The future of Australian basketball has landed in Melbourne; with exciting young talent Saffron Shiels committing to the Southside Melbourne Flyers for the 2026/27 WNBL season, pending WNBL review and approval.
Widely regarded as one of the brightest emerging stars in the country, the 20-year old guard joins the Flyers after an impressive rise through the Australian basketball pathway, including standout performances with the Australian junior national teams, representing Team World at last year’s Nike Hoop Summit, and being selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
She brings elite athleticism, length, shot-making ability, and a fearless competitive edge to the Flyers program as the club continues building an exciting new era under Head Coach Sam Mackinnon.
Sam has spoken strongly about building a high-performance culture and developing elite talent and Shiels commitment is another important step in that vision.
“Saffron is an outstanding young player with enormous upside and a tremendous work ethic.
“She’s already shown she can perform on big stages and overcome adversity, but what excites us most is her hunger to improve and compete every single day. We believe our environment is the perfect place for her to continue developing her game to be an elite Australian player and becoming a WNBA player.
“The Flyers fans will love the energy and excitement she brings to the game.”
For Shiels, the opportunity to join the Flyers represented the perfect step in both her basketball journey and personal growth.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Flyers and starting this next chapter in my career and my life,” Shiels said.
“After speaking with Sam, in particular the commitment to developing players and building a strong team-first culture, I knew this was the right place for me.”
“I am looking forward to getting to Melbourne following the NBL1 season, working hard with the group and playing in front of the Flyers fans.
Shiels was part of the Townsville Fire Championship squad in 2026, gaining valuable experience within a title-winning environment despite cruelly missing the season following ankle surgery prior to the opening round. This adversity only strengthened her determination, with the talented young guard now ready to make her mark in Flyers colours.
Shiels commitment is another important step in the Flyers vision for sustained success and the development of the next generation of Australian basketball talent.
Together with a core of experienced leaders who will provide important guidance on and off the court, the Flyers are building a strong culture and a highly competitive program ahead of WNBL27.
FurtheR player announcement will be made in the coming days.
