Amy Atwell

Amy Atwell
Atwell with the Bendigo Braves in 2023
No. 25 – Perth Lynx
PositionShooting guard
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (1998-06-30) 30 June 1998 (age 26)
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High schoolPenrhos College
(Perth, Western Australia)
CollegeHawaii (2017–2022)
WNBA draft2022: 3rd round, 27th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022Los Angeles Sparks
2022–presentPerth Lynx
2023–2024Bendigo Braves
2024Phoenix Mercury
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Team
Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Australia

Amy Atwell (born 30 June 1998) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She played college basketball for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine, where she won the Big West Conference Player of the Year in 2022. She had briefs stints in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 2022 with the Los Angeles Sparks and in 2024 with the Phoenix Mercury.

Early life

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Atwell was born in Perth, Western Australia.[1] She attended Penrhos College and played basketball for the Willetton Tigers as a junior. She also played softball growing up.[1]

College career

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Atwell moved to the United States in 2016 to play college basketball for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine. After redshirting the 2016–17 season due to injury, she debuted in the 2017–18 season.[1] In 2019–20, she was named Big West Conference Best Sixth Player and Big West Conference Honorable Mention.[1] In 2020–21, she was named second-team All-Big West. In 2021–22, she was named Big West Player of the Year and first-team All-Big West.[1][2][3] She became the 23rd member of the 1,000 point club for the Rainbow Wahine and finished No. 1 in made 3-pointers with 205.[1][4] She also helped the Rainbow Wahine win the 2022 Big West tournament behind her tournament MVP performance.[5]

College statistics

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Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Hawaii 24 102 .477 .281 .692 2.4 0.5 0.4 0.1 4.3
2018–19 Hawaii 28 133 .429 .368 .833 2.4 0.6 0.6 0.1 4.8
2019–20 Hawaii 27 286 .476 .453 .719 4.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 10.6
2020–21 Hawaii 17 215 .383 .319 .750 5.9 0.6 0.7 0.4 12.6
2021–22 Hawaii 30 534 .438 .380 .859 6.9 1.0 1.5 0.6 17.8
Career 126 1270 .438 .380 .806 4.5 0.7 0.7 0.3 10.1

Professional career

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WNBA

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Atwell was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the third round (27th overall) of the 2022 WNBA draft.[6] She made the opening night roster[7] and made her first career start against the Chicago Sky on 6 May.[8] After appearing in four games, Atwell was waived by the Sparks on 7 June 2022.[9]

In April 2024, Atwell received a training camp invite from the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.[10][11] She returned to the Mercury in September 2024 on a seven-day contract,[12] debuting against the Washington Mystics and scoring two points in four minutes in a 13-point loss.[13] Her contract was extended by the Mercury for another seven days[14] and then for the remainder of the season ahead of the WNBA playoffs.[15]

WNBL and NBL1

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On 4 June 2022, Atwell signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2022–23 WNBL season.[16]

Atwell joined the Bendigo Braves for the 2023 NBL1 South season.[17] She led the Braves to the NBL1 South championship behind her Grand Final MVP performance of 36 points, eight rebounds and two assists in an 83–78 win over the Waverley Falcons.[18][19] Atwell and the Braves went on to win the NBL1 National championship.[20] She was named to the NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five.[21]

On 19 May 2023, Atwell re-signed with the Lynx for the 2023–24 WNBL season.[22] On 27 December 2023, she had a career-high 36 points and seven 3-pointers in a 98–90 win over the UC Capitals.[23][24][25] In game one of the Lynx's grand final series against the Southside Flyers, Atwell had a game-high 30 points and a career-high nine 3-pointers in a 101–79 win.[26][27][28] They went on to lose the series 2–1.[29][30]

Atwell re-joined the Bendigo Braves for the 2024 NBL1 South season.[31] In 12 games, she averaged 27.17 points, 5.08 rebounds, 1.92 assists and 1.83 steals per game.[32]

On 22 July 2024, Atwell re-signed with the Lynx for the 2024–25 WNBL season.[33]

National team career

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In July 2024, Atwell was named in the Australian Opals' squad for the Paris Olympics as a replacement for Rebecca Allen.[34][35]

WNBA career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics[36]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2022 Los Angeles 4 1 8.0 .111 .167 .000 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.8
2023 Did not appear in league
2024 Phoenix 6 0 9.8 .267 .231 .800 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 2.5
Career 2 years, 2 teams 10 1 9.1 .208 .211 .800 0.8 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.4 1.8

Playoffs

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WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2024 Phoenix 1 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Career 1 year, 1 team 1 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Personal life

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Atwell is the daughter of Ray and Shelley Atwell. She has an older sister, Hayley, and a younger brother, Ryan.[1] Her grandfather is former Australian rules football player Mal Atwell.[37]

As of July 2024, Atwell's partner is fellow basketball player and Perth Lynx teammate Ally Wilson.[38]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Amy Atwell". hawaiiathletics.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Atwell Named Player of the Year, Beeman Coach of the Year". hawaiiathletics.com. 6 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023.
  3. ^ Cazimero, Charleston (7 March 2022). "Wāhine basketball takes home two conference awards". Ka Leo o Hawaii. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  4. ^ McInnis, Brian (2 March 2022). "Hawaii women's basketball star Amy Atwell takes shot at Big West championship". Spectrum News Hawaii. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  5. ^ McInnis, Brian (12 March 2022). "Hawaii defeats UC Irvine for Big West women's basketball tournament title, NCAA berth". Spectrum News Hawaii. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ^ McInnis, Brian (12 April 2022). "Hawaii basketball star Amy Atwell taken by Los Angeles Sparks in WNBA Draft third round". Spectrum News Hawaii. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  7. ^ Shimabuku, Christian (5 May 2022). "Amy Atwell makes opening night roster for WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks". KHON2. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. ^ @LASparks (6 May 2022). "Starting 5️⃣ vs. Chicago Sky" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Waive Amy Atwell". wnba.com. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  10. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (24 April 2024). "Perth Lynx star Amy Atwell flies out to America for WNBA Training Camp with Phoenix Mercury". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024.
  11. ^ "PHOENIX MERCURY FINALIZES TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". WNBA.com.au. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  12. ^ "The Phoenix Mercury have signed Australian guard Amy Atwell to a seven-day contract. Welcome back to The Valley, Amy!". facebook.com/phoenixmercury. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  13. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (6 September 2024). "Perth Lynx star Amy Atwell is back in the WNBA after signing contract with Phoenix Mercury". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024.
  14. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (13 September 2024). "Perth Wildcats Next Star Izan Almansa reflects on NBA scouts and playing in front of huge crowds at RAC Arena". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Meanwhile, Perth Lynx vice-captain Amy Atwell has had her seven-day WNBA contract extended by Phoenix Mercury and will play in their build-up to the finals.
  15. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (20 September 2024). "Perth Lynx captain Anneli Maley confident more double-headers with Perth Wildcats will happen at RAC Arena". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024.
  16. ^ Lauren (4 June 2022). "AMY ATWELL ADDS A SPARK TO THE PERTH LYNX ROSTER". Perth Lynx. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Amy Atwell". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  18. ^ "NBL1 South Recap | Women's Grand Final 2023". NBL1.com.au. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Bendigo Braves crowned NBL1 South women's champions". NBL1.com.au. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  20. ^ "NBL1 National Finals Recap | Women's Championship Game 2023". NBL1.com.au. 20 August 2023. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023.
  21. ^ "2023 Coles Expres NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five". NBL1.com.au. 21 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023.
  22. ^ Lauren (19 May 2023). "ATWELL AMPED TO BE BACK FOR 2023-24". Perth Lynx. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  23. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (27 December 2023). "Perth Lynx import Aari McDonald injures knee against Canberra Capitals as Amy Atwell stars in WNBL". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023.
  24. ^ Lauren (27 December 2023). "LYNX FOCUS ON KEEPING MOMENTUM TO END HOME STAND". wnbl.basketball/perth. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Lynx vs Capitals". fibalivestats.com. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  26. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (10 March 2024). "WNBL grand final: Perth Lynx thrash Southside Flyers in game one as Amy Atwell stars". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024.
  27. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (10 March 2024). "Perth Lynx vice-captain Amy Atwell describes what it's like when you can't miss during a WNBL grand final". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024.
  28. ^ Lauren (10 March 2024). "LYNX SCORCH FLYERS IN AMAZING GAME 1 SHOWING". wnbl.basketball/perth. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024.
  29. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (17 March 2024). "WNBL grand final: Perth Lynx smashed in game three by Southside as championship dream gets shattered". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024.
  30. ^ Lauren (17 March 2024). "LYNX FALL IN GAME 3 BUT PLENTY TO BE PROUD OF". wnbl.basketball/perth. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024.
  31. ^ Bourke, Adam (26 April 2024). "Star players to miss Bendigo Braves home NBL1 double-header". bendigoadvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Amy Atwell". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  33. ^ Lauren (22 July 2024). "ATWELL SIGNS ON FOR 2024-25 WNBL SEASON". wnbl.basketball/perth. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Amy Atwell replaces Bec Allen in the Opals Olympic Team". Australian Olympic Committee. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  35. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (26 July 2024). "Perth Lynx star Amy Atwell gets elevated to Australian Opals for Olympic Games following injury to Bec Allen". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024.
  36. ^ "Amy Atwell WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
  37. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (12 April 2022). "Basketballer Amy Atwell follows in footsteps of grandfather Mal Atwell by making it to the highest level". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  38. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (22 July 2024). "Amy Atwell signs with Perth Lynx and joins partner Ally Wilson in the same WNBL club". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024.
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