Rebecca Allen

Rebecca Allen’s introduction into the sporting world stemmed from her being just a kid that wanted to play with her friends. Although she started off playing netball, Rebecca soon came to the realisation that dribbling and backboards were more her style.

Rebecca is a Melbourne local and played in the junior competition for the suburb Nunawadling.

From a young age Rebecca set herself up for success with her “take every opportunity as they come” attitude. It was her sheer drive, raw talent and long limbs (hence the nickname “Spida”) that enabled her to be sought out by the WNBL at the age of 16.

The pillars of the game that Rebecca admired most were none other than Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson. Admiring not only their obvious sporting genius, but also the way they facilitated change and advocated for female basketball, especially in Australia.

Rebecca wants to continue this advocacy and grow recognition for the sport’s female stance, from growing more media attention and legitimacy, she hopes that one day equal pay can exist between men and women.

She has been cruelled by many injuries throughout her time playing, including two shoulder reconstructions as a teenager and in 2015 a season-ending right knee cartilage injury.

Rebecca has played for the Dandenong Rangers, Australian Institute of Sport, Melbourne Boomers and South-East Queensland Stars. In 2014, she was awarded the WNBL Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year. She also played the 2013 SEABL season, where her team the Knox Raiders took out the championship, Consequently, Rebecca was awarded the Barbara Barton (Grand Final MVP) medal.

In 2015 Rebecca set her sights on the WNBA and signed with the New York Liberty. She later switched to the Connecticut Sun and later the Phoenix Mercury and has also played in Europe, for French outfit ASVEL Feminin, Poland’s Arka Gdynia and Spanish side Valencia.

Rebecca’s international career with the Opals has thus included a bronze medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Turkey, silver medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup in Spain and another bronze medal at the 2019 FIBA Asia Cup in Bangalore.

She was selected for her Olympic debut in Tokyo. Drawn in Group C, Australia lost their opening match to Belgium, then suffered a critical two-point loss in their second game against China, going on to win the last match comfortably against Puerto Rico. Australia finished third in their Group resulting in a challenging quarter-final match against the USA, which they lost 55-79, ending their Olympic campaign in eighth place. America would go on to win the gold medal.

Playing in all four games, Allen spent 89 minutes on court during the tournament. She scored 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

Rebecca played in five games at the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney, where the Opals finished with the bronze medal, averaging 8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1 assist.

She was also among the top performers as the Opals secured their place in Paris with a clean sweep of an Olympic qualifying tournament in Belem, Brazil, in early 2024 – scoring wins over Germany, Serbia and the host country.  Rebecca averaged 11.3 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.