Toowoomba young gun Millie Natalier to head on USA tour to play in front of college basketball scouts

She’s the Toowoomba teen who models her game off WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and is just as lethal scorer as the American basketball sensation. Now, Millie Natalier is set to embark on the next step in her dream as she prepares to head to the United States to play in front of college basketball scouts.

 

Toowoomba teenage basketball sensation Millie Natalier is set to jet across the Pacific in November as she takes the next step in pursuing her dream.

Natalier will take part in a three-week Dunkaroos tour, where she will play 14 games in 21 days to try and catch the eye of college basketball scouts.

“I am extremely excited just to get the experience,” she said.

“Just seeing all the other players in America, seeing how they play and getting to experience that.

“I haven’t played against any of these girls (on the tour) before so it will be good to be able to play with them and learn their style of play.”

The lethal point guard is a dominant scorer and has looked to model her game off the newest WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark.

“Just the way she plays, being able to shoot from off the dribble, doing crazy moves into her shots, is what I really want to be able to do,” Natalier said.

Millie Natalier for the Toowoomba Mountaineers against Moreton Bay Suns. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Despite the fact she will be playing in front of scouts of some of the biggest programs in the world, Natalier remains as calm as ever and is unfazed by the opportunity.

“I just try and focus on my game, not let anything on the sideline affect me,” she said.

“Just playing my game, not stepping outside my box and just playing my position well and playing with my teammates well.”

Making it pro as a basketballer has been a lifelong dream for Natalier but now with the opportunity becoming a genuine possibility, she is as excited as she’s ever been, but knows the work is still not done.

“It has only really kicked in that I might be able to get to college for the last couple of years,” she said.

“I think it would be really good for me as a Toowoomba player getting to that level being able to show that Toowoomba players and players from around (the region) can make it.”

Natalier hopes to one day rub shoulders with her idol Clark, as she dreams of playing at the top level.

“I want to say (the goal is) WNBA but WNBL would be really good too,” she said.

“Just staying in Australia, being with my family, it would be good, but playing in the WNBA would be crazy, it would be a different level.

“Playing against the best of the best, that’s what I want to do.”

Matt Cox has coached Natalier at the Toowoomba Mountaineers in recent seasons and revealed what has impressed him the most.

“I think her resilience definitely speaks volumes,” he said.

Toowoomba Mountaineers coach Matt Cox during a break. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“She gets maximum game time, she puts in unbelievable effort, is the engine room of our offence and is a multi-level scorer despite getting heavily guarded.

“Some of the things she doesn’t get enough credit for is her creation and ability to facilitate and move the ball.

“As her teammates are getting better, she is starting to showcase that off a little bit more.”

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.