Coaching the best women's team in the Country

As the NBL1 West Champions, and the inaugural Coles Express NBL1 National Champions, Jonelle Morley’s Warwick Senators have a target on their back in the 2023 season. 

By day Morley is Basketball WA’s Chief Operations Officer and by night she is the coach of the best women’s team in the Country. 

One of Morley’s key players is the re-signed NBL1 West MVP Stacey Barr. On the fringes of the WNBL, the 20-point-per-game scorer is one of the best players in the competition and Morley says the NBL1 West has given her the exposure to possibly make that next step. 

“We've got some really quality players that I think maybe a few of them that the rest of Australia hadn't really seen,” Morley said.

“So players like Stacey, who has dominated over here for such an extended period. She was in the best form she has pretty much been in her life (last season).

“We all know she's a scoring threat and she's become a leader on the court, a defensive stopper, you know, she was our second highest rebounder for the team. 

“So we're pretty excited about this year for her in the NBL1 West. But I think from a WNBL perspective, she's got a bit of a different style game, she's not huge, but I think she's got so many assets about her.

“I wouldn't be surprised if she does make a comeback in the WNBL over the next couple of years, I think teams will be crazy not to to have a look at her and pick her up.” 

(Ian Knight photography) Morley celebrating NBL1 National Title 

Given her two positions, Morley has a unique insight into Western Australian basketball. She explained that all of the associations, while primarily focused on junior competitions, hold everything they do to a professional standard and that carries over into their NBL1 West teams. 

“So whilst they're community-based clubs, they run a really professional outfit, and that's across the entire league. But I think that's what's drawing athletes to Western Australia,” she said.

“We've got a massive talent pool within Western Australia, but we're building on that on the lifestyle in WA. And I think if we put all of those things together, with what the team at Basketball WA and the NBL1 group are doing – it's just a great product.

“[It’s] creating a really big buzz for the NBL1 West and I think it's only gonna get bigger this year. Having won the national championships I think there are a lot of expectations, but I think we're going to meet it… I'm happy to say that West is best, absolutely happy to build on that base this year.” 

The NBL1 West starts on March 31, see the full fixture here.