Basketball NSW is proud to announce former WNBL champion and Sydney Flames Head Coach Renae Garlepp as the newest Ambassador for the I AM A GIRL (IAAG) Leadership Scholarship program.
A highly respected figure in Australian basketball, Garlepp has enjoyed a distinguished career both on and off the court, representing Australia at the junior and senior levels while establishing herself as one of the country’s most knowledgeable and passionate leaders in the sport.
Garlepp began her WNBL career with the Australian Institute of Sport in 2004, making an immediate impact by earning the WNBL Rookie of the Year Award in her debut season. She went on to play for several clubs across the league, including the Townsville Fire, Adelaide Lightning, Logan Thunder, Bendigo Spirit and Sydney Uni Flames during a career that spanned more than a decade.
One of the defining moments of Garlepp’s playing career came during the 2007–08 WNBL Grand Final, where she delivered a standout performance to be named Grand Final MVP, scoring 32 points in the championship game. Across her career she also captured two WNBL Championships and represented Australia at a number of international tournaments.
Following her playing career, Garlepp has continued to make a significant impact in the game through coaching and high-performance roles. She currently serves as Head Coach of the Sydney Flames in the WNBL and has also coached in the NBL1 East Women’s competition with the Norths Bears. Garlepp has played an important role within the Basketball NSW performance pathway, most recently guiding the NSW Metro Under-18 Girls to a gold medal at the 2024 Australian Junior Championships.
As part of her role as an I AM A GIRL Leadership Scholarship Ambassador, Garlepp will help inspire and support the development of up-and-coming coaches and State Team coaches, sharing her experience from both her playing and coaching career.
Basketball NSW Head of Participation & Community, Annie La Fleur OLY, said Garlepp’s appointment brings valuable experience and leadership to the program.
“Renae has achieved so much throughout her basketball journey, both as a player and now as a coach,” said La Fleur.
“She understands the pathway through our sport and the importance of creating opportunities for young athletes to grow in confidence and leadership.
“Having someone like Renae involved in the I AM A GIRL program provides our participants with a fantastic role model who has experienced the game at every level.”
Garlepp said she is excited to be involved in a program focused on empowering girls through basketball.
“Being involved with the I AM A GIRL program is something I’m really proud of,” said Garlepp.
“Basketball has given me so many opportunities throughout my life, and I’m passionate about helping young girls stay involved in the game and build confidence both on and off the court.”
Through the I AM A GIRL program, Basketball NSW continues to empower girls and young women through basketball, creating opportunities to build confidence, develop leadership skills and connect with inspiring role models from across the basketball community.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the I AM A GIRL program.