Samantha Ashby (2018) was born in London andspent her formative years in Singapore before her family relocated back to Perth in 2011 when she was 10. Here, she discovered hoops and fell in love with basketball, for which she has an extraordinary talent. After a few years at PLC, her obvious ability in all sports saw her come to Newman in Year 9, 2015.
Here, Sam was placed in Romero Guild and settled in quickly. She played in the Girls’ White team in the 26th Marist Basketball Carnival, which was hosted by Newman, and to which 16 Marist Schools across Australia came to play. She won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in her team, came in second in the overall girls’ points scored, and first in the girls’ Free Throws (a first for the College). She was in the ACC Athletics Squad, for which she placed 3rd in the Age Champions for Year 9 Girls and, at the end of the year, won an Art and Design 3 award.
In Year 10 in 2016 she was a Guild Representative, in the ACC Cross Country team, and won awards in Art and Design and Maths Extension 2, as well as the Br Terence Orrell Award for Most Outstanding Female Basketball Player over a School Year (which she also won in 2017), and the Marcellin Champagnat Award for Most Valuable Female Player.
In her final year, she was in the ACC Athletics and Cross Country teams, and placed 2nd in the Year 12 Girls’ Age Champions. At the end of the year, she also received one of our Major Awards – the Female Contribution to Sports Award for her outstanding contribution to sport during her time at Newman, demonstration of Marist characteristics in leadership, and commitment to her chosen sport.
While at school, Sam played regional basketball for the Perry Lakes Hawks, later earning a position on their women’s State Basketball League (now NBL1) team. She also qualified repeatedly as a State representative, playing for Western Australia against the other States and Territories.
On leaving school, Sam earned a US College Basketball Scholarship, competing in the NCAA Division 1 league and completed a degree in Health and Exercise Science at the University of the Pacific, California. She then moved to the UK, where she has just completed her second professional basketball season, this year playing for the Oakland Wolves, which won the Super League Basketball Women’s Cup Finals. Sam balled out with 23 points in 23 minutes and, after her team won the Cup, she was awarded MVP for 2025.
Because of her London birth, Sam was also eligible to qualify for Team GB – Great Britain Women’s International team – which survived prequalification against Denmark, Sweden and Estonia for EuroBasket 2025. Later this month, she’ll be in Hamburg, Germany, playing for Great Britain in the final elimination rounds against Germany, Spain and Sweden.
Added to this, Super League Basketball named her in the British Team of the Year, which recognises the five best British players across all teams in the British Super League.
Sam loves the life sport has given her, and that it has taken her all over the world. Just recently, she said, after the season that pushed her to the limits: “A small reminder that life is not for the weak – you’re so strong just for showing up every day. Rely on those around you and don’t put too much pressure on yourself, being a pro athlete can lead to never feeling satisfied with where you’re at, on and off the court. Constantly striving and pushing yourself to impossible limits, trying to control everything around you … but life is more than that.
“Travelling, experiencing different cultures, doing the sport you love for that little kid who never imagined you’d get where you are. Valuing those around you for being their imperfect selves, just like you. Don’t let yourself get so caught up on what the ‘perfect’ life is supposed to look like and make the best of every moment, there is ALWAYS a glass half full way to view things, you just have to let yourself see it.
“Be kind, remember your roots, and let yourself grow and enjoy the moment, you don’t get to live this life twice!”
And in the latest news…
Great Britain Basketball has also just featured Sam in their Player Spotlight, here. And, she is heading to Azerbaijan as one of four women representing Great Britain in the final FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series. Go Sam!
Top Left: Oakland Wolves team shot Top, 2nd left: Sam in Year 12, 2018 Top 3rd from left: Sam andJohn Finneran (Principal 2016-2022) receiving the Female Contribution to Sports Award, 2018 Top right: Sam in Paris, France, 2024 Bottom left: Sam (centre) in Copenhagen, Denmark, early 2025 with her father Martin (left) and cousin Harriet (right) Bottom middle: Sam in action with the Oakland Wolves
Bottom right: Sam winning Most Valuable Player, Oakland Wolves, 2025
