Anneli Maley Bio
Anneli Maley (born 1 September 1998) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). Standing at 185 cm, she plays as a forward and is recognised as one of the most productive rebounders in Australian women’s basketball. She made her WNBL debut in 2016 and went on to earn the WNBL Most Valuable Player award in 2022 with the Bendigo Spirit. Maley has also represented Australia in both traditional five-on-five and 3×3 formats, including selection for the Opals and the nation’s first Olympic 3×3 squad.
Early Life and Background
Anneli Maley was born in Melbourne, Victoria, growing up in the suburb of East Melbourne. She attended Eltham High School, where she played both basketball and volleyball during her teenage years. Her exposure to high-level sport came early, shaped by a household deeply connected to Australian basketball.
Her father, Paul Maley, was born in the United States and later moved to Australia, where he played 270 games in the National Basketball League (NBL). Anneli has two brothers, and the family’s sporting tradition continued when her brother Finnbar was drafted by the North Melbourne Football Club in 2023 before being traded to the Adelaide Crows in 2025. Coming from this basketball heritage, Maley developed her game in Melbourne’s competitive youth circuits.
In 2014, at fifteen years old, Maley moved to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and play for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). After two seasons in the SEABL, she returned to Melbourne and was set to play for the Nunawading Spectres in 2016, but burnout led to anxiety and depression. She was admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward after a panic attack mirrored the physical symptoms of a cardiac arrest. Maley later returned to the sport at Box Hill Senior Secondary College, where she led the school to the Australian Schools Championship title.
Path to Professional Basketball
Maley’s comeback in 2016 opened the door to senior opportunities, and she signed with the Adelaide Lightning for the remainder of the 2016–17 WNBL season. In twelve appearances, she averaged 3.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, signalling her rebounding instincts at the top level. She followed that stint with the Dandenong Rangers in the 2017 SEABL season, continuing her development in Victoria.
In April 2017, Maley signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Oregon, joining the Ducks of the Pac-12 Conference in NCAA Division I. As a freshman in 2017–18, she played in 37 games, including every Pac-12 regular season and tournament game as Oregon captured both conference titles. She averaged just under ten minutes per game and scored 81 points on the season, gaining valuable experience in a championship program.
In April 2018, Maley transferred to Texas Christian University (TCU). Although she was initially deemed ineligible to play in 2018–19 under NCAA transfer rules, she received a waiver to compete immediately. She played ten games for the Horned Frogs between 6 November and 20 December before leaving the program mid-season.
Anneli Maley Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Returning to Australia, Maley signed with the Diamond Valley Eagles of the NBL1 for the league’s inaugural 2019 season and earned NBL1 Youth Player of the Year honours. In August 2019, she joined the Southside Flyers for the 2019–20 WNBL campaign, establishing herself as a versatile forward in Australia’s top flight.
She then moved to the Sydney Uni Flames for the 2020 WNBL Hub season in Queensland, gaining further top-level experience. The early years of her professional career demonstrated steady growth across both NBL1 and WNBL environments, building the platform for her breakthrough.
Bendigo Spirit and WNBL Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Maley joined the Bendigo Spirit for the 2021–22 WNBL season and produced a career-defining campaign. Her strong all-round play earned her the WNBL Most Valuable Player Award and selection to the All-WNBL First Team in 2022.
That summer, she joined the Chicago Sky of the WNBA for a four-game stint during the 2022 season, briefly experiencing the American professional league. After returning to Australia, she rejoined the Eltham Wildcats for the 2022 NBL1 South season, then returned to the Bendigo Spirit for a second campaign in 2022–23. She re-signed with the Chicago Sky ahead of the next WNBA window but withdrew from training camp to support her father following his cancer diagnosis, highlighting the personal sacrifices behind her career.
Perth Lynx Era (2023–Present)
On 23 June 2023, Maley signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2023–24 WNBL season and was named team captain. In her debut on 3 November 2023, she recorded 21 rebounds against the Sydney Flames, breaking the Lynx’s 20-rebound club record set by Jenny Crouse in 2002. She went on to produce a 17-point, 20-rebound, eight-assist performance in a 94–79 win over the University of Canberra Capitals on 18 February 2024, helping the Lynx reach the WNBL grand final, where they fell 2–1 to the Southside Flyers.
She re-signed with the Lynx on 5 July 2024 and was named co-captain alongside Amy Atwell for the 2024–25 season. On 18 January 2025, she grabbed 22 rebounds in an 86–78 win over the Southside Flyers, surpassing her own club record for most rebounds in a game. On 16 June 2025, Maley re-signed with the Perth Lynx on a two-year deal and returned as co-captain for the 2025–26 season, opening 2025–26 with 16 points and 21 rebounds in a 75–49 win over the Canberra Capitals on 23 December.
Driving Style and Strengths
Maley is best known for her rebounding, interior toughness, and playmaking from the forward position. She combines size with a high basketball IQ, using positioning and timing to dominate the glass on both ends of the floor. Her ability to deliver triple-doubles, including a 29-point, 30-rebound, 10-assist effort in April 2025, reflects her all-court skill set.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her WNBL MVP award in 2022 stands as a signature achievement, alongside her back-to-back club rebounding records in Perth. She has also competed on the international stage, representing Australia at the 2022 FIBA World Cup with the Opals and earning selection to Australia’s first Olympic 3×3 team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Anneli Maley Career Wins
Anneli Maley has collected individual and team honours across WNBL, NBL1, and international competitions. Her trophy case includes the WNBL MVP, All-WNBL First Team, All-NBL1 West First Team selections in 2024 and 2025, and the NBL1 West scoring title in 2024.
WNBL Highlights
Maley’s most prominent WNBL moment came in 2022, when she captured the league MVP award with the Bendigo Spirit. She reached the WNBL grand final with the Perth Lynx in 2023–24 and continues to anchor Perth’s frontcourt. Her 2024–25 season included breaking her own club rebounding record with 22 boards against the Southside Flyers.
Other Wins & Performances
In NBL1 West play, Maley has been a dominant force for the Perth Redbacks, posting multiple high-double-doubles and a 37-point performance against the Perry Lakes Hawks in April 2025. She also helped Australia win gold at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, bronze at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, and back-to-back gold medals at the 2025 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup.
Anneli Maley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Anneli Maley comes from one of Australia’s notable basketball families. Her father, Paul Maley, was born in the United States and later moved to Australia, where he played 270 games in the NBL. Her brother Finnbar pursued Australian rules football, drafted by North Melbourne in 2023 and traded to the Adelaide Crows in 2025.
Personal Life
Maley is engaged to Marena Whittle, a professional basketball player who has also competed at high levels of the game. Family support has remained central to her journey, including her decision to step away from WNBA training camp in 2023 to support her father during his cancer treatment.
2025 Season Performance
Anneli Maley’s 2025 campaign has showcased her value as one of Australia’s premier rebounders and two-way forwards. In the WNBL, she continued to anchor the Perth Lynx, including a 22-rebound club-record performance against the Southside Flyers in January 2025. She re-signed with the Lynx on a two-year deal in June 2025, reinforcing her long-term commitment to Perth.
In NBL1 West play with the Perth Redbacks, she delivered a 29-point, 30-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against the Joondalup Wolves in April 2025 and followed it with 37 points, 23 rebounds, and six steals against the Perry Lakes Hawks. Her play earned her a second consecutive All-NBL1 West First Team selection and the 2024 NBL1 West scoring championship recognition.
Internationally, Maley helped Australia win the 3×3 Champions Cup bronze medal in Bangkok in March 2025, followed by back-to-back gold medals at the 2025 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup. She was also named to the Australia 3×3 squad for the 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia, underscoring her role as a leader in both 5-on-5 and 3×3 basketball heading into the rest of the year.