Lightning quick Wright loving life at Eagles

Featured image: Mark Filpo (@codexdesignstudio)

Sydney Wright just happens to have a dad as a best friend who doubles as an all-time great NBL coach while she already feels right at home in NBL1 West at East Perth Eagles and getting to play her way – and that's fast.

Wright was looking for a new challenge in 2026 coming off the NBL1 Central season at the Central Districts Lions in 2025 and prior to that playing in the North at the Rockhampton Cyclones and in Serbia following ending up her college career at Western New Mexico.

There was always the lure to return to Adelaide where her dad, NBL championship winner and three-time Coach of the Year Joey, remains living but for 2026 she wanted a new challenge.

It was another Adelaide local and current Perth Lynx WNBL and Cockburn Cougars NBL1 West star Alex Ciabattoni who pointed Wright in the direction of new Eagles coach Jonelle Morley, and the rest is history.

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As soon as Wright heard the team that Morley was looking to put together with the Eagles which also included Jasmin Fejo from the Central she was keen, but it was the way the team was going to play that was even more exciting.

East Perth then won their opening three games of the season before a first up loss last Friday night to the Joondalup Wolves with Wright feeling right at home already.

"I've found it great and I'm loving the girls, and we've got a great team with great team chemistry and environment," Wright said.

"Everybody has been really fun to work with and to play with, and I think we play a really fun style of basketball which is great for any type of player.

"And I've learnt from being here in such a short period of time so I'm looking forward to the rest of the season."

Career stacking up so far

Obviously given who her father is, basketball was always in her blood growing up and Wright had high hopes of where she wanted her basketball to end up.

She is now getting to live out a dream in a lot of ways by having played basketball all over the world including throughout Australia at home in Adelaide, a couple of stints in Queensland and now having come to Perth.

Wright also split her college career between Utah Valley, Eastern Arizona and finally Western New Mexico, and since has also had a European stint playing in Serbia with ZKK Duga Sabac.

Wherever she's played her lightning quick abilities as a point guard have been on show.

While there's still been ups and downs along the way, she likes the trajectory her career is on.

"My basketball journey has been up and down, and I'm sure everybody can probably say the same," Wright said.

"I've travelled a lot which I'm loving and I love going to new places and having different experiences. I think the cool thing about life in general is that we have this plan that we think things are going to go one way and it usually doesn’t.

"So I can say my basketball journey has been the same but the cool thing is that you get up every day and keep chasing the same dream, and keep trying to get the same opportunity to play.

"I'm enjoying the journey, it's been fun and I meet a lot of cool people and I get to do what I love every day and I get to experience new things and travel to new places like Perth.

"So I'm happy with it and I hope to keep living this dream for as long as I can."

What enticed you to the Eagles

Wright had no idea where she was going to end up playing in 2026, all she did know was that she was looking for a fresh start somewhere.

It only took one discussion with new Eagles coach Morley for her to know that's where she wanted to call home and she's never looked back since making the decision.

"I think as basketball players we're always chasing our next move trying to see what's best for our career and I knew I wanted to get out Central after last year," Wright said.

"I have a friend, Alex Ciabattoni, who was like that she knew somebody who just got the head coaching job at East Perth and said that I might like playing for her.

"I had a couple of conversations with Jonelle and just really loved what she was talking about.

"I thought there was instant connection and it was clear that she knew what her vision was for the team and that's something that I think a lot of players look for when making decisions like that.

"So I just thought it would be a good opportunity to learn and grow."

Eagles team you're part of

While the starting back court of Wright and Fejo that had looked near on unstoppable across the first three games of the NBL1 West season has now been cut short with the devastating knee injury to Fejo, Wright couldn’t be more excited with the team she is part of at the Eagles.

With MVP calibre players like Stacey Barr and Sarah Mortensen on board along with bigs that can do a bit of everything like Jade Williams and Brooke Malone, and then good role players Zaya Black, Aleka Kabugua, Millie Gerreyn, Jo Odude and Jaymie Symons, and it's easy to see why.

"She (Morley) made it clear that she wanted to play fast and that she likes to run a read over rules type of offence, and that she prioritises defence," Wright said.

"So for any player these days that's the style we want to play where coaches give us the opportunity to be creative but still have some structure and to get to play with other high IQ players as well.

"She spelt that out pretty early and it was the type of style of basketball I love to play so I couldn’t wait to be part of it."

Comparing differences in NBL1 West

Having played in the NBL1 North at Rockhampton back in 2024 and then in the Central in 2025 at Centrals, Wright is well placed to compare the West to the other conferences.

She already couldn’t be more impressed in what she's found in WA.

"I would say the skill level of the players is a probably a little bit higher if I'm being honest and I think there's a lot more WNBL talent in this league compared to Central," Wright said.

"And then I think the quality of imports is probably a little bit better as well and honestly also the professionalism of the league, the media, the game day set up and all that type of stuff is pretty high quality."

Devastating injury for teammate

The worst part of sport is injuries and just as Wright was enjoying the back court she was building with Fejo with East Perth this season, and even the bond they were building off-court by living together, the worst possible incident came last Tuesday.

Just before practice finished at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre, Fejo went down when driving to the basket and ended up rupturing her ACL meaning that her 2026 season is over just as it was getting started.

Wright is devasted for her teammate and housemate, but knows that she'll come back just as strong as ever in 2027.

"We were super heartbroken last weekend for Jas and we still are. I've known Jas for a long time and the one thing about Jas is that she's strong," Wright said.

"She's a fierce competitor and so we'll definitely be missing that, but we know that Jas is always part of us. She's an Eagle now and this is definitely the closest that we have ever been.

"We've been living together over here and getting to know her and getting to grow closer to her has been super fun.

"We're wishing the best for her, she's strong and if anybody's capable of bouncing back from this injury it's her. I'm sure this won't be the last time that we're on the court together."

Having a dad who is an all-time great coach

It's unlikely that Wright can go anywhere without being asked about her dad who coached the Brisbane Bullets to the 2007 NBL championship, took the Adelaide 36ers to another two Grand Final Series, and was named Coach of the Year in 2004, 2007 and 2017.

While she will always listen to whatever her dad has to say when it comes to basketball, it's the fact that she proudly can call him her best friend in life that brings the biggest smile to her face.

"My dad's my best friend honestly. We talk every day, he is the mentor for me, we laugh and joke, and he's in my ear about basketball pretty much every day," Wright said.

"But now that I'm a little bit older it's little less as a coach and more as a dad, and being a supporter and it's awesome knowing that he's in my corner and that he's proud of me.

"He's my best friend, honestly, and he'll be here sometime this season. I don’t know when, but he'll be here."