The North Gold Coast Seahawks are pleased to announce Mikaela Ruef as our first signing for the 2024 NBL1 North women’s side.
Ruef joins the Seahawks after anchoring a successful Logan team for the past 5-seasons where she earned MVP honours in 2019 and led the Thunder to a championship in 2021.
Originally from Dayton Ohio, Ruef attended Stanford University majoring in Management Science & Engineering before receiving a Master's Degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering. Ruef has played WNBL for the Sydney Uni Flames, Adelaide Lightning, Canberra Capitals and is currently preparing for the start of WNBL24 with the Townsville Fire.
Ruef expressed her excitement for the next stage of her NBL1 career with the Seahawks,
“I’m very excited to sign with Seahawks. Working with Caddie over the past 5 years at Logan, I know she’s a great coach and I’m looking forward to the team she is trying to put together and the style of play she wants to adopt. I think we will play a good brand of basketball and it will be fun to be part of.”
Ruef averaged a mammoth 23.13 ppg and 22.63 rpg in NBL1 2023 for the Thunder, and coach Caddie Jeffries knows first-hand the impact Ruef can have on the court having served as an Assistant Coach at Logan prior to appointment with the Seahawks,
“Being able to secure a player of Mikaela’s calibre was a huge key in my overall plan for the team. Obviously Mikaela’s on-court abilities are a huge positive for us and her playing style and high IQ will suit the style of play I’m looking to implement.”
“However her off-court presence around the group and wider club is what makes her an invaluable asset to Seahawks. Ruef is a seasoned professional, who is a driven competitor and makes all players around her better. Her willingness to be involved in all aspects of a club is invaluable, and I’m excited to have Mikaela on board for the 2024 season.”.
Seahawks General Manager Brady Walmsley couldn’t be happier to start the assembly of the the Seahawks women’s roster with a player of Ruef’s calibre.
“Mikaela has been the dominant figure in our league for the past 5 seasons. We are thrilled to announce her as the cornerstone of our women’s program for ’24 and beyond”.
Mikaela will be competing with Townsville in the WNBL preseason tournament the River City Rumble at the Northside Indoor Sports Centre starting tomorrow through till Sunday.
The NBL1 North season will commence in April.