Izzy Borlase: A Lightning start for a future Opal

Isobel Borlase’s rapid ascension has put her in consideration for the Opals and more plaudits ahead.

Picture Credit: Snap Shot Photography/Emma Hoppo

Izzy Borlase announced herself on the senior stage last season, with the 18-year-old from Adelaide collecting both the WNBL’s Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year awards. As one of Australia’s brightest rising stars, she has had no time to rest on her laurels during the offseason.

“It's been busy moving back home with my best WNBL season and then getting invited to my first Opals camp - it's finally starting to come together” shared Borlase with The Pick and Roll.

The Family of Borlase

Borlase’s family is one of the most well-known sporting families in the country - let alone in South Australia. Father Darryl is a four-time SANFL premiership player, and mother Jenny a three-time netball world champion for Australia. Her siblings are also blessed with sporting talent too, with her brother James an AFL player for the Adelaide Crows, while older sister Ella is a junior champion surf life saver, making the Borlase family one highly competitive clan.

“I think we were always just hanging out in the backyard and were naturally competitive growing up.

“Having their experience, and my brother and my sister, I can always just lean on to them for advice and things like that, which is really good.

“I didn't think mum and dad really pushed anything upon us and we're kind of happy for us just to follow our own pathway, and I guess mine is just that led to basketball.”

It was basketball however that became the focus of attention for Izzy, and with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (CoE) offering her a lucrative scholarship - a massive leap from netball and lifesaving, which is where the now Adelaide Lightning first started.