We reveal our greatest Toowoomba female basketballers of all time

Toowoomba has been home to superstar female basketballers over the years and, after consulting an expert panel of basketball identities, we have compiled a list of the greatest players. Did we get it right?

Toowoomba Mountaineers player Tracey Twidale. Picture: Kevin Farmer.

The Garden City has been home to some electric basketballers throughout the years with the Mountaineers providing the perfect platform for players to make their mark.

We have run the rule over the greatest female basketballers to have played for Toowoomba and the Mountaineers.

Speaking to a panel of various Mountaineers experts who have been heavily involved with the women’s program throughout several different eras including current Mountaineers women’s coach Matt Cox, current Mountaineers women’s assistant coach Caitlin Saava, former coach Ricky Brunner and legendary Mountaineers men’s and women’s coach Harry Spencer, we have culminated our list of the top players to ever don a Toowoomba jersey.

Check out our list below:

Rhonda Price

Rhonda Price played just the one season with the Mountaineers in 2008 but her impact was clear to see as the American import was capable of putting up 30 or 40 points on any given night.

She later moved on to the WNBL where she became a weapon at both ends of the floor.

He athletic ability made her an exciting player to watch and she was the first girl in American junior college history to ever dunk during a game.

Kisha Lee of the Mountaineers. Photo: Nev Madsen.

Kisha Lee

Lee is an American forward who spent four seasons with the Moutaineers and formed an electric duo with fellow American Chelsie Schweers in the 2013 season.

She was an athletic player whose presence on the floor brought her teammates into play.

During her time in the Garden City, she was a threat both in the paint and from the perimeter.

Chelsie Schweers. Photo: Kevin Farmer.

Chelsie Schweers

“Chelsie was here for only one year, but was outstanding, she was a phenomenal talent,” current Mountaineers women’s coach Matt Cox said.

Schweers was a guard who struck fear into opposing QBL players from several years thanks to her spectacular scoring ability.

In her only season with Toowoomba, she averaged more than 28 points per game and earned a spot in the QBL All-League team.

Her efforts guided the Mountaineers to a semi-final in 2013 - a height the club would not reach again until 2023.

Krystal Watson for the Toowoomba Mountaineers in 2019.

Krystal Watson

Watson is the Mountaineers’ most capped player of all time with more than 200 games and remains a prominent face around the club.

She has been involved with various teams as coach and her leadership while on the court was invaluable.

Tracey Twidale in action for the Mountaineers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Tracey Twidale

Twidale is closing on in breaking the Mountaineers games record and few players have contributed as much to the club as she has.

The veteran guard has been the heart and soul of the team for several years and is one of hardest working players in the QSL.

Twidale is also a dangerous scorer who can punish her opponents from beyond the arc.

Donna Quinn was a member of the 1984 Australian Olympic team.

Donna Quinn

Quinn was one of the greatest prospects to come through Toowoomba and is a dual Olympian, competing in the 1984 and 1988 games.

Throughout the junior stages of her career, Quinn was a force to be reckoned with as she represented, Pittsworth, Toowoomba, Queensland South and Queensland at every level.

She also showed her prowess on the national stage, playing more than 200 WNBL games and won the 1990 WNBL grand final with the North Adelaide Rockets in a performance that earned her finals MVP honours.

Her stellar career saw her travel across the globe as she toured various countries with the national side.

In 2021, Quinn was added to the Basketball Queensland Hall of Fame, capping off an outstanding career for the basketball icon.

Toowoomba Mountaineers women’s assistant coach Chree Derksen during time out in 2017.

Chree Derksen

A classy player who went on to play for Brisbane in the WNBL in the 1990s.

She has also remained heavily involved with the club as a coach.

Tammy Young

Young was a guard who was an absolute workhorse on the court and often led the league in rebounding.

During her prime in the mid 2000s, she was one of the best players in the Queensland Basketball League and the Mountaineers were always in the game when she was on the floor.

Melissa Fairley shoots for Toowoomba. Photo: Dave Noonan.

Melissa Fairley

The 190cm tall center made her mark with the Mountaineers during the mid 2000s.

She was a versatile threat, making an impact from three and close to the hoop.

Karen Brunner

Brunner is a Hall of Famer who had a significant influence on several young Toowoomba players, inspiring several future Mountaineers.

She was a dynamic guard who could just about do it all and her physical strength made her a versatile option on the floor.

Melissa Tate

Tate was a guard who was always a threat from deep thanks to her lethal jumpshot.

Jennifer Screen in action for Australia in the 2012 Olympics.

Jennifer Screen

Screen is one of Toowoomba’s greatest exports.

After dominating at junior level in Toowoomba where she made South Queensland and Queensland representative sides, she earned an AIS scholarship which helped propel her into the WNBL.

She competed in two Olympic Games, winning silver in Beijing and bronze in London and also took home a gold medal in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Trina Roberts

Roberts was an American import who played in the Garden City in the 1980s.

She was a weapon on offence and also had a great reading of the game as she was superb at grabbing rebounds.

Kylie Hohn

Hohn was a strong, physical forward who hailed from Pittsworth and played for Toowoomba for several years.

Lyn Kearey

Kearey is one of Toowoomba’s greatest women’s players of all time and was a star of the pre-Mountaineers era.

She also coached Mountaineers men’s and women’s teams over the years.

Bev Tonge

Tonge is a Queensland Basketball Hall of Famer who starred for the Brisbane Lady Bullets, Queensland and Toowoomba sides.

She played for Queensland in the Australian Championships for close to a decade and led her state to a silver medal in the 1983 competition.