Flames ink Brancatisano to one-year deal
The Sydney Flames are thrilled to announce they’ve signed guard Isabella Brancatisano to a one-year deal.
Brancatisano joins the Hoops Capital club on the back of a strong season with Mount Gambier in NBL1 South, alongside fellow Flames recruit Sherrie Calleia.
“It’s going to be great playing alongside Shez [Sherrie] again,” said Brancatisano, who thanked NZNBL club, Southern Hoiho, for supporting her decision to sign with Sydney.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time with her on the court and can’t wait to make more memories with her and all the other Flames this season.”
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Joining those two of Guy Molloy’s roster in WNBL25 will be Cayla George, Lauren Nicholson, Shaneice Swain, Celeste Taylor, Emma Clarke, Mikaela Ruef and Bonnie Deas.
“Signing with the Flames and having the chance to be coached by Guy was an opportunity too good to pass up,” the 29-year-old said.
“Not only that, what the club [Hoops Capital] is doing to promote and grow women’s basketball is really exciting and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Born in Melbourne before playing all her junior hoops with Melbourne Tigers and representing numerous Victoria Metropolitan sides, the now 29-year-old has enjoyed recent NBL1 stints with Geelong, Melbourne, Ballarat and most recently Mount Gambier – where we averaged 12.58 points, 5.58 rebounds, 4.42 assists and 1.88 steals.
“On the court, I hope to bring a defensive presence and plenty of energy on the court,” said the former West Coast Waves development player.
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Coach Molloy is stoked to have Brancatisano join the harbour city club.
“I’m really excited to add someone of Isabella’s calibre to our group for this season,” Molloy said.
“I’ve been really impressed with her body of work while playing Mount Gambier, alongside Sherrie, and I watched her play first-hand recently in their game against Knox – a side that featured former Flames Paige Bradley and Kiera Rowe.
“During that game, what stood out was her defensive ability, as well as her ability to create with the ball in her hands and knock down shots – in honesty, she looked like a WNBL player.
“She ticks a lot of boxes for us and is the type of player we want at the Flames; high work rate, tremendous energy, athleticism, speed, ability to play at both ends of the floor and being a great teammate.
“Not only that, she compliments the pieces we already have in place, so I’m really excited for her to get this opportunity, albiet a bit later in her career, because she has definitely earnt it.”
The Flames tip-off their 2024-25 season with a double-header at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, November 3 – taking on the UC Capitals from 1.45pm AEDT before the Kings battle Tasmania from 4.15pm.