Manuela Puoch (born 5 October 2006) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Dandenong Rangers of the NBL1 South. She helped the Australian Gems win silver at the 2025 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. She was drafted 41st overall by the New York Liberty in the 2026 WNBA draft.
Playing career Puoch signed with the Dandenong Rangers of the NBL1 South in 2024, and averaged 12.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game during her debut season. She joined the Southside Melbourne Flyers of the WNBL for the 2025–26 WNBL season, and averaged 4.4 points, and 1.3 rebounds per game in 23 games. While playing with the Southside Flyers, she faced her sister, Nyadiew, during the 2025 WNBL season opener against the Canberra Capitals on 18 October 2025. She returned to Dandenong for the 2026 NBL1 South season and appeared in two NBL1 games for the Rangers, where she averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 steals per game
On 14 April 2026, Puoch was selected 41st overall by the New York Liberty in the 2026 WNBA draft. She was the Liberty's sole pick in the draft.
National team career Puoch made her international debut for Australia at the 2025 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup, where she averaged 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game and won a silver medal.
Personal life Puoch is the daughter of a South Sudanese immigrant and single mother, Nyakong. She has six siblings.
Her older sister, Nyadiew, is a professional basketball player who was drafted 12th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2024 WNBA draft and selected by the Portland Fire in the 2026 WNBA expansion draft.
References
External links NBL1 profile