official · nbl1.com.au · 2025 NBL1 West · 15 games
Anneli Maley is a dominant force in the NBL1, consistently showcasing elite rebounding, scoring, and playmaking abilities from the forward position. Her 2026 NBL1 West season began with an unprecedented performance, setting a new league scoring record. Maley is a high-energy, all-around player whose impact extends across the stat sheet, making her one of the most influential players in the league. Her NBL1 performances often reflect her WNBL MVP pedigree and international experience, demonstrating a relentless motor and competitive drive.
opinion, not fact — AI-generated.
- +Elite Rebounding: Consistently leads the league in rebounds, including a 30-rebound triple-double in 2025 and a 23.8 RPG average in 2021, showcasing exceptional positioning and tenacity on the glass.
- +Versatile Scoring: Capable of scoring inside and out, as evidenced by her record-breaking 65-point game in 2026 and consistent high scoring averages across multiple seasons.
- +High-Level Playmaking: Demonstrates strong court vision and passing for a forward, averaging over 5 assists in multiple NBL1 seasons.
- +Defensive Impact: Active hands and good anticipation lead to high steal numbers (2.5 STL in 2025), contributing significantly to team defense.
- +Exceptional Motor and Hustle: Known for her relentless energy and competitive spirit, impacting games through sheer effort and drive.
- !Three-Point Shooting Consistency: While capable of hitting the three, her percentage has fluctuated significantly across seasons (e.g., 20.5% in 2025, 33.3% in 2024, 57.1% in 1 game in 2026), indicating an area for more consistent efficiency.
- !Field Goal Percentage: Excluding her outlier 2026 game, her field goal percentages in previous NBL1 seasons (e.g., 40.7% in 2025, 38.3% in 2023) suggest room for improvement in shot selection or finishing efficiency.
- !Turnover Rate: With high usage and playmaking responsibilities, managing turnovers will be key to maximizing her offensive impact.
Maley plays with an infectious energy and a relentless motor, making her a force on both ends of the floor. She is a 'do-it-all' forward who thrives in transition and is adept at creating her own shot or facilitating for teammates. Her game is built on tenacity, particularly in crashing the boards, where she consistently outworks opponents for second-chance opportunities and defensive possessions. She's a versatile offensive threat who can drive, post up, and hit perimeter shots, while also being a disruptive defender with her active hands and anticipation.
Anneli Maley, born September 1, 1998, in Melbourne, Australia, comes from a strong basketball lineage, with her father Paul Maley being an NBL champion. She attended the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and played college basketball in the United States for the Oregon Ducks (2017-2018) and TCU Horned Frogs (2018-2019). Maley made her WNBL debut in 2016 with the Adelaide Lightning and has since become a prominent figure in Australian basketball. She was named the WNBL Most Valuable Player in 2022 with the Bendigo Spirit and has earned multiple All-WNBL First and Second Team selections. Maley has also had stints in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky (2022), Phoenix Mercury (2026), and is currently on a developmental player contract with the New York Liberty (2026). Internationally, she represents the Australian Opals, winning a bronze medal at the 2022 FIBA World Cup, and has been a key player for Australia's 3x3 team, including at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the NBL1, she was the NBL1 Youth Player of the Year in 2019 and has been named to the All-NBL1 West First Team in both 2024 and 2025, also winning the NBL1 West scoring champion title in 2024.
Anneli Maley made headlines on April 10, 2026, by setting a new NBL1 all-time single-game scoring record with an incredible 65 points for the Perth Redbacks against the Willetton Tigers, adding 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block to her stat line. This record-breaking performance occurred in her first game of the 2026 NBL1 West season. In May 2026, she signed a developmental player contract with the New York Liberty after a brief two-game stint with the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. She is also contracted with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL until the end of the 2026-27 season, where she serves as co-captain.
| season | gp | ppg | rpg | apg | spg | bpg | fg% | 3p% | ft% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 NBL1 West | 1 | 65.0 | 17.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 72.4% | 57.1% | 90.5% |
| 2025 NBL1 West | 15 | 24.5 | 17.7 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 40.7% | 20.5% | 78.2% |
| 2024 NBL1 West | 11 | 23.1 | 16.6 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 41.5% | 33.3% | 77.9% |
| 2023 NBL1 South | 9 | 19.9 | 15.9 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 38.3% | 24.4% | 83.6% |
| 2022 NBL1 South | 8 | 21.5 | 19.5 | 7.4 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 36.7% | 17.5% | 67.3% |
| 2021 NBL1 South | 12 | 17.3 | 23.8 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 38.5% | 21.7% | 70.4% |