Getting to know Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson is an Olympic debutant, who plays for the Australian Ganguruus, the 3×3 basketball team.

She has played for the Perth Lynx WNBL team, and helped Australia’s 3×3 team win gold at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup.

We had a chat to Alex before she left for the Games, talking about what makes 3×3 unique, and why she had more than one reason to be happy to be back at MSAC for her announcement on the team.

This is the first time you’re going to the Olympics as an athlete. Congratulations! How are you feeling?

[It’s the] first Olympics for me and that’s something that you dream of as a little girl. I’m looking forward to getting into the village and being around other high quality athletes that’ll be there. Being a part of the Gangurrus is something that’s so special. I can’t wait to get there and experience it all.

3×3 is a new brand of basketball, what makes it different for viewers to watch?

It’s a different brand of basketball to the traditional five on five. So it’s super fast paced, high energy, super physical. I think that the people will really love to see that brand of basketball.

Have you been to Paris before?

I have been to Paris, but it was many moons ago. I think I was 19 when I went, so it’ll be great to get back and experience it a little bit more and see the sights.

We have lots of youngsters who play basketball here at MSAC, do you have any advice for any future Olympians?

It’s actually crazy because, I came and played here at MSAC as a kid. I’m from SA country so, classics and all that sort of thing. I played here in this stadium as a little girl, so it’s surreal being back here and being announced in the Olympic team in a stadium that I played at as a child. And any advice to to little kids… dream big! In my career, I’ve been told, ‘No’, a lot of the way. So it’s all about that perseverance and resilience and that belief in yourself.

For more information on basketball programs at State Sport Centres, click here.