Sports · Basketball · 3 hrs ago
Bec Allen leaves door open to returning to Australia's WNBL
Bec Allen has ended her 11-year WNBA career after a final season with the New York Liberty in 2026.
The 33-year-old Australian is not ruling out a return to the WNBL, the country’s top domestic women’s basketball league.
For now, she says her body needs rest, but she may reconsider after a year and would like to live in Melbourne.
Allen played in the WNBL from 2010 to 2016 and won its Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014.
The league says fans would welcome her back, and its clubs may have asked about signing her.
Allen plans to rest before pursuing other work, including becoming a player agent and working in commentary.
Bec Allen is open to returning to Australia's WNBL after ending her 11-year WNBA career.
She said her current answer is no because her body needs rest, but she is not ruling out playing again.
Allen said she wants to live in Melbourne and Australia.
The 33-year-old previously played in the WNBL and won its Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014.
The WNBL's chief operations officer said fans would love to see Allen back in the league.
- Who
- Bec Allen, a former WNBA and WNBL player.
- What
- She has left the WNBA and is open to possibly returning to the WNBL after resting.
- When
- She ended her WNBA career in 2026. She said a return might be possible after a year.
- Where
- Australia, potentially playing for Geelong; Allen said she wants to live in Melbourne.
- Why
- Allen said her body needs rest, while leaving open the possibility of playing again later.
Bec Allen
WNBL
Current playing plans
Bec Allen
Allen said her current answer is no because her body needs rest.
WNBL
The WNBL's chief operations officer said the league would love to see Allen playing in the competition.
Future return
Bec Allen
Allen said she is not ruling out returning and might play again after a year.
WNBL
The league said it would do what it could to help make her return happen.
Allen made her WNBL debut with the Dandenong Rangers.
Allen won the WNBL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Allen signed her first WNBA contract with the New York Liberty.
Allen won the WNBA Commissioner's Cup with the New York Liberty.
Allen ended her 11-year WNBA career.
- Age
- 33
- WNBA career
- 11 years
- WNBL debut
- 2010–2011 season, Dandenong Rangers
- WNBL award
- Defensive Player of the Year, 2014
- First WNBA team
- New York Liberty, signed in 2015
What people are saying
It's something that I'm not saying a hard no on. Right now the answer is no, purely because my body just needs rest
After a year, maybe I'll get a call from Cheryl [Chambers] or a good friend like that, and I'll jump back in and play in Geelong or something like that.
Body, mind, heart … I've given the game all of myself in those capacities, and so now it's time for the next chapter.
All of the fans around Australia would love nothing better than to see her playing in the WNBL, and if the league or I can do anything to help make that happen, we'd love to see Bec playing.