Anneli Maley Bio
Anneli Maley (born 1 September 1998) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). She made her WNBL debut in 2016 and then spent two seasons in the United States playing college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. With the Bendigo Spirit in 2022, she was named the WNBL Most Valuable Player.
Early Life and Background
Anneli Maley was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She attended Eltham High School and Box Hill Senior Secondary College, where she played both basketball and volleyball during her youth. In 2014, at the age of 15, Maley moved to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and play for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). After two seasons, she returned to Melbourne and was set to play for the Nunawading Spectres in the 2016 SEABL season. However, due to burnout that led to anxiety and depression, she took time away from basketball in 2016 after experiencing a panic attack that mirrored the physical symptoms of a cardiac arrest. Later that year, she returned to basketball at Box Hill Senior Secondary College, leading the school to the Australian Schools Championship title.
Path to Basketball
In December 2016, Anneli Maley signed with the Adelaide Lightning for the remainder of the 2016–17 WNBL season. In 12 games, she averaged 3.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Following her time with the Lightning, she played for the Dandenong Rangers in the 2017 SEABL season. In April 2017, she signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Oregon. As a freshman in 2017–18, she played in 37 games, including all 18 Pac-12 regular season games, and contributed to the Ducks winning both conference titles. After transferring to Texas Christian University (TCU) in April 2018, she was initially deemed ineligible to play due to NCAA transfer rules but received a waiver to play immediately. However, she left TCU mid-season after participating in 10 games.
Anneli Maley Career
Early Career (2014–2019)
In February 2019, Anneli Maley signed with the Diamond Valley Eagles of the NBL1 for the league’s inaugural season, earning NBL1 Youth Player of the Year honors. In August 2019, she signed with the Southside Flyers for the 2019–20 WNBL season. Maley joined the Sydney Uni Flames for the 2020 WNBL Hub season in Queensland, and then played for the Eltham Wildcats of the NBL1 South in 2021. She joined the Bendigo Spirit for the 2021–22 WNBL season, where she achieved significant recognition by winning the WNBL Most Valuable Player Award.
Breakthrough (2022–Present)
After her successful season with the Bendigo Spirit, Anneli Maley joined the Chicago Sky for a brief stint during the 2022 WNBA season. She later returned to the Eltham Wildcats for the 2022 NBL1 South season. In June 2023, she signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2023–24 WNBL season and was named team captain. In her debut on 3 November 2023, she set a new record for the Lynx with 21 rebounds in a single game. On 18 February 2024, she recorded 17 points, 20 rebounds, and eight assists in a victory over the University of Canberra Capitals. Maley played a crucial role in helping the Lynx reach the WNBL grand final, although they ultimately lost to the Southside Flyers.
Notable Works and Milestones
Anneli Maley’s signature work includes her performance with the Bendigo Spirit, where she was named the WNBL Most Valuable Player in 2022. She has also earned numerous accolades, including being named to the All-WNBL First Team in 2022 and the All-NBL1 West First Team in 2024 and 2025.
Anneli Maley Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Anneli Maley has received several nominations for her outstanding performances in basketball, particularly in the WNBL and NBL1 leagues.
Anneli Maley Awards Won
Anneli Maley has won several prestigious awards, including the WNBL Most Valuable Player in 2022 and the NBL1 Youth Player of the Year in 2019. She has also been recognized as a member of the All-WNBL First Team and the All-NBL1 West First Team.
Anneli Maley Family
Anneli Maley’s father, Paul Maley, was born in the United States and later moved to Australia, where he played 270 games in the National Basketball League (NBL). She has two brothers, one of whom, Finnbar, was drafted by the North Melbourne Football Club in 2023 and later traded to the Adelaide Crows in 2025.
Personal Life
Anneli Maley is engaged to Marena Whittle, who is also a professional basketball player. Their shared passion for the sport has contributed to their strong bond.