If you’re not yet familiar with Manuela Puoch, you soon will be. You see, Manny (as she prefers to be called) – the younger sister of talented UC Capitals wing, WNBL champion and WNBA draftee, Nyadiew – is one of the fastest rising young talents in Australian female basketball right now.

Credit: 3 Point Photography by Tania Millard via NBL1

In the last 12 months alone, Manny, who won’t turn 19 until October, has gone from playing her first full season of NBL1 with the Dandenong Rangers while completing her VCE at Rowville Secondary College, to securing her first WNBL contract before her 18^th birthday, to playing in her rookie WNBL season and proving she belongs at that level, to now being selected to represent Australia for the first time as part of the Gems roster that will compete at the U19 FIBA Women’s World Cup next month.

Speaking exclusively with The Pick and Roll last week, she admitted she hasn’t really taken the time to stop and reflect on all of those things.

“Not really, I’m more of a just ‘live in the moment’ type of person and then just move on,” she said.

“I’m always at a basketball court, or else home getting ready to go to a basketball stadium. But, just hearing about the last 12 months, just hearing that was just like, ‘Oh, I really did all that.’ Which is funny, but I’m just like, ‘Oh, things happen, just go with the flow’ type of person. It’s kinda cool, kinda crazy.”

Puoch is part of a large family. One of seven children, raised by a single mum, Manny has two older brothers and Nyadiew is two years older than her. She also has three younger siblings, including a talented set of twin sisters who she helps coach at Dandenong.

Nyadiew told The Pick and Roll last year what it was like for her and Manny growing up and trying to hang with their older brothers on the basketball court. They were either told they can’t play with their brothers or knocked down by them in an attempt to challenge their younger sisters.

The siblings challenged each other to be better, but also supported each other unconditionally and continue to do so. It was all part of the close-knit bond their family shares and Manny has always been acutely aware of just how special that bond is.

“I feel like I just always knew we were such a tight family,” she explained.

“Every day we’d probably have cousins over, or just always doing something as a family; you would never see us apart. I knew we were tight because of the connection we had as a family. You know, when someone accomplished something, we’d all be the first ones to text congrats, there’d be gifts, there’d be celebrations. It was kinda cool. It was like, ‘Yeah they really love me.’”

Manny distinctly remembers those days at the park playing basketball after school and those are some her favourite memories of hanging out with her siblings growing up. But she’s pretty sure things would be different now.

“I think, especially because I was younger, they tried to bully me,” said Puoch.

“But looking back on it, it’s funny because it wouldn’t happen now. Like, if we go to the park, I’m probably going to be the one to post them up, be physical and them complaining. But, I think those days at the park are probably the thing I remember the most.”

Her brothers were not the only ones that Manny dominated over the years. A talented junior that came up through the Dandenong Rangers in Melbourne’s East, Puoch continued to develop her game. She represented Victoria at National Championships, but was never selected for an Australian team or invited to attend the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (CoE).

She had to work to find opportunities, and that she did. Beginning with some spot minutes in the NBL1 with Dandenong in 2023 as a 16-year-old, she went on to become a permanent feature of that roster in 2024 as she was completing Year 12. And that is when she began to garner attention.

Averaging 12.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 24 minutes a game, she started to prove she can compete at senior level and ultimately was offered a full roster spot with the Southside Flyers in the WNBL for the 2024/25 season.

Puoch didn’t play in every game but did enough to establish herself at that level. In 11 games, she averaged 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. She learned a lot both on and off the court that she’ll take with her into her second WNBL season later this year, but the biggest lesson was to be professional on and off the court.

“There’s eyes on you everywhere,” she acknowledged.

“I think just being a leader no matter where you go and personality is a big thing. Being a nice, kind person, that’s what everyone wants to be around. A good teammate, someone that hypes them up, someone that checks up on you. I think that’s one thing away from basketball that I would really take away.”

This season in the NBL1, she’s stepped up her play. Heading into round 11, she’s played over 25 minutes in all but one game where she was in early foul trouble, and she’s had three double-doubles in thirteen games so far. Averaging 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists along with one made three per game, she’s also averaging 1 steal and has blocked 7 shots this season.

It is that defensive end of the floor, where Manny has focused on improving during this NBL1 season.

“Most people know me as an offensive player that can score, but just knowing that defence will keep you on the court, just getting a target of rebounds or this many steals. That’s my mentality nowadays. Like, if I’m scoring 20, I don’t want my player to score 20 on me.”

Of course, one of the perks of playing with Dandenong in the WNBL offseason, is she gets to play with sister Nyadiew. That wasn’t always the plan as Nyadiew was considering heading over to join the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream this year after being drafted in 2024. But she decided that one more year of development would put her in a better position to succeed at that level right away when she does make the move, so she signed on with Dandenong again.

The sisters have both established themselves as key players for head coach Larissa Anderson’s team, which is currently sitting fourth on the South Conference ladder with a 10-4 record. As their careers take them in different directions, this chance to play together is quite special. Or is it?

“Yeah, it has its days. Some days it’s fun to me playing with her and some days I’m like, ‘can she leave or something?’ Like it has its days, ups and downs,” Manny joked.

“But it’s cool, cos I know her ins and outs of basketball, and she knows mine. We each use each other to our strengths.

“Like, she’s the more athletic one, I’m the more physical one where I’ll go bash a body. So we complement each other, which is great.”

Being two years younger than Nyadiew, Manny has always looked up to her sister. As Nyadiew was making a name for herself as a junior, going to the BA CoE and starting her WNBL career, Manny was working on her own game.

She wasn’t trying to emulate how her older sister played or what she achieved at a certain age. She was focused on what she needed to do to maximise her ability. And as a result, Manny has never felt burdened by the Puoch name or felt pressured to live up to what her sister had achieved. She knows she is forgoing her own path and that’s what has motivated her.

“I’m always happy for her, but I have my own pathway, I’m not in her shadow,” Manny said of Nyadiew.

“We’re on our own paths. She went to CoE, I didn’t get that opportunity, but I’m still where she’s at nowadays. I always try to follow her as an inspiration, but in my own way.

“Yeah, so no pressure at all and the family is always just like ‘Don’t compare yourself to someone else. Be yourself.’ And that’s also helpful as well.”

But her big sister has still helped Manny along her journey. Especially over the past year as Manny has moved up to the pro ranks, Nyadiew has been there with advice which has already helped.

“She’s definitely taught me patience,” Manny explained.

“Things won’t come easy. It takes time. Like you’re not going to go and get 40 minutes in your rookie season. Your time will come, just keep working hard.

“And also there’s nothing to lose. Be the underdog and go and give these veterans the hardest time ever. Go and do the things that other people want to do. So, she’s helpful with that as well.”

As helpful as that advice for competing with veterans is, Manny will put that to one side over the next month as she prepares for the U19 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Czechia that tips off for the Gems on 13 July.

It is Manny’s first selection as a junior Australian representative and a fitting reward for her development and emergence over the past 12 months. For someone who didn’t come through the CoE, her recent rise to make that final twelve-player roster is even more impressive. So it’s no surprise that Puoch was a little taken aback when she was first told by head coach Renee Garlepp and her assistants that she’d made it.

“One by one, we got called into a room with three coaches and my heart was definitely racing, admitted Puoch.

“I felt shit. I was scared. And then I went into the room, sat down and they congratulated me on making the Gems team. I was like, ‘Oh my god, oh my god! I really made a Gems team.’ Like at the start of the year, I wouldn’t have known that I’d have made a Gems team.

“And so, I had a flight later that night to go home and I was like, ‘I really made a Gems team!’ I came home, my family had balloons for me, cupcakes for me and everyone was like, ‘Congrats!’ and again I’m like, ‘I made a Gems team!’

“I think I was in absolute shock. But thinking about it just makes me smile every second. Yeah, it’s cool.”

It’s another opportunity for Puoch to test herself, to grow as a player and to get reward for all the hard work she has put in. She’s looking forward to playing against other countries and the best talent across the world.

She’s also excited to face different styles than what she’s used to here in Australia. But mostly, she can’t wait to get there and just play, just compete, after all the hard work she and her Gems teammates will have put in leading up to the tournament.

Puoch will obviously be representing Australia for the first time, but more than that she’ll be representing the Southside Flyers, the Dandenong Rangers and her family. She will also, in some ways, represent the strong South Sudanese community which is a big part of her family’s identity.

That is something that is not lost on Manny.

“I think it’s cool. There are South Sudanese girls, like the youth girls, that are always texting me and congratulating me on how I’m going within my journey,” she explained.

“They look up to me and I’m an inspiration to them that anything is possible. And it’s like if you keep putting in the hard work and keep putting your mind into what you want to do, you can accomplish it.

“So, I think seeing another South Sudanese woman in me make it, it’s cool for the community and it makes me happy that more and more are accomplishing what they want to do nowadays.”

Manny is still getting the hang of being a role model. She sometimes even finds it funny.

“But I think it’s kind of dope that there’s younger kids that really look up [to me].”

Photo credit: Southside Flyers via Instagram

It certainly is and as she continues to develop her game, and has more opportunities to show what a talented player she is, she’ll keep winning over more fans who’ll want to follow her journey.

Following the World Cup with the Gems, Puoch will finish out the NBL1 season with Dandenong and then begin to focus on preparing for her second season in the WNBL with the Flyers.

No longer a rookie, just how will Manny Puoch continue to evolve her game?

“Good question. I think my game’s always physicality. That’s my main one,” she said.

“And just being a dynamic player where I can go in the post and bash people up, or I can knock down some threes. I think that’s my main thing coming into the next season.

“Yeah, I’m playing against more experienced and older people, but the only thing that can really stop me is myself – that’s my mentality. I have nothing to lose. It’s more embarrassing for the veterans to be losing against a rookie – that kind of mentality. So, just not being scared and giving it my all.”

With the way the last year has gone for Puoch, it seems no one can stop her but herself. With her family behind her, she’ll continue to forge her own path and make her own name – inspiring others along the way.

Share