Australia native Jessica Petrie joins Nebraska women’s basketball team

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Australia to Nebraska pipeline continues with the latest addition to women’s basketball.

Jessica Petrie, an Australian National Program member, will be joining Nebraska next season, officials announced Wednesday.

The 6-foot-2 power forward from Gold Coast, Queensland, averaged 18 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in six games for a semi-professional Australian team.

“We are so excited to officially welcome Jess Petrie to the Nebraska Women’s Basketball family,” head coach Amy Williams said in a press release. “Husker fans are going to love watching this exciting young woman grow in her time here in the United States. She is one of the most talented and promising women’s basketball players in Australia, and we are very excited to have her joining the Huskers.”

In 2022, Petrie played at three levels for the Australian Nation Team.  She averaged 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists while playing the Australian U18 National Team.

“She has already played with and against some of the best in the world and will continue to do so this summer at the U-19 World Championships representing Australia,” Williams said. “She has a tremendous work ethic, and she matches the competitive desires we have in this program.”

Petrie will join fellow Australian Jaz Shelley when she comes to Lincoln later this year.  Shelley recently announced that she would be returning to Nebraska for one more season.

Isabelle Bourne, another Australia native, said she would not be returning to Nebraska for her fifth season of eligibility.