Spectres Add WNBA Talent in Shaneice Swain

The Nunawading Spectres are thrilled to announce the signing of Australian basketball star Shaneice Swain for the remainder of the 2025 NBL1 South season.

Swain touched down in Melbourne late last week, having recently been with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. The 21-year-old guard was selected 14th overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft and signed to a rookie-scale deal in February, following an explosive WNBL campaign with the Sydney Flames.

She was courtside last weekend as the Spectres secured a strong win over Sandringham and has since commenced training with the team at Nunawading Basketball Centre.

“We’re excited to welcome Shaneice into our program for the remainder of the NBL1 South season,” said Spectres Head Coach Paul Flynn.

“Shaneice is an incredible talent, and still very much at the start of her career. What she's capable of doing on a basketball court is special, and we're appreciative that she sees our team and our program here at Nunawading as an opportunity to continue to develop and propel her career further forward.”

Swain’s arrival bolsters a Nunawading squad that has already shown it can match up with the best in the competition. While Flynn acknowledges the challenges that come with integrating a new player mid-season, he believes Swain’s character and skill set make for a seamless fit.

“Bringing in a player mid-season is a delicate process. We’ve had the core group together since early in the new year and gone through a lot of growth to get to this point,” he said.

“We feel we can match it with some of the best in the league, but the South is incredibly competitive and challenging, so we’re always looking at ways in which we can make improvements to move forward.”

Spectres fans will no doubt remember Swain’s standout performance against Nunawading last season while playing for Geelong, a game that left a lasting impression on Flynn and his staff.

“She lit us up. We knew first-hand what she was capable of when she gets going offensively,” Flynn said.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on all the Aussies involved in the WNBA. To be honest, Shaneice wasn’t a player we expected to become available, but when she did, we jumped at the opportunity.”

Swain’s resume speaks for itself. She averaged 17.1 points per game across the 2024–25 WNBL season and delivered one of the most memorable individual performances of the year with a 40-point outing against the Townsville Fire, including 7-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc. That dominant display helped secure her the Sydney Flames MVP honours, and the club recently announced she has re-signed on a three-year deal, keeping her in Sydney through WNBL28.

“Having worked alongside Flames Head Coach Guy Molloy for five years at Melbourne, I feel like I can provide some synergy with what will position Shaneice well heading into the WNBL season,” Flynn added.

“If we can play a role in her continued development, and this is her last stop at NBL1 level, then it’s a win-win situation.”

Swain adds another level of firepower to an already dynamic Nunawading roster. With the second half of the NBL1 South season now in full swing, her arrival signals the club’s ambition to push deep into the postseason.