All-Star Five member returns to Bandits

NBL1 East All-Star Five member Mikayla Pivec has re-signed with the Albury-Wodonga Bandits for the 2024 season.

After joining the team mid-season, she averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Finals team. 

Mikayla Pivec stuffed the stat sheet ?‍?

Swipe to see her triple-double from Round 16 of @NBL1East ? pic.twitter.com/VzcY8bKOtd

— NBL1 (@NBL1) July 13, 2023

Her late-season addition pushed the Bandits into the Finals, where they lost to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. 

“I knew it was a place where I would be happy both living and playing,” she said.

“This is my first time returning to any overseas team, which should make the transition smoother.” 

Bandits head coach Sam McDonald explained that Pivec was disappointed she wasn’t able to play alongside Lauren Jackson last season, but being able to pair the two in 2024 will be “pretty exciting,” he told the Border Mail. 

The star import will now join Perth Lynx young gun Ash Hannah, Molly Rice, Lizzie Murphy and Jackson on the 2024 roster.