The Geelong Venom are thrilled to announce four WNBL Development players ahead of the 2026/27 season, with Millie McCarthy, Aleks Connolly, Poppy Stevens and Jasmine King all joining the club under incoming head coach Cheryl Chambers.
The group brings genuine NBL1 pedigree and, in three of four cases, a basketball story that runs the entire length of Geelong's own pathway — from junior representative level, through Geelong United, and now into the WNBL system.
Stevens and King have each come through Geelong United's junior ranks to the NBL1, while Connolly has been a fixture of the club's NBL1 rotation and was named 2026 Geelong United Big V VYC Women's MVP. McCarthy is the exception on paper only — raised through the Perry Lakes Hawks system in Perth, she has taken on a bigger role at Waverley Falcons in 2026 and arrives with the composure of a player who has already performed on the big stage.
"This group is exactly why we invest so heavily in our pathway," said GM of Pathways Megan Moody.
"To see players come through Geelong United from junior level, right through NBL1 and now into the WNBL, is the clearest proof point we have that the system works. Three of these four are Geelong born and bred, and that's not an accident — it's the result of years of work at grassroots level, and it's exactly the kind of story we want to keep telling."
McCarthy's season has been defined by a bigger role and bigger moments — 6.6 points and 3.5 assists a game for Waverley Falcons, punctuated by a 17-point, 8-assist outing against Sandringham and a composed 6-point, 7-assist, 3-rebound performance in the NBL1 National Finals. Connolly has been just as consistent for Geelong, highlighted by an 11-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist game against Ringwood and a 30-minute, 12-point showing against Frankston.
Stevens and King represent the pathway at its purest. Stevens has progressed through every level of Geelong United's junior system, including the U18 Vic Country pathway, to NBL1 and now WNBL, with a career-best 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three against Dandenong along the way — before heading to college in the United States next year. King has spent three seasons with Geelong United's NBL1 team and been a standout in the 2026 Big V VYC competition, averaging 12.5 points, 2.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds a game, and has now committed to Huntington University in Indiana.
"Each of these four brings something different," said Venom Head Coach Cheryl Chambers.
"Millie's composure running the point, Aleks' consistency and competitiveness, Poppy's shooting touch and Jasmine's scoring instincts — they all give us something we can build with. Bringing them into our WNBL environment is about giving them the next step in their development and giving this program real depth for the years ahead."
The commitments are another bold step forward from the Venom as the club builds a roster — and a strong pathway — capable of competing for years to come.
With Chambers at the helm and a core taking shape around genuine Geelong talent, there's plenty for fans to be excited about heading into 2026/27.
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