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Miela Sowah

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Miela Sowah
No. 1 – Perth Lynx
PositionGuard
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (2000-06-04) 4 June 2000 (age 24)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Listed height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Career information
High schoolMoreton Bay College
(Brisbane, Queensland)
CollegeDuke (2018–2022)
WNBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2017Logan Thunder
2017–2018Townsville Fire
2018Townsville Flames
2022Mackay Meteorettes
2022–2023Melbourne Boomers
2023Mount Gambier Pioneers
2023–presentPerth Lynx
2024North Gold Coast Seahawks
Career highlights and awards

Miela Elizabeth Sowah (née Goodchild; born 4 June 2000) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). After winning a championship in the WNBL as a development player with the Townsville Fire in 2018, she played four seasons of college basketball in the United States for the Duke Blue Devils. She returned to the WNBL in 2022, playing a season for the Melbourne Boomers before joining the Perth Lynx in 2023.

Early life and career

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Sowah was born in Brisbane, Queensland, where she attended Moreton Bay College.[1] She played basketball at Moreton Bay and won numerous sport awards.[1]

As a junior, Sowah played for the Logan Thunder. She was selected the 2016 and 2017 Basketball Queensland Player of the Year and the Logan Basketball Junior Player of the Year.[1] She made her debut for the Thunder in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) in 2016,[2] earning one appearance as a 15-year-old.[3] In 13 games in 2017, she averaged 10.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.[3]

In July 2017, Sowah signed with the Townsville Fire of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) as a development player for the 2017–18 season.[4][5] She appeared in two games during the season[3] as the Fire went on to win the WNBL championship.[6]

For the 2018 QBL season, Sowah joined the Townsville Flames and won the QBL U-23 Youth Player of the Year after averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 16 games.[7]

College career

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Sowah moved to the United States to play college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the NCAA Division I. As a freshman in 2018–19, she played 30 games with 22 starts, averaging 10.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game. She subsequently earned ACC All-Freshman Team honours. She made a Duke freshman record 73 3-pointers, which also ranked as the eighth-most in the ACC history by a freshman. She had a career-high 26 points with eight 3-pointers against Notre Dame.[1]

As a sophomore in 2019–20, Sowah averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 assists per game. She scored a season-high 26 points against Troy and became the quickest Blue Devil to reach 100 3-pointers, doing so in only 45 contests.[1]

Sowah's junior year was cut short after the team withdrew from the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic after only four games. She averaged 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.[1]

As a senior in 2021–22, Sowah played 29 games with 12 starts, averaging 6.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.[1]

Sowah concluded her career ranking tied for eighth with 170 career 3-pointers made. She earned ACC All-Academic Team in 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2021–22 and earned ACC Honor Roll in 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21.[1]

Professional career

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In May 2022, Sowah returned to Australia and joined the Mackay Meteorettes of the NBL1 North. In seven games, she averaged 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game.[8]

Sowah joined the Melbourne Boomers for the 2022–23 WNBL season. In 20 games, she averaged 6.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.[9]

Following the WNBL season, Sowah joined the Mount Gambier Pioneers of the NBL1 South for the 2023 season.[10] In 21 games, she averaged 24.24 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.57 assists and 1.67 steals per game.[11] She subsequently earned NBL1 South All-Star Five honours.[12]

On 5 June 2023, Sowah signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2023–24 WNBL season.[13][14] She suffered a broken nose at training prior to round two which led to her wearing a protective mask for the rest of the season.[15][16] She was thrust into the role of starting point guard midway through the season following an injury to import Aari McDonald.[16] The Lynx made the WNBL grand final series in 2023–24, where they lost to the Southside Flyers.[17] She averaged 10 points per game for the season.[18]

Sowah joined the North Gold Coast Seahawks of the NBL1 North for the 2024 season.[19] She continued wearing a protective mask in the NBL1 season to protect her nose, mindful that she didn't want to suffer any more damage before her wedding.[18] She was named to the NBL1 North First Team.[20] In 17 games, she averaged 28.88 points, 5.29 rebounds, 2.71 assists and 1.12 steals per game.[21]

On 19 August 2024, Sowah re-signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2024–25 WNBL season.[16][22][23] Having played point guard during the 2023–24 season, she entered the 2024–25 season with a focus on being a shooting guard again.[16]

National team career

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Sowah debuted for Australia at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship,[24] where she helped the Sapphires win the gold medal.[25] She went on to play at the 2017 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship, 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship, and 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.[26]

Sowah was a member of the Australian national 3x3 team in May 2023.[27]

Personal life

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Sowah is the daughter of David and Michelle Goodchild. She has one brother, Conor, and one sister, Briana.[1] Her father and sister appeared on Australian Survivor: Blood V Water in 2022.[28]

After marrying Josh Sowah in September 2024,[16] she dropped her maiden name of Goodchild and entered the 2024–25 WNBL season as Miela Sowah.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Miela Goodchild". goduke.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  2. ^ "2016 QBL Womens Season Preview". basketballexpression.com. 25 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Miela Goodchild". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Fire sign rising stars". WNBL.com.au. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. ^ Cormack, Michael (19 July 2017). "Moreton Bay College student and Logan Thunder star snapped up byTownsville Fire". couriermail.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Fire youngster signs with college heavyweight". townsvillebulletin.com.au. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Goodchild Selected Queensland Player of the Year". goduke.com. 4 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Miela Goodchild". nbl1.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Miela Goodchild". wnbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Sharpshooter signs on with Pioneers". sevoice.com.au. 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Miela Goodchild". nbl1.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023.
  12. ^ "NBL1 South 2023 Awards Night Recap". NBL1.com.au. 12 August 2023. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  13. ^ "MIELA GOODCHILD SIGNS FOR 2023-24". wnbl.basketball/perth. 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  14. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (5 June 2023). "Perth Lynx sign exciting three-point shooter Miela Goodchild for upcoming WNBL season". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  15. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (21 November 2023). "Perth Lynx shooter Miela Goodchild's new protective mask will be similar to Perth Wildcats star Keanu Pinder's". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e O'Donoghue, Craig (19 August 2024). "Perth Lynx guard Miela Goodchild will change her name after getting married and stop wearing protective mask". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b O'Donoghue, Craig (14 November 2024). "Perth Lynx star Miela Sowah enjoying the freedom of not wearing a protective mask during WNBL season". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Lynx Guard Miela Goodchild inks for 2024". seahawksbasketball.com.au. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023.
  20. ^ "NBL1 North Women's First Team". facebook.com/basketballqld. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Miela Goodchild". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  22. ^ "The sharpshooter returns!". facebook.com/PerthLynx. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Goodchild returns after brilliant debut season". wnbl.basketball/perth. 20 August 2024. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024.
  24. ^ Cormack, Michael (14 May 2016). "Brisbane teen earns selection in Australian Under-17 Girls squad for FIBA Under-17 World Championships". couriermail.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  25. ^ Cormack, Michael (7 August 2016). "Brisbane basketballer on top of the world after FIBA Under-17 World Championship victory". couriermail.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Miela Goodchild". fiba.basketball. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  27. ^ "3×3 Women's Gangurrus teams prepare for jam-packed weekend". australia.basketball. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023.
  28. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (9 November 2023). "Dribble Podcast: Miela Goodchild rejected Survivor and now wants to outwit, outplay and outlast for Perth Lynx". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023.
  29. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (28 October 2024). "Perth Lynx player profiles as WNBL club chases breakthrough title in 2024-25". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 28 October 2024.
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