Lynx land Bearcats' defensive star for WNBL27

The Perth Lynx have continued their busy off-season, acquiring 24-year-old Bearcat Chloe Hodges for the WNBL27 season, pending League approval.

Hodges delivered in her second NBL1 season at West Adelaide, playing 20 matches and averaging 14.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per contest, while dominating on the defensive end, collecting just shy of 3.5 steals per game.

The West Adelaide junior had several headlining performances, the most profound coming against the Lions in April where she scored 16 points with 13 rebounds, alongside 7 assists and 7 steals.

This would start a four-game stretch where she'd collect 5 steals in each game, and complement that with another two double-doubles, including a 15-point, 12-rebound, 9-assist performance against the Mavericks.

This strong season, which included helping the Bearcats go 17-1 and reach the Grand Final, saw Hodges win the NBL1 Central Defensive Player of the Year award, and be selected in the League's All-Star Five.

"I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Perth Lynx," Hodges said.

"Playing in the WNBL has always been something I've wanted to work towards, so to get the opportunity to join a club like Perth and test myself at the next level is really exciting.

"This season in particular gave me a lot of confidence in what I can bring to a team and reinforced how much I enjoy competing, defending and doing whatever is needed to help the team win.

"I'm looking forward to getting over to Perth, learning from the players and coaches around me and doing everything I can to contribute."

The addition of Hodges comes after Nya Lok became unavailable for the WNBL27 season, and joins Samantha Ashby, Alex Ciabattoni and Anneli Maley as NBL1 talent playing for the Lynx this season.

Hodges will join her sister and Bearcats teammate Coco Hodges in the WNBL, who signed with the Adelaide Lightning in May.

The Lynx will tip off their WNBL27 campaign against the Townsville Fire in a Grand Final rematch on October 17.