WNBL: Tall Fern Goulding re-signs at Spirit

The 24-year-old forward will head into Thursday's New Zealand Tall Ferns selection camp with her WNBL ambitions safe and secure after re-signing with the Spirit for a second season.

Goulding, who is currently playing in Western Australia for East Perth Eagles in NBL1, first joined the Spirit for last year's hub season.

She averaged nearly seven points and more than four rebounds a game, highlighted by back-to-back 19 and 10-point performances against Townsville Fire, while shooting 70 per cent from the floor.

Goulding is the ninth of 10 contracted Spirit signings for 2021-22, following on from the club's 2020 joint MVP Tessa Lavey, star Opals guard Leilani Mitchell, Anneli Maley, Maddie Garrick, Demi Skinner, Megan McKay Piper Dunlop and Cassidy McLean.

It's an astonishing and spectacular array of talent the Spirit have assembled and Goulding could not be more enthused to be back on board.

"I obviously knew about a few of them, but there might have been one or two surprises in there," she said.

"I was excited and people were kind of asking me (about more signings) and I was like just wait and see.

"It's exciting to see the team coach Tracy (York) has put together. I am excited to meet some of them, but I know they are all just great girls and I have heard great things about them.

"Of course some of them were there last year, so I'm excited to get back with them."

Evaluating her first season in the WNBL in 2020, Goulding said it felt like her move across the Tasman into the world's second strongest women's basketball competition was meant to be.

"I had a lot of people saying this is a great experience for you, this is kind of where you belong, but I was a little bit apprehensive I knew how good the league was," she said.

"But I felt like I fit in just like a glove, like this is where I was meant to be.

"I have lots to improve on, but in terms of the league and where I want to be, I was really excited. It didn't look like I didn't belong out there, I felt this was where I was meant to be."

Goulding is one of 20 players invited to the Tall Ferns training camp, where she will be striving for selection in the national team for the FIBA Women's Asia Cup later this year.

The longer-term aim is qualification for the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney.

Goulding, who is averaging 21.16 points, 3.16 assists and 10.16 for the NBL1s's East Perth Eagles, believes she has never been better placed to lock in a Tall Ferns spot.

"It's always been a dream of mine and that's what I've been working towards, to be the best player that I can be and to represent my country on a national scale," she said.

"To be honest, I don't think I've been in a better position in terms of being better prepared, physically and mentally.

"I'm really excited, this is probably the best chance I've had.

"With the girls the coach (Guy Molloy) has put together, I think there's room for a person like me, and as the older ones start to retire, new spots open up. I really believe this is my shot."

Coach York lauded Goulding as a tough and determined team-mate, who epitomised the Spirit in the way she played.

"When we were first looking at recruiting her and watching her play in college and how she conducts herself, we wanted her straight up and she was probably better than expected," she said.

"That's just how Mary is, with her personality - we do connect well with each other and she is open and honest.

"She is willing to do anything and everything for the team."

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