Townsville sign WNBA guard Lucy Olsen
The Townsville Fire have announced American guard Lucy Olsen as their second import for the WNBL26 season.
Currently playing alongside UC Capitals star Jade Melbourne with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the 22-year-old will immediately make an impact on last season’s Grand Finalists.
Olsen had a standout college career, starting with three seasons with Villanova Wildcats before playing her final year with the Iowa Hawkeyes. In her four seasons, she dramatically improved each campaign, making the All-Big East Second-Team in 2023, followed by First-Team selection and the Most Improved Player award in 2024. And in her final season with Iowa, she made the All-Big Ten First-Team in 2025.
Her collegiate success led to the WNBA, where she was drafted 23rd overall by the Mystics. In the 2025 WNBA season, she has played in 19 games so far and is averaging 3.7 points per game for the seventh-seeded side.
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Known for her basketball IQ, shot-making ability and defensive pressure, Olsen is a proven winner on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball – having won gold for the USA in the 2023 3×3 U23 Nations League Final.
After a Grand Finals series where the offence struggled at times, Fire Head Coach Shannon Seebobm believes Olsen will fit perfectly in Townville’s historically successful program.
“We’re really excited to add Lucy to our team. She’s a skilled, versatile guard who can score at all three levels and has excellent vision to create for others,” he said.
“What really stood out to me was her character, everyone I spoke to had nothing but great things to say about her work ethic and the kind of teammate she is. Lucy ticks a lot of boxes for us on and off the floor, and I know she will come in ready to work hard and contribute to our team’s success.”
Currently playing with Melbourne and a former WNBL star and current WNBA All-Star, Brittney Sykes, Olsen has heard nothing but good things about the Fire and the WNBL and cannot wait to get started.
“The Fire organisation has a tremendous reputation here in the US and hearing how beautiful the Townsville area is has me more than excited to be joining this upcoming season,” she said.
“I love to play basketball and it sounds like Townsville loves basketball too, a perfect match! Let’s go get the Championship!”
Olsen joins fellow import and Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Cox, FIBA Asia Cup MVP Alex Fowler, Abbey Ellis, Alicia Froling, Saffron Shiels, Courtney Woods, Miela Sowah, Chloe Forster and Dakota Crichton.