How professional netball heartbreak turned former Queensland Firebird Mia Stower into dual sport — netball and basketball — powerhouse

Between shooting goals for Bond University, and dominating the glass for the Toowoomba Mountaineers, Mia Stower has had a whirlwind 2024 as a dual-sport elite athlete. See what sparked her impressive run.

Mia Stower pushes the ball up the floor for the Toowoomba Mountaineers basketball team in the QSL. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Dual sport athlete Mia Stower has been a force to be reckoned with in 2024 — making an impact in both netball and basketball at an elite level in Queensland.

Stower is shooting goals for the Bond University Bull Sharks netball team and making lay-ups as captain for the Toowoomba Mountaineers QSL basketball team.

She has turned heartbreak in 2023 into motivation — and joy — this year. Stower missed out on a contract with the Queensland Firebirds for the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season.

“I think I just wanted to enjoy sport a little bit more this year,” Stower said.

“Last year was really tough at the professional level so just getting my love back for the sport and playing a bit of basketball has been fun.”

Stower played a key role in the Mountaineers’ basketball win on Saturday night, as she helped Toowoomba book a spot in this year’s finals series with one game to spare thanks to stunning a 19-point, 24-rebound double-double.

“It’s awesome, it takes the pressure off of us a little bit, this is the third year coming for finals so really looking to make the Grand Final this year,” Stower said.

After spending a decade in the wilderness and falling agonisingly close to making finals in 2022, the Mountaineers have now made finals in back-to-back series with Stower playing a key role as captain.

“It’s awesome, I love captaining this team,” she said.

“They are a great bunch of girls but also they are all leaders so it makes my job real easy.”

Stower believed the Mountaineers women’s program was only on the rise and was building a successful future.

“The girls are great but I got to give credit to Matt (Cox – Mountaineers head coach),” she added.

“He’s done a lot of work behind the scenes and he’s building each and every year as well so it is good to be playing underneath him again.”

Mia Stower signed with the Bond University Bull Sharks for the 2024 HART Sapphire Series

Stower has made full-time commitments in two elite sports — in the Sapphire Series for netball and the Queensland State League for basketball — she rarely has any time off.

“I get my Friday nights off which is nice, but I am looking forward to my off-season,” she said.

“(But) Being back with my mum (Bond University netball head coach Bec Stower) and back with my home and everything, it is a lot better.

“It makes it a lot easier but I am enjoying the basketball a lot too so it is going to be hard to choose next year.”