The Ballarat Miners are thrilled to announce the signing of former WNBA champion Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis for the upcoming 2025 Mitsubishi NBL1 South season. Mosqueda-Lewis brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success at the highest levels of women’s basketball.
A standout at the University of Connecticut, Mosqueda-Lewis led the Huskies to three consecutive NCAA championships from 2013 to 2015. She graduated as the NCAA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made, with 398, and was recognized as a two-time Second-team All-American by the Associated Press in 2013 and 2015.
In the 2015 WNBA Draft, Mosqueda-Lewis was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm. Over five seasons with the Storm, she appeared in 141 games, scoring 745 points and making 125 three-pointers. She was part of the Storm’s 2018 WNBA Championship team.
Expressing her enthusiasm about joining the Miners, Mosqueda-Lewis stated, “I am so excited to join the Miners! It is a new project and experience for me and will be my first time in Australia! I am looking forward to competing this season & contributing to the team in any way I can.”
Head Coach Kennedy Kereama highlighted the significance of the signing, stating, “We are incredibly excited to welcome Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis to the Miners family. Her extensive experience as a multi-time NCAA champion and WNBA champion speaks volumes about her skill level and competitive spirit. Kaleena’s remarkable ability to score from almost anywhere, combined with her leadership qualities, will be invaluable to our teams’ success this season.”
Kereama added, “Kaleena not only brings an impressive resume to our roster but also a winning mentality developed through her years of elite competition. Her time at UConn, under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma, has equipped her with a strong work ethic and an understanding of what it takes to win at the highest levels. As we continue to work towards building a culture of excellence, adding a player of Kaleena’s caliber is a significant step towards achieving that goal. We are excited for our fans to see her in action and are confident that she will make a lasting impact on and off the court.”
Nev Ivey, CEO of Ballarat Basketball, also spoke on the signing, saying, “Bringing in a player of Kaleena’s caliber is a huge step forward for our program. Her experience at the highest levels of the game will have a lasting impact both on the court and within our club community.”
Mosqueda-Lewis becomes the 8th member of our Miners Women’s squad, joining last year’s re-signings of Millie Cracknell, Abbey Wehrung, Ella Gordon & Micah Simpson, returning local Laura Taylor, and other new recruits Ally Knights & Opal Bird, and with the final roster to be completed over the next fortnight. The Women kick off their season this Saturday Night at home against arch-rival Bendigo.