Nyadiew Puoch

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Nyadiew Puoch
Dandenong Rangers
PositionForward
LeagueNBL1 South
Personal information
Born (2004-06-23) 23 June 2004 (age 19)
Tasmania, Australia
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Career information
WNBA draft2024: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Selected by the Atlanta Dream
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022BA Centre of Excellence
2022–2024Southside Flyers
2023–presentDandenong Rangers
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2021 Hungary Team
Under-18 Asian Championship
Gold medal – first place 2022 India Team

Nyadiew Puoch (born 23 June 2004) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Dandenong Rangers of the NBL1 South. She previously played for the Southside Flyers of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), where she won a WNBL championship in 2024. She helped the Australian Gems win silver at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup and gold at the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship. She was drafted by the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.

Early life[edit]

Puoch was born in Tasmania[1] and raised in Melbourne, in the suburb of Cranbourne East.[2] At the junior level, Puoch represented the Dandenong Rangers from under 12 through the under 18 level. She represented Victorian Metro in the Australian Junior Championships, winning gold in 2019 and 2021 and silver in 2022 where she was awarded the MVP of the Championships.[3][4]

Playing career[edit]

In 2021, Puoch moved to Canberra and played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the Waratah League. She averaged 8.6 points in five games.[5] She continued with the Centre of Excellence the following year, where she averaged 11.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in 14 games during the 2022 NBL1 season.[5]

On 8 September 2022, Puoch signed with the Southside Flyers of the WNBL for the 2022–23 season.[4] During her first year with the Flyers she was nominated for the WNBL's Sixth Woman of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year awards.[6] In 25 games, she averaged 5.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.[5]

Puoch joined the Dandenong Rangers of the NBL1 South for the 2023 season, where she averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks in 17 games.[5] She was named the NBL1 South Youth Player of the Year.[7] During the year, she competed in the inaugural women's Nike Hoop Summit game for the world select team.[8] She recorded 16 points and a game-high four blocked shots.[9]

On 27 July 2023, Puoch re-signed with the Flyers for the 2023–24 season.[10] During the season she averaged 6.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in 27 games[5] and helped the Flyers win the WNBL championship.[11][12]

On 15 April 2024, Puoch was drafted 12th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2024 WNBA draft.[13][14][15]

Puoch re-joined the Dandenong Rangers for the 2024 NBL1 South season.[16]

National team career[edit]

Puoch made her international debut for Australia at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup where she averaged 11.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game and won a silver medal.[17][18] She then competed at the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Women's Asian Championship where she averaged 13 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and won a gold medal.[19]

She again represented Australia at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup where she averaged 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in seven games.[20][19]

Personal life[edit]

Puoch is the daughter of a South Sudanese immigrant and single mother, Nyakong.[1] She has six siblings.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Emotional Puoch heads Aussie trio's WNBA draft success". ESPN.com. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Bourchier, Lachlan (18 May 2021). "Length, speed and athleticism: Nyadiew Puoch is a rare talent". pickandroll.com. Retrieved 16 April 2024. Having grown up with her mum and six siblings in the outer-Eastern suburb of Cranbourne in Melbourne, Puoch's basketball journey began when her two older brothers encouraged her to take up the sport.
  3. ^ Bennett, Russell (14 August 2020). "Shooting star is soaring". Dandenong Star Journal. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Local Gem Joins the Flyers". wnbl.basketball. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Nyadiew Puoch". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Iowa's Caitlin Clark, Stanford's Cameron Brink, South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso, Tennessee's Rickea Jackson, and LSU's Angel Reese Headline Prospects to Attend WNBA Draft 2024 Presented by State Farm®". wnba.com. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Rangers NBL1 South Player Signing". dba.net. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Nyadiew Puoch Taking to the World Stage". wnbl.basketball. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  9. ^ Ferrán, René (9 April 2023). "'An amazing event for women's basketball.' USA, World stars make inaugural Nike Hoop Summit women's game a night to remember". highschool.si.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  10. ^ "The Block Doctor Is Back". wnbl.basketball. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Dream Bolster Roster with Youth and International Experience with Three Picks in 2024 WNBA Draft". dream.wnba.com. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  12. ^ Rosanowski, Jayden (17 March 2024). "WNBL24 Southside Flyers Cygnett WNBL Champions". wnbl.basketball. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Atlanta Dream select Australian teenager with No. 12 pick in WNBA draft". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Meet the three Aussies joining the WNBA". ESPN.com. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  15. ^ "NBL1 star selected in WNBA Draft". dba.net. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  16. ^ Uhe, Marcus (17 May 2024). "Home-grown talent spawning Rangers' revival". Dandenong Star Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  17. ^ Nagel, David (20 July 2021). "Nyadiew a true Australian Gem". The Pakenham-Berwick Gazette. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  18. ^ France, Lachy (20 August 2021). "Gems sparkle to collect more World Cup silver". pickandroll.com. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Nyadiew Puoch". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Gems squad announced for the U19 FIBA Women's World Cup". basketballvictoria.com. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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