Shaneice Swain (born 15 October 2003) is an Australian basketball player for the Sydney Flames of the WNBL league in Australia.[1][2] She also plays basketball for the Australian women's national basketball team.[2]

Shaneice Swain
No. 6 – Sydney Flames
PositionGuard
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (2003-10-05) 5 October 2003 (age 21)
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Listed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Career information
High schoolCairns State
(Cairns, Queensland)
WNBA draft2023: 2nd round, 14th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2021–22University of Canberra Capitals
2022–23Mackay Meteorettes
2023–presentSydney Flames
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2019 Thailand U19

Early life

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Swain was born in Cairns, Queensland, to her father Norman and her mother. She has two brothers. She is Aboriginal Australian of Goreng Goreng, Yupanguthi, and Gangalidda descent.[3]

Swain began playing basketball at age 5, and often she stayed out late playing with her brothers and father in her backyard.[4][3] She attended and played basketball at Cairns State High School.[4]

Professional career

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Prior to her WNBA draft, she played at both the Cairns Dolphins and the Mackay Meteorettes of the NBL1 North league in Australia.[2] Swain played for the University of Canberra Capitals from 2021 to 2022. In the 2023 season, she started in 13 games and averaged 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.[2] She had a 40.9% shot rate from the field, 36.2% from the three-point line, and 63% from the free-throw line.[5] She was recognised as "Captain on the Rise" at a Capitals awards ceremony in 2023 for her stellar stats line. As of March 2023, Swain had scored 261 points, 37 assists, and 35 steals for the Caps.[6] In the 2022–23 season, Swain ranked fourth in the WNBL for steals per game and top 15 for three-pointers.[4]

Swain was drafted in round 2, as the 14th overall pick of the 2023 WNBA draft to the Los Angeles Sparks.[7] She was the only Australian to be drafted in the 2023 WNBA draft.

Due to an injury, Swain was out for most of the 2023 season. She spent the 2024 season with the Sydney Flames of the Women's National Basketball League in Sydney, Australia.[2][8]

She then transferred to Geelong United of the NBL1 South league in the 2024 season. Her new head coach, Jamie Petty, compliments her "passing, scoring, and on ball defence".[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Shaneice SWAIN (AUS) Profile". FIBA. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "SWAIN IS UNITED". Geelong United. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  3. ^ a b Kleyn, Brittney; Richardson, Holly (2023-04-10). "Shaneice Swain joins the ranks of Australians in the WNBA, drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  4. ^ a b c "SHANEICE SWAIN'S JOURNEY FROM CAIRNS TO BE SELECTED BY LOS ANGELES SPARKS AT THE WNBA DRAFT". Milestones and misses. 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  5. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Draft Zia Cooke 10th Overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft". WNBA. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  6. ^ Uccapitals (2023-03-04). "SWAIN, MUNGER, PIZZEY, MELBOURNE AND FANS RECOGNISED AT UC CAPITALS AWARDS NIGHT, PRESENTED BY ALLHOMES". Uc Capitals. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  7. ^ "WNBA Stats | Shaneice Swain". WNBA. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  8. ^ Cward (2023-06-16). "FLAMES SIGN AUSSIE HOOPS PRODIGY SWAIN". WNBL. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
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