Lightning announce WNBL24 Development Players
The Adelaide Lightning are pleased to announce their WNBL24 Development Players.
Experienced WNBL development players, Molly Coleman and Sharna Thompson will be joined by newcomers Bianca Stasinowsky and Jess Simons to train with the Adelaide Lightning team throughout the upcoming season.
Molly Coleman:
Date of Birth: 7th March, 2000
Position: Forward
Height: 6’2”
After finishing her senior year at USC Upstate in NCAA D1, where she helped lead her team to a 22-8 season record. Coleman returned to Australia primed and ready to hit the ground running in the NBL1 with the Norwood Flames before spending the WNBL23 season as an Adelaide Lightning development player.
After finishing another season in the NBL1 with the West Adelaide Bearcats averaging 13.72ppg and 7.11 rpg, Coleman is set to make a return to the Adelaide Lightning as a development player for the WNBL24 season.
Molly expressed her excitement to again be apart of the Adelaide Lightning squad;
‘I’m super excited and grateful to be apart of the Lightning squad again this season! It’s pretty unreal to be able to train with some of the best in the game and continue to develop under the guidance of incredible coaches like Nat, Matt and Mel’
Jess Simons:
Date of Birth: 11th April, 2004
Position: Guard
Height: 5’10”
Average Points Per Game: 14.6
Simons another Adelaide Lightning Academy participant and local sharpshooter for the Forestville Eagles in the NBL1 competition, continues to take her game to the next level.
Given a bigger role within the Forestville side this year, Simons did not disappoint with her biggest year to date averaging 14.76 ppg, 4.8rpg and 3.59apg. A standout performance coming against champions Norwood Flames with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Jess when asked, explains what this means for her;
‘I’m super excited to receive one of the DP spots with the Lightning. It has always been a goal of mine to make it to the next level and it’s really exiting that it’s happening now, especially with my home club. Super keen to get to work with a great bunch of girls and coaching staff.’
Bianca Stasinowsky:
Date of Birth: 16th December, 2004
Position: Guard
Height: 5’11”
Former Lightning Academy participant and SA Country representative Bianca Stasinowsky has solidified her status as an exciting emerging talent. A stand out this year was being named the Southern Tigers best player in the NBL1 preliminary final with 21 points, four triples and nine rebounds. At just 18 Stasinowsky is very excited with being selected as a Development Players this season;
‘I am super excited to have the opportunity to join the Adelaide Lightning as a development player. I can’t wait to work with the amazing coaching staff and take my game to the next level with the support of the team!’
Sharna Thompson:
Date of Birth: 7th September, 2000
Position: Guard
Height: 5’8”
Originally from Tasmania and being a former Townsville Fire development player Sharna Thompson made the switch to move to Adelaide to play for the Norwood Flames in the NBL1 competition, ultimately winning the championship. After averaging an impressive 20.48 points per game in the 2023 season, Thompson finished off the season by scoring five three pointers in the NBL1 grand final, leading her team to victory.
Sharna new to Adelaide but not new to the Development Player position said on being selected;
‘I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and incredibly excited to embark on this journey with the Adelaide lighting girls.’