Lara McSpadden

Lara McSpadden
No. 14 – Sydney Flames
PositionCenter
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (1999-04-02) 2 April 1999
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015Newcastle Hunters
2016BA Centre of Excellence
2016–2020Sydney Uni Flames
2017–2018Sydney Sparks
2019–2020Newcastle Hunters
2020–2023Townsville Fire
2021–2024Rockhampton Cyclones
2023–2024Sydney Flames
2024Tauranga Whai
2025BK Lokomotiva Trutnov
2025Diamond Valley Eagles
2025–presentSydney Flames
2026–presentKeilor Thunder
Career highlights
Medals
Representing  Australia
Women's basketball
FIBA U17 World Championship
Gold medal – first place2016 SpainTeam
FIBA Oceania U16 Championship
Gold medal – first place2015 New ZealandTeam
Women's 3x3 basketball
Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place2026 SingaporeTeam
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2026 GlasgowTeam

Lara Gweneth McSpadden (born 2 April 1999) is an Australian professional basketball player.

Early life

McSpadden was born in Penrith, New South Wales.[1]

Professional career

WNBL

McSpadden began her professional career with the Sydney Uni Flames in the 2016–17 WNBL season.[2] She played four seasons for the Flames, leaving following the 2019–20 WNBL season.[3]

McSpadden joined the Townsville Fire for the 2020 WNBL Hub season in Queensland. She continued on with the Fire in 2021–22 and 2022–23.[3]

For the 2023–24 WNBL season, McSpadden returned to the Sydney Flames.[3]

On 3 July 2025, McSpadden signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Flames.[4]

State Leagues

In 2015, McSpadden played for the Newcastle Hunters in the Waratah League. In 2016, she played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). In 2017 and 2018, she played for the Sydney Sparks in the SEABL. She returned to the Hunters for the 2019 Waratah League season and continued with Newcastle in 2020.[3]

In 2021, McSpadden joined the Rockhampton Cyclones of the NBL1 North. She continued with the Cyclones in 2022, 2023 and 2024.[3] She joined the Diamond Valley Eagles of the NBL1 South for the 2025 season.[5] She is set to join the Keilor Thunder for the 2026 NBL1 South season.[6]

Other

In 2024, McSpadden helped the Tauranga Whai win the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship.[7]

In January 2025, McSpadden joined BK Lokomotiva Trutnov of the Czech Women's Basketball League. In 12 games to finish the 2024–25 season, she averaged 10.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.[3]

National team career

McSpadden made her international debut at the 2015 FIBA Oceania Under-16 Championship for Women in New Zealand with the U17 Sapphires, where she helped them qualify for the world championship the following year. At the world championship, the Sapphires won their inaugural title in Spain. After snapping Team USA's 28-game win streak at U17 level, Australia went on to take home Gold.[8]

McSpadden went on to represent Australia at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup and the 2019 World University Games.[3]

In May 2025, McSpadden was named in the Australian national 3x3 team for the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series in China,[9] where the team won silver.[10]

In March 2026, McSpadden was named in the Australia 3x3 team for the FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup.[11] The following month, she played at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup,[12] helping the team win the gold medal.[13] In June 2026, she was selected for the Australian 3x3 team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.[14] The team went on to win the gold medal.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "Lara McSpadden". fiba.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "McSPADDEN HEATS UP THE FLAMES". wnbl.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Lara McSpadden". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Flames welcome home NSW junior McSpadden". Sydney Flames. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Diamond Valley sign dynamic duo". nbl1.com.au. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "Lara McSpadden makes Keilor Thunder switch for 2026 season". NBL1.com.au. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Whai Claim Championship Victory". tauihi.basketball. 22 December 2024. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "Magbegor named MVP of 2016 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship, headlines All-Star Five". fiba.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "Gangurrus named for Chengdu stop of 2025 FIBA 3x3 Women's Series". www.australia.basketball. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  10. ↑ "Netherlands complete sweep to win FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Chengdu Women's Series 2025". fiba3x3.com. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Gangurrus named for FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup". www.australia.basketball. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "3x3 Gangurrus to defend Asia Cup titles". www.australia.basketball. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Gangurrus Women strike gold at FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in Singapore". NBL1.com.au. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Robertson, Tom (18 June 2026). "Australia's Basketball 3×3 and Wheelchair 3×3 Teams Locked in for Glasgow 2026 | Commonwealth Games Australia". commonwealthgames.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Party time: Gangurrus celebrate Glasgow gold". wnbl.com.au. 30 July 2026. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Pike, Chris (30 July 2026). "It's gold in Glasgow for the Gangurrus". wnbl.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
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