Two-time champion Gorman back on the prowl in 2027

The Cockburn Cougars have announced two-time Defensive Player of the Year Steph Gorman has re-signed with the team for the 2027 NBL1 West season.

The Perth Lynx guard brings valuable WNBL experience to the Cougars, who fell short in defending their 2025 NBL1 West title, losing to Warwick in the 2026 Grand Final.

Gorman has been a mainstay in the Lynx rotation since 2023 and has begun her WNBL27 Season strongly, hitting five three-pointers on her way to 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in her season debut against the Townsville Fire.

The 26-year-old has been key to the Cougars’ success throughout her tenure, winning two titles from 2023 to 2025, achieving 2023 NBL1 West Finals MVP honours, and winning the NBL1 West Defensive Player of the Year award twice.

Gorman will be hoping to recapture her career-best 2025 form after an injury-stricken 2026 where she didn’t suit up for the Cougars.

Her 2025 campaign was impressive, averaging 17 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, also in the top five for steals per game in the West (3.0).

While the Cougars won 17 of their 20 matches in 2026, finishing top of the table, they missed Gorman’s three-point shooting, going from a top-two three-point shooting team to an average perimeter scoring outfit.

Gorman was one of the best high-volume three-point shooters in 2025, scoring the most triples per game (4.1) at a 44 and a half per cent conversion rate.

Her next WNBL appearance will come against the Adelaide Lightning on Saturday, October 24 from 7pm AEDT, live on 9Now and ESPN via Disney+.

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