Townsville add offensive firepower for shot at WNBL redemption

• Australian guard Miela Sowah has signed a two-year deal with the Townsville Fire
• She returns to the place where she started her WNBL career as a development player in 2017
• Sowah averaged 15 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Perth Lynx last season

The Townsville Fire's aspirations of going one step further in the 2025-26 WNBL season has just received a major boost after signing Australian guard Miela Sowah on a two-year deal.

Sowah, 25, joins the Fire from the Perth Lynx after a decorated college career at Duke University and returns to Townsville where she started her WNBL career as a development player during the 2017-18 championship season.

The Brisbane product established herself as one of the best guards in the competition last season, averaging 15 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists on her way to All-WNBL Second Team honours and continued to build her reputation as one of the league's sharpshooters from beyond the arc.

"We're ecstatic to welcome Miela back to Townsville," Fire head coach and five-time WNBL Coach of the Year, Shannon Seebohm, said.

“She provides us with a scoring boost, and we believe she’s only just scratching the surface of her potential. We’re excited to work with her and be part of the next stage of her basketball journey.”

Sowah's form earnt her an Opals debut during the Trans-Tasman Throwdown series against the New Zealand Tall Ferns last month, where she was the team's leading scorer across the three games, and also helped lead the Gangurrus' gold medal win at the 2025 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, earning All-Tournament Team honours there as well.

She has also taken that form into this NBL1 season with the Brisbane Capitals, averaging 37 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists, with her two most recent outings being a 49-point effort and 37 points last week.

"I am super pumped to get back to where WNBL all started for me, as a development player and back to my U17 World Champion coach Shannon Seebohm," Sowah said.

"I’m excited to continue to develop my game under Shannon and take it to the next level. I can’t wait to get to work with this great team, coaching staff and of course the loyal community of fire fans.

"Eyes are on that trophy and I hope to be that extra piece for the team to get the fire one step further this year."

Sowah's is the first new signing for the Fire, who lost to the Bendigo Spirit in the grand final series, for the upcoming season, joining Courtney Woods, Abbey Ellis, Saffron Shiels, Lauren Cox, Alex Fowler and Alicia Froling.

She provides a much-needed offensive boost for Townsville to go alongside Woods after she also had a career year for the Fire last season.