Good things come to those who wait…
And that’s what Atlanta Dream guard Isobel Borlase is proving.
“I think I had a really great season over in Australia, but here, like, no one really knows who I am, and I think that’s kind of nice,” Borlase said during a preseason media availability. “I can slide under the radar and just go to work, and hopefully get better. So that’s what I’m hoping to do: learn, get better, and be the best I can.”
Her name won’t slide under the radar for long.
The 21-year-old has quickly become an immediate boost off Atlanta’s bench. Though averaging 4.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, don’t be fooled by the numbers. They don’t tell the full story of Borlase’s impact.
Her breakout performance came against the Toronto Tempo on June 14, when she earned player of the game honors after scoring 17 points, grabbing three rebounds and shooting 2-for-3 from 3-point range off the bench in Atlanta’s 102-77 victory.
Dream head coach Karl Smesko credited Borlase’s efforts while expressing his commitment to making sure she continued receiving quality minutes.
“Today was probably her best game of the year. She’s had some good ones, but this one was really to a next level, she gave us a spark in that second quarter where we were able to make a run despite being down double figures,” Smesko said. “… I just think each game she looks a little more comfortable, and she’s really talented, so that talent’s coming out now.”
What’s working for Borlase as she waits for her opportunities?
“I think it’s just reps practicing, and that gives you confidence,” Borlase said after that performance. “If you see the ball go through the ring a specific number of times during practice, it makes you feel confident during the game… I’ve just tried to be kind to myself and allow the game to come to me.”
That performance was only a glimpse of what Borlase could become.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back to where it all started.
Growing up in Adelaide, Australia, and coming from an accomplished athletic family, Borlase attributes much of her success to her parents. Her father, Darryl Borlase, played 14 seasons in the South Australian National Football League, while her mother, Jennifer Borlase, won three Netball World Cups during her career.
Isobel, the youngest of three siblings, also credits her older brother and sister. Her sister, Ella, became a surf boat rowing champion, while her brother, James, followed in his father’s footsteps by playing Australian rules football.
Basketball became Isobel’s way to carve out her own identity.
“I enjoy that I’m the only one who plays this sport,” Borlase told She Hoops Australia. “It feels like there’s less pressure to be something. Say, if I played netball, I would probably be ‘Jenny’s daughter.’ So, playing basketball is kind of like my own thing.”
Borlase also said her family’s athletic background gives them a unique understanding of the highs and lows that come with competing.
“It’s not even the on-court stuff that they [family] provide help with, it’s the off-court stuff, because they know what it’s like to be an athlete, and the challenges, the ups and downs that come with it. So, yeah, it’s nice to have their support off the court,” Borlase said.
To continue developing her game, Borlase joined Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in 2021 before signing with the Adelaide Lightning for the 2021-22 Women’s National Basketball League season. She appeared in just one game that year.
Her breakout came during the 2022-23 season, when she earned both WNBL Sixth Woman of the Year and WNBL Breakout Player of the Year honors.
In 2024, Borlase earned All-WNBL First Team honors before being selected No. 20 overall by the Dream in the WNBA Draft.
For many young girls growing up in Australia, the dream is reaching the WNBA. Watching the league’s physical, fast-paced style inspired Borlase to imagine one day hearing her own name called.
She answered it.
“I’m super excited and grateful for the opportunity,” Borlase told Basketball Australia. “…Being challenged by the best in the world and the opportunity to play against them, I can’t wait.”
Instead of immediately joining Atlanta, Borlase deferred her arrival to continue developing with the Adelaide Lightning, represent the Australian Opals and later play for the Bendigo Spirit.
That decision helped launch her breakout.
After earning WNBL MVP honors and another All-WNBL First Team selection, Borlase continued displaying a high basketball IQ, becoming an efficient scorer while helping run the offense with quick decision-making and a fast pace.
“I like to play out in transition,” Borlase explained. “So anytime there’s a rebound, I’m out there running quickly to get easy buckets. So yeah, getting my feet in the paint, and then finding my teammates with it.”
The following season, Borlase was named the WNBL’s Suzy Batkovic Most Valuable Player after leading the league in scoring, 22.9 points per game, while also averaging 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. She also became just the 11th player in league history – and the first since Penny Taylor in 2002 – to score at least 42 points in a game, which she accomplished against the Southside Flyers.
When Atlanta announced Borlase would finally join the Dream for the 2026 season, general manager Dan Padover expressed his excitement.
“Isobel is one of the most promising young guards in the international game, and her growth over the past year has been exceptional,” Padover said. “She brings scoring ability, versatility and a competitive edge that fits what we are building here in Atlanta. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the Dream.”
As for Borlase – or Izzy, as she prefers to be called – she said the opportunity is a dream come true. Growing up watching the WNBA’s intensity made her eager to contribute in whatever way Atlanta needed.
“I think any new person coming into the team is just trying to do what the team needs, like obviously there’s a bunch of stars on this team, and whatever I can do to help the team. Coach [Smesko] probably hasn’t specified exactly, but I’m willing to do anything to help,” Borlase said during a preseason media availability.
When asked what stood out most about both the Dream and Atlanta, she pointed to the welcoming atmosphere.
“I thought their crowds were pretty impressive, to be honest,” Borlase said. “I’ve felt super welcomed… They’ve got lots of talent on their roster, and I think to hopefully be a part of that would be pretty cool… I think that’s something I’ve noticed about Atlanta, everyone’s been so welcoming, and it’s been really nice.”
From developing her game overseas and delaying her WNBA debut to now making an impact in Atlanta, Borlase is living out the vision she once imagined while continuing to take her career one game at a time.
“This is where the best players are, so yeah, I’m super lucky,” Borlase said.
