Courtney Woods (born 24 March 1997) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Townsville Fire of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She played college basketball for the Northern Illinois Huskies before beginning her professional career in the WNBL in 2020 with the Fire. She won a WNBL championship with the Fire in 2023. In the NBL1 North, Woods won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 with the Townsville Flames and Northside Wizards respectively. She was named NBL1 North Most Valuable Player for the 2023 season.

Early life and career

Woods grew up in Brisbane, Queensland, where she attended St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School. She played badminton, basketball and field hockey at St. Margaret's.[1] Woods served as basketball captain in 2014, and her team enjoyed two premiership-winning seasons coached by her mother.[2] She played for Queensland's State U20 basketball team.[1]

In 2014, Woods was a member of the Brisbane Spartans senior women's team in the South East Australian Basketball League.[3] She did not appear in a game for the Spartans, and joined the Brisbane Capitals of the Queensland Basketball League for the 2015 season.[4] In 15 games for the Capitals, she averaged 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.[4]

College career

Woods moved to the United States in 2015 to play college basketball for the Northern Illinois Huskies.[1]

As a freshman in 2015–16, Woods played in all 30 games and started the last 11 games of the season. She had three 20-point games during the season and averaged 10.3 points per game. She had 24 points and 10 rebounds against Western Michigan on 24 February 2016.[1]

As a sophomore in 2016–17, Woods played and started in all 33 games for the Huskies. She ranked seventh in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with 16.6 points per game and set a new NIU single-season record with 105 three-pointers, becoming just the fifth player in MAC history to surpass 100. Additionally, she became only the third underclassman in program history to score 500 points in a season, finishing with 547—one shy of the record set in 1987–88. She recorded nine 20-point games, including 24 points against Chicago State on 22 November 2016. She was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team after scoring 19 points in the semifinal round of the 2017 MAC women's basketball tournament against Western Michigan.[1]

As a junior in 2017–18, Woods started all 30 games for the Huskies and averaged a league-leading 22.1 points a game, ranking third all time in NIU history. She scored a single-season high 664 points, the most by a Huskie junior in school history. She recorded six 30-point games, including a career-high 39 points twice; the first against Western Illinois on 18 November 2017 and the second against Kent State on 3 January 2018.[1] She had a career-best 239 rebounds and averaged eight per game, recording a career-high 15 rebounds against Ball State on 27 January.[5] She earned four player of the week awards and earned first-team All-MAC honours.[1]

In the 2018–19 season, Woods played in the first seven games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.[1][6] She had earned two player of the weeks awards[5] and was averaging 20.1 points per game.[7]

As a redshirt senior in 2019–20, Woods again earned first-team All-MAC honours after averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. She scored in double figures in 24 of 30 games, scoring a season-high 36 points against Toledo on 7 March 2020. She finished her career as the NIU all-time leader with 323 three-pointers and 130 games. She also finished second all time at NIU in scoring with 2,216 points.[1]

Woods completed two degrees while at NIU: a Bachelor of Health Science and Masters in Sports Management.[2]

College statistics

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Northern Illinois 30 11 23.9 .391 .342 .725 4.2 2.0 .7 .5 10.3
2016–17 Northern Illinois 33 33 33.2 .411 .395 .892 5.5 1.9 1.4 .5 16.6
2017–18 Northern Illinois 30 30 34.5 .454 .408 .846 8.0 3.3 1.4 .2 22.1
2018–19 Northern Illinois 7 7 30.9 .413 .333 .795 6.6 2.0 1.9 .1 20.1
2019–20 Northern Illinois 30 30 33.0 .432 .326 .857 6.0 3.0 1.1 .2 18.5
Career 130 111 31.2 .425 .371 .838 5.9 2.5 1.2 .3 17.0

Professional career

Woods joined the Northside Wizards for the 2020 Queensland State League (QSL),[8] where she averaged 24.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals in seven games.[4][9][10]

On 2 July 2020, Woods signed a two-year deal with the Townsville Fire of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).[11] She joined the Fire for the 2020 WNBL Hub season in Queensland,[9] helping the team reach the grand final, where they lost 99–82 to the Southside Flyers.[12] In 14 games, she averaged 6.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.[4]

Woods re-joined the Northside Wizards, now in the NBL1 North, for the 2021 season. In 11 games, she averaged 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.[4]

With the Fire in the 2021–22 WNBL season, Woods averaged 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16 games.[4]

Woods joined the Townsville Flames for the 2022 NBL1 North season, helping the team win the NBL1 North championship.[13] In 26 games, she averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.[4]

On 29 April 2022, Woods re-signed with the Fire on a two-year deal.[14] In the 2022–23 season, she helped the Fire win the WNBL championship behind a 16-game winning streak.[15] In 24 games, she averaged 6.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.[4]

Woods returned to the Northside Wizards for the 2023 NBL1 North season and earned NBL1 North Most Valuable Player honours and was named to the NBL1 North First Team.[16] She went on to lead the Wizards to the NBL1 North championship behind her Finals MVP performance.[17][18][19][20] It marked her third championship in 12 months.[21] In 22 games, she averaged 24.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game.[4]

Woods had a breakout year with the Fire in 2023–24, playing big minutes and doubling her points per game average following injuries to Tianna Hawkins and Alice Kunek.[22] The Fire finished on top of the ladder but lost to the Perth Lynx in the semi-finals.[23] In 23 games, she averaged 13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.[4] On 28 February 2024, she re-signed with the Fire on a two-year deal.[24][25]

Woods joined the Darwin Salties for the 2024 NBL1 North season.[26][27] She was named to the NBL1 North Second Team.[28] In 16 games, she averaged 23.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game.[4]

Woods entered the 2024–25 WNBL season as one of the Fire's co-captains alongside Alicia Froling and Lauren Mansfield.[29] On 11 February 2025, she signed a further extension with the Fire until the end of the 2026–27 season.[30][31] For the 2024–25 season, she was named to the All-WNBL First Team.[32] She went on to play her 100th WNBL game in the semi-finals and helped the Fire reach the grand final.[33] In the grand final series, Woods was held to 13 points in game one and 10 points in game two, as the Fire lost 2–0 to the Bendigo Spirit.[34][35]

National team career

In February 2025, Woods was named in her first Australian Opals squad.[33][36]

Personal life

Woods' mother, Dana (née Fish),[29] played basketball at the University of Idaho in the 1980s.[1] Both her mother and her father played professional basketball.[37] She has an older brother and sister.[38]

Woods holds Australian and American citizenship.[3]

In 2022, Woods spent the off-season gaining work experience as the operations manager for the Townsville Fire and also enrolled in the MBA program at James Cook University.[2] While playing for the Darwin Salties in 2024, Woods started working part time as a project coordinator with club sponsor, Ventia.[29][37]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Courtney Woods - Women's Basketball". NIU Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Mitchell, Georgia (15 November 2022). "From QGSSSA Basketball to the Women's NBL: Courtney Woods ('14)". St Margaret's Old Girls' Network. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Courtney Woods '15 Recruiting Profile". ncsasports.org. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Courtney Woods, Basketball Player, News, Stats - australiabasket". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b Kelley, Justin (6 December 2018). "Women's Basketball Star Courtney Woods out for Season". Northern Star. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  6. ^ France, Lachy (13 December 2018). "NCAA Women: Ortlepp fires, Woods out for season". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Courtney Woods College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  8. ^ "2020 QSL Teams – Northside Wizards". basketballqld.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b "A SNEAK PEEK AT THE 2020 WNBL DEBUTS PART 2". WNBL. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  10. ^ Williams, Peter (28 October 2020). "2020 QSL team review: Northside Wizards". Basketball Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  11. ^ "College star inks 2 year deal with Fire". Townsville Fire. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Southside Flyers subdue plucky Townsville Fire to claim WNBL championship". ABC News. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  13. ^ "NBL1 North Recap | Women's Grand Final Game 2". nbl1.com.au. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Woods returns on multi year deal". Townsville Fire. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  15. ^ "JCU TOWNSVILLE FIRE CROWNED WNBL CHAMPIONS". WNBL. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  16. ^ "2023 NBL1 Awards Tracker". NBL1.com.au. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  17. ^ Pike, Chris (4 August 2023). "NBL1 North Recap | Grand Finals Game 1". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  18. ^ Pike, Chris (5 August 2023). "NBL1 North Recap | Grand Finals Game 2". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Northside Wizards crowned NBL1 North women's champions". NBL1.com.au. 5 August 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  20. ^ Badkin, Liam (8 August 2023). "Star keeps Wizards out of the Woods in clinching win". Basketball Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  21. ^ Everett, Lachlan (15 January 2024). "Courtney Woods: Building confidence from championships". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  22. ^ Herborn, Daniel (24 January 2024). "Stepping up to stardom: behind Courtney Woods' breakthrough year". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  23. ^ Badkin, Liam (30 October 2024). "Woods looking to build on breakout season". Basketball Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Courtney to remain at the Fire for 2 more years". Townsville Fire. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  25. ^ Woods, Patrick (28 February 2024). "Courtney Woods re-signs with Townsville Fire in 2024". codesports.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2025. The WNBL's Community Award winner Courtney Woods has committed to staying in Townsville for the next two seasons, the club announced on Wednesday morning.
  26. ^ "NBL1 North MVP is NT bound for 2024". nbl1.com.au. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  27. ^ "WNBL and NBL1 North champion Courtney Woods joins the Darwin Salties". ntnews.com.au. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2025. Reigning MVP, and current Townsville Fire championship-winning player, Courtney Woods has decided to join the Darwin Salties for the upcoming NBL1 North season.
  28. ^ "2024 NBL1 Awards Tracker". NBL1.com.au. 22 July 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024.
  29. ^ a b c Herborn, Daniel (11 December 2024). "How Courtney Woods is thriving as a leader in Townsville". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2025. Now 27, Woods took another step in her career this season when she accepted a leadership role, becoming the Fire's co-captain with Alicia Froling and Lauren Mansfield...
  30. ^ "Fire Favourite Courtney Woods Extends Contract Until 2026/27". Townsville Fire. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  31. ^ "Woods signs extension with Townsville Fire | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  32. ^ "A Night of Celebration: WNBL's 2024/25 Award Winners Revealed". WNBL. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  33. ^ a b "Townsville Fire stars earn Opals call-up as Woods hits WNBL milestone". townsvillebulletin.com.au. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025. Townsville captain Courtney Woods has been named in her first Australian Opals squad after she became a WNBL centurion in the Fire's 106-76...
  34. ^ "Career-best Courtney to lead Fire out of the Woods | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  35. ^ "Champions! Whitcomb's Spirit sweep Townsville to break WNBL title drought | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  36. ^ "WNBL stars and rising talents headline Opals' 21-player camp squad". WNBL. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  37. ^ a b "Hoops & Dreams: Balancing the court and a career". www.ventia.com. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  38. ^ Garcia, Eddie (22 March 2018). "Huskie star builds family legacy". Northern Star. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
Allikas: Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Woods_(basketball)
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