Flyers swoop on golden Gem Madi Ryan

Image Credit: Mitchell Barlow

The Southside Flyers have announced the signing of Sandringham Sabres rising star Madi Ryan for the WNBL27 season on a Development Player deal.

The 17-year-old has already built an impressive international résumé, with three FIBA gold medals and multiple All-Star Five selections to her name.

The most recent of those All-Star Five selections came last week, when she scored the championship-winning basket against Japan in the final of the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup to secure gold for the Gems.

Ryan was instrumental in Sandringham’s 2026 campaign, with the Sabres finishing fifth (15-7) before bowing out in a narrow preliminary final loss to eventual NBL1 South champions Knox.

She averaged 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 14 NBL1 South appearances this season, scoring more than 20 points on five occasions.

Her preliminary final performance was one of her best of 2026: 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three, along with 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and 4 steals.

Ryan is one of 13 NBL1 athletes on the Southside Flyers’ WNBL27 roster, and joins Lucy Cochrane and Steph Reid as one of three Sandringham Sabres in the League.