Jade Melbourne

Long considered one of the most exciting emerging stars in Australian basketball, Jade Melbourne has had a couple of pinch-me moments during her rapid rise to international level.

Such as the time she found herself guarding WNBA legend Diana Taurasi in her first game for the Seattle Storm.

“It was a practice match and there was a huge crowd, the biggest I've ever played in front of,” Victorian country girl Jade said. “I get subbed in for the second quarter and … then next minute you're guarding Diana Taurasi.

"It was one possession where she came down and I was like, Oh my god, you're not on YouTube anymore, I'm guarding you’. Sometimes when you're on the court with players you've watched and idolised, there's legends of the game out there and it's a little pinch-me moment, something I'll never forget.”

Hailing from the Victorian town of Traralgon, Jade grew up playing various sports including AFL, but basketball quickly drew her in.

“I got a hoop for Christmas when I was like five years old and then from there I was kind of always in the backyard shooting hoops,” she said. “And then mum got in contact with someone she knew from basketball, got me into a team and from then on I just loved the game and didn’t look back really.”

She excelled through junior pathways and made her WNBL debut for the Canberra Capitals in 2020.

Jade was named in the Australian Gems squad for the 2021 U19 Women’s World Cup, where Australia finished with the silver medal. She averaged 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 29.6 minutes per game and was named in the tournament’s All-Star Five.

Jade made her Opals debut in 2021 in Jordan as Australia, coached by her Canberra coach Paul Goriss, won bronze at the Asia Cup.

Jade was picked up by Seattle in the 2022 draft and when she made her debut for the team in 2023 as a 20-year-old, she was the youngest player in the WNBA.

Included in the national squad for the Olympic year, Jade played a key attacking role as the Opals secured their place in Paris with a clean sweep of a qualifying tournament in Belem, Brazil, in early 2024 – scoring wins over Germany, Serbia and the host country.

Now in her fourth year at the Capitals Jade has taken on extra responsibility, accepting the role of co-captain. While her time at the Storm came to an end in May 2024 when she was traded to the Washington Mystics.

“She checks all the boxes for an amazing international player and an amazing domestic player – she’s just a professional,” Capitals coach Kristen Veal said. “She works hard, she does all the little things, she’s talented, she’s driven – so all the things that make great players, she has.”

At the Paris 2024 Olympics Jade and the Opals recovered from a first up loss to a physical Nigeria team (75-62) to beat Canada (70-65) and the host nation France (79-72), which meant they automatically progressed to the knockout rounds.

A big win over Serbia in the quarter-finals (85-67), in which Jade exploded for 18 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, put them in a semis showdown against the USA. The Americans' victory (85-64) sending the Opals to the bronze medal match against Belgium.

The Opals won the match 85-81 for the team's first Olympic medal since London 2012.