Manuela Puoch

Manuela Puoch
No. 32 – Dandenong Rangers
PositionForward
LeagueNBL1 South
Personal information
Born (2006-10-05) 5 October 2006 (age 20)
Melbourne, Australia
Listed height
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Career information
2026: 3rd round, 41st overall pick
Drafted byNew York Liberty
Playing career
2024–present
Career history
2024–presentDandenong Rangers
2025–2026Southside Melbourne Flyers
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Silver medal – second place2025 Czech RepublicTeam

Manuela Puoch (born 5 October 2006) is an Australian professional basketball player for the UC Capitals of the WNBL. She helped the Australian Gems win silver at the 2025 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. She was drafted 41st overall by the New York Liberty in the 2026 WNBA draft.

Playing career

Puoch signed with the Dandenong Rangers of the NBL1 South in 2024, and averaged 12.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game during her debut season. She joined the Southside Melbourne Flyers of the WNBL for the 2025–26 WNBL season, and averaged 4.4 points, and 1.3 rebounds per game in 23 games. While playing with the Southside Flyers, she faced her sister, Nyadiew, during the 2025 WNBL season opener against the Canberra Capitals on 18 October 2025. She returned to Dandenong for the 2026 NBL1 South season and appeared in two NBL1 games for the Rangers, where she averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 steals per game

On 14 April 2026, Puoch was selected 41st overall by the New York Liberty in the 2026 WNBA draft. She was the Liberty's sole pick in the draft.

National team career

Puoch made her international debut for Australia at the 2025 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup, where she averaged 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game and won a silver medal.

Personal life

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

Her older sister, Nyadiew, is a professional basketball player who was drafted 12th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2024 WNBA draft and selected by the Portland Fire in the 2026 WNBA expansion draft.

References

  1. 1 2 "Four current and former NBL1 stars selected in 2026 WNBA Draft" (Press release). NBL1. 14 April 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  2. ↑ "Manuela Puoch Returns For NBL1 2025" (Press release). Dandenong Rangers. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kenney, Madeline (14 April 2026). "Liberty select Australia's Manuela Puoch with sole WNBA draft pick". MSN.com. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Wildes, Hayley (17 October 2025). "Puoch sisters take centre stage again in opener". basketball.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Manny Returns for NBL1 2026!" (Press release). 4 February 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  6. 1 2 Kaplan, Lucas (14 April 2026). "Liberty draft-and-stash Manuela Puoch at #41 pick, near offseason's end". SB Nation. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Emotional Puoch heads Aussie trio's WNBA draft success". ESPN.com. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  8. ↑ 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.