Media Release: Basketball Australia
Basketball Australia have announced the Pearls team for the 2025 Virtus World Championships, which will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from June 12th to 24th.
Basketball NSW is proud to congratulate the following athletes on their selection to the Pearls team:
Brittany Anderson, Taylor Anderson & Mackenzie Wills. All three athletes were members of the NSW Ivor Burge Women’s team that secured a Bronze medal earlier this year.
The Virtus Global Games are held once every four years and sees competitors from up to 80 nations participating in multiple sports. Virtus is the recognised International Organisation of Sport for People with a Disability (IOSD) and is a full member of the International Paralympic Committee representing intellectual disability
The Pearls last competed at the 6th Global Games which was in France. The Pearls entered two teams who both performed admirably with Pearls Gold taking home the silver medal and Pearls Green taking home the bronze. Similarly in the 1st Virtus Oceania Asia Games in 2022 the Pearls secured Gold, Silver and Bronze in Brisbane.
The Pearls team feature a combination of seasoned athletes returning to the international stage alongside emerging players making their debut, forming a balanced group full of experience and fresh energy ready to take the court.
Seven players from the Pearls that competed at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in France will return. These players are Brittany Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Jessica McCulloch, Jasmin Funnell, Madilyn Janssen, Evangeline Patterson, and Mackenzie Wills.
Pearls Team Selected for 2025 VIRTUS World Championships
Brittany Anderson (NSW)
Taylor Anderson (NSW)
Mackenzie Wills (NSW)
Jaime-Lee Getson (VIC)
Montana Haag (VIC)
Alicia Bamblett (VIC)
Madilyn Janssen (ACT)
Jayne Brownlee (SA)
Jessica McCulloch (VIC)
Jasmin Funnell (ACT)
Evangeline Patterson (VIC)
Temeka Swanston (ACT)
Head Coach: Larry Davidson
Assistant Coach: Jo Larkin
Assistant Coach: Sally Duncan