Bourne to Lead Australia at FIBA Women's World Cup

Former Nebraska forward Isabelle Bourne will compete with the Australian National Team at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, Germany (Sept. 4-13).

Bourne, who starred for Head Coach Amy Williams and the Husker women's basketball team from 2019-20 through 2022-23, will take center stage with the No. 2 ranked Opals in their opening-round game of Group C pool play against Puerto Rico on Friday, Sept. 4 at 4:30 a.m. (CT).

After the opener with Puerto Rico, Bourne and the Opals will battle Turkiye on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 4:30 a.m. (CT), before capping pool play against Belgium on Monday, Sept. 7 at 4:30 a.m. (CT).

The second stage of games continues Sept. 8-9, before quarterfinal play begins on Thursday, Sept. 10. The semifinals are set for Saturday, Sept. 12, while the Championship Game is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13.

A three-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection and three-time team captain at Nebraska, Bourne averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds as a senior while amassing 1,221 points and 648 rebounds in her 115-game Husker career.

Bourne was the final addition to Coach Sandy Brondello's Opal roster for the World Cup, replacing three-time Olympian Cayla George. In her first appearance with the Opals in 2025, Bourne played a significant role in helping the Australians capture their first FIBA Asia Cup title at the Shenzhen Sports Center in China. She averaged 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal off the bench to help Australia to a perfect 5-0 record.

Bourne's game continued to grow in her third season in Australia's WNBL. The 6-2 forward from Canberra, Australia, averaged 16.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Southside Flyers in 2025-26, before signing to join the Sydney Flames for the 2026-27 season. She will be reunited with former Husker teammate Jaz Shelley on Sydney's roster this coming season.