Stephanie Gorman

Stephanie Gorman
Gorman with the Cockburn Cougars in 2023
No. 2 – Perth Lynx
PositionGuard
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (2000-04-18) 18 April 2000 (age 24)
NationalityAustralian
Listed height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Career information
High schoolWodonga Senior Secondary College
(Wodonga, Victoria)
College
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2017Albury Wodonga Bandits
2018Diamond Valley Eagles
2022Ballarat Miners
2023–presentCockburn Cougars
2023–presentPerth Lynx
Career highlights and awards

Stephanie Gorman (born 18 April 2000) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is also contracted with the Cockburn Cougars of the NBL1 West. She played college basketball for Utah State and San Diego. In 2023, she debuted for the Lynx in the WNBL. With the Cougars, she helped the team win the 2023 NBL1 West championship while earning grand final MVP honours.

Early life and career

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Gorman grew up in Wodonga, Victoria,[1] where she attended Wodonga Senior Secondary College.[2]

Between 2015 and 2017, Gorman played for the Albury Wodonga Bandits in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).[3] In 2018, she played in the SEABL for the Diamond Valley Eagles.[3][4]

College career

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Gorman played two seasons of college basketball in the United States for the Utah State Aggies between 2018 and 2020. She was named an Academic All-Mountain West Conference Selection and was recognised as a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete in 2018–19. In her sophomore season, she led the team in assists (85),[5] steals (59) and 3-point baskets (68) and ranked third on the squad in scoring (10.7 points per game).[6] She scored a career-high 28 points against Seattle on 9 November 2019.[5]

In April 2020, Gorman transferred to San Diego.[7]

Between 2020 and 2022, Gorman played two seasons for the Toreros. She was named an All-Academic honorable mention selection as a junior and averaged 8.9 points per game. As a senior, she was named WCC All-Academic honorable mention and averaged 10.5 points in 31.6 minutes per game. She surpassed 1,000 career points for her collegiate career.[5]

Professional career

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In June 2022, Gorman signed with the Ballarat Miners of the NBL1 South for the rest of the 2022 season.[8][9] In 13 games, she averaged 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game.[3]

Gorman joined the Cockburn Cougars of the NBL1 West for the 2023 season.[1][10] She helped the Cougars finish the regular season in first place with an 18–2 record and helped the team reach their first ever grand final.[11] In the grand final, Gorman scored a team-high 19 points with five 3-pointers in leading the Cougars to the NBL1 West championship with a 68–61 win over the Willetton Tigers. She was subsequently named grand final MVP.[12] For the season, she was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year,[13] having proved herself a tremendous on-ball lockdown defender.[14] In 23 games, she averaged 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game.[3]

On 7 June 2023, Gorman signed with the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the 2023–24 season.[15][16] She was considered a defensive specialist.[17] In mid November, she suffered a strained ligament in her foot. There were initial fears that she could be ruled out for the remainder of the season, but she returned in early December.[17] She helped the Lynx reach the WNBL grand final series, where they lost 2–1 to the Southside Flyers.[18][19][20] In 22 games, she averaged 4.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.[3]

Gorman returned to the Cougars for the 2024 NBL1 West season.[21][22] She was named the league's Youth Player of the Year[23] along with All-Defensive Team[24] and All-Youth Team.[25] She helped the team return to the NBL1 West grand final,[26][27][28] where they lost 97–81 to the Rockingham Flames. Gorman scored 10 points.[29]

On 16 August 2024, Gorman re-signed with the Lynx for the 2024–25 WNBL season.[30][31] She stepped up in the absence of injured co-captain Amy Atwell early in the season to become one of the WNBL's most damaging three-point shooters while retaining her defensive reputation.[32]

Gorman is set to return to the Cougars for the 2025 NBL1 West season.[33]

Personal life

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Gorman is the daughter of Brendan and Rachel Gorman. She has two younger sisters.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gorman excited to begin new life out west with Cougars". Cockburn Cougars. 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Steph Gorman". Utah State Aggies. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Stephanie Gorman". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Exciting 2018 for Stephanie Gorman". facebook.com/7NEWSBorder. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Steph Gorman". San Diego Toreros. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  6. ^ Turner, Jason (6 April 2020). "Aggies gain grad transfer in Chatman; Gorman leaving". The Herald Journal. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  7. ^ "San Diego Adds Gorman". San Diego Toreros. 27 April 2020. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  8. ^ Gliddon, Greg (1 June 2022). "Ballarat Miners coach David Herbert has continued his cherry picking of the best talent in the land, with the signing of exciting shooter Steph Gorman". The Courier. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  9. ^ Finlay, Alistair (9 June 2022). "Miners women roster strengthened". Ballarat Times. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Cougars move earns Gorman dream WNBL chance". Cockburn Cougars. 8 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024.
  11. ^ Pike, Chris (7 August 2023). "Preliminary Final Women's Recap – Cougars make history". authory.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  12. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (11 August 2023). "Cockburn Cougars beat Willetton Tigers to win NBL1 West women's championship for the first time". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 BWA AWARDS NIGHT, NBL1 WEST & HALL OF FAME – AWARD WINNERS". BasketballWA.asn.au. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  14. ^ Pike, Chris (28 October 2023). "DREAM MOVE WEST CONTINUES FOR GORMAN". authory.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  15. ^ "STEPHANIE GORMAN IS A GO FOR 2023-24 SEASON". wnbl.basketball/perth. 7 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Scherf leaves Perth Lynx as Gorman seizes opportunity". The West Australian. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  17. ^ a b O'Donoghue, Craig (9 December 2023). "Perth Lynx star Steph Gorman to return from a foot injury in WNBL game against Adelaide Lightning". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  18. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (17 March 2024). "WNBL grand final: Perth Lynx smashed in game three by Southside as championship dream gets shattered". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024.
  19. ^ "LYNX FALL IN GAME 3 BUT PLENTY TO BE PROUD OF". wnbl.basketball/perth. 17 March 2024. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024.
  20. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (17 March 2024). "WNBL grand final: Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik admits inexperience was costly against Southside in decider". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Easy call for Gorman to be part of Cougars title defence". Cockburn Cougars. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023.
  22. ^ Pike, Chris (26 April 2024). "Gorman excited to be back after living WNBL dream". authory.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  23. ^ Pike, Chris (21 July 2024). "NBL1 West Awards Recap 2024". authory.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024.
  24. ^ "The 2024 NBL1 West Women's All-Defensive Team". facebook.com/NBLOneWest. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  25. ^ "The 2024 NBL1 West Women's All-Youth Team". facebook.com/NBLOneWest. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  26. ^ Pike, Chris (3 August 2024). "Gorman excited for home prelim, wary of Hawks". authory.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024.
  27. ^ Pike, Chris (4 August 2024). "Recap NBL1 West | Preliminary Finals Saturday". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024.
  28. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (9 August 2024). "Cockburn Cougars and Rockingham Flames to battle for NBL1 West championship at RAC Arena". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024.
  29. ^ Pike, Chris (10 August 2024). "Recap NBL1 West | Women's Grand Final". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Gorman returns to Lynx for 24-25". wnbl.basketball/perth. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024.
  31. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (16 August 2024). "Perth Lynx guard Steph Gorman re-signs for WNBL season and is ready to defend the biggest names". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024.
  32. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (26 November 2024). "Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik is loving Steph Gorman's work ahead of WNBL clash with Townsville Fire". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Steph Is Back". facebook.com/cougarfamily. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
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