Cubillo makes year-long return

Feature image via: Brad Anderson

In new colours, Abby Cubillo took the court for the first time this weekend after her ACL injury in late 2023. 

Signing with the Southern Districts Spartans this offseason, the WNBL star finally made her season debut against the Darwin Salties on Saturday night. 

Cubillo tore her ACL during the 2023 season with the Brisbane Capitals, coming off an outstanding campaign in 2022 where she was named to the NBL1 North’s First Team. 

In a 22-point win over the Salties, Cubillo scored 18 points in only 19 minutes of action. Despite coming off a leg injury, she showed no fear going towards the basket – drawing eight free-throw attempts and making six. 

Post-game she told Jon Guarna she’s grateful to be back playing on the floor.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind, but I’m just so excited and so grateful to have the opportunity to come out and play again after a very long year off,” she said.

“There were no expectations put on me, especially from (coach) George (Robinson). And for me, I really just wanted to enjoy the moment and nothing more than that.

“I came out and tried my best and really enjoy the moment, because I’ve worked so hard over the past 12 months. I really did that tonight.”

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With the knowledge of watching the team from the bench all season, Cubillo explained what it will take for the Spartans to continue their success in the Finals race.

“I think we are building really, really nicely,” she said. 

“When we get solid stops and stick to our scout, and we can run – we are pretty unstoppable. 

“Each game we are taking that a little bit further, last night (Friday) we were building on that to today. So I think we are going to be really excited heading into Finals.” 

Cubbilo elaborated that the Spartans’ offensive execution will be the main improvement area for the squad. With a roster of elite scorers and playmakers in Ariana Moorer, Maddy Allen, Kalani Purcell and now Cubillo, she urged the team to remain “assertive”, going into the last four rounds of the season. 

“We need to build a forty-minute offensive game, sometimes we have lapses where we are a bit passive on offence,” she said. 

“Because we have so much talent in our team, I think if everyone’s assertive, we are going to score a lot of points.” 

The Spartans will head down to the Gold Coast to take on the Rollers on Saturday, streaming live from 5:00pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.