Cougars including Jewel Williams and Jaya Scafidi.  

Stay up-to-date with the NBL1 via the Roster Tracker here.