The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles U14 girls basketball team have been ranked the top NSW team at the National Club Championships. They played off in the Shield Division at the tournament in Willetton, WA, in October.
This is the third consecutive time the Manly club has had an U14 team make it to the championship.
The championships featured the top 48 U14 boys’ and girls’ teams from across Australia. It was one of the highest levels of junior club basketball in Australia, giving athletes the chance to test themselves against the best in their age group – many of whom will go on to represent Australia as future Opals and Boomers.
In 2024, the U14 Manly team finished eighth in Australia at the National Club Championships. Many of those players have continued developing together and, two years later as U16s, finished runners-up at the National Classic in Melbourne over the King’s Birthday long weekend – one of the strongest junior tournaments in the country.
Head Coach Wayne Nicholls said the team’s qualification for the tournament reflected years of dedication and shared purpose. “Qualifying for the National Club Championships is something these girls earned through their commitment, resilience and willingness to keep learning,” Wayne said. “Every training session, every challenge and every setback has helped shape this group. To have the opportunity to compete against the best U14 teams in Australia was incredibly exciting.
“The experience of representing Manly Warringah on the national stage was something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”