Wightman returns to the Tigers: A roaring reunion

Image credit: Trent Moore Sports Photography

The Melbourne Tigers Women have kicked off their off-season with a reunion, signing 19-year-old forward Isobelle Wightman for the 2027 NBL1 South season.

Wightman returns to the Tigers after playing five games for the club in 2024, before making 38 appearances for the Keilor Thunder.

She averaged 12.3 points, 4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game for Keilor in 2026, while showing her defensive presence with 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals.

Wightman topped 20 points multiple times this year, including a 24-point effort in a win over the Nunawading Spectres in April.

But it was her defence that produced her standout performance of 2026: a 6-block game against Eltham, in which she also recorded her only double-double of the season.

For the Tigers, the signing reflects their ongoing investment in developing young players across both the men’s and women’s programs.

The 2007-born forward also has plenty of promise at the next level. She’s now in her second season with the Southside Melbourne Flyers and has already played four games in WNBL27.

The Tigers recorded their first top-eight finish in NBL1 South this year, and with Wightman on board, they’ll be hoping to break into the top six and continue their rise.

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