Alex Ciabattoni Explained

Alex Ciabattoni
Position:Guard / forward
Height Cm:180
League:NBL1 West
Team:Cockburn Cougars
Number:22
Birth Date:1994 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
High School:Mary MacKillop College
(Adelaide, South Australia)
College:Newman (2012–2014)
Career Start:2010
Coach Start:2023
Years1:2010–2012
Team1:Southern Tigers
Years2:2013
Team2:South Adelaide Panthers
Years3:2015–2017
Team3:Adelaide Lightning
Years4:2016
Team4:Albury Wodonga Bandits
Years5:2017
Team5:Hobart Chargers
Years6:2017–2018
Team6:Perth Lynx
Years7:2018
Team7:Kalamunda Eastern Suns
Years8:2018–2019
Team8:Reyer Venezia
Years9:2019
Team9:→Ponzano Basket
Years10:2019
Team10:Rockingham Flames
Years11:2019
Team11:Reyer Venezia
Years12:2019–2020
Team12:Treofan Battipaglia
Years13:2020–2022
Team13:Perth Lynx
Years14:2021
Team14:Rockingham Flames
Years15:2022–2023
Team15:South West Slammers
Years16:2023–2024
Team16:Perth Lynx
Years17:2024–present
Team17:Cockburn Cougars
Cyears1:2023
Cteam1:South West Slammers
Highlights:

Alexandra Antonietta Ciabattoni (born 1 June 1994) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cockburn Cougars of the NBL1 West. She played college basketball for the Newman Jets before beginning her career in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).

Early life

Ciabattoni was born in Adelaide, South Australia,[1] where she attended Mary MacKillop College[2] [3] and played in the Central ABL for the Southern Tigers (2010–12) and South Adelaide Panthers (2013).[4] [5]

College career

In 2012, Ciabattoni moved to the United States to play college basketball for Newman University. As a freshman in 2012–13, she was named to the All-Heartland Conference First Team and received Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year honours. She averaged team highs in points (13.7) and rebounds (7.8) per game.[6]

As a sophomore at Newman in 2013–14, Ciabattoni was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year and All-Heartland Conference First Team. She averaged a league-best 20.3 points and shot a league-best 59.5 percent (sixth highest total in the NCAA). She was also named to the Heartland Conference All-Tournament Team.[7]

In June 2014, Ciabattoni left Newman and signed a Grant-in-Aid offer from Stetson.[8] Due to NCAA transfer regulations, she was forced to redshirt the 2014–15 season. While she was unable to play for Stetson, she did earn Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team honors for the 2014–15 season.

Professional career

While back in Adelaide during the 2015 off-season, Ciabattoni decided to try out for the Adelaide Lightning, a team scrambling for players in the wake of the club's near off-season dissolution.[9] As a result, she did not return to Stetson for the 2015–16 season; instead, she signed with the Lightning in August 2015[10] and went on to win the WNBL Rookie of the Year Award. Ciabattoni averaged 4.6 points per game at 46 per cent and 2.4 rebounds.

Following her rookie season in the WNBL, Ciabattoni joined the Albury Wodonga Bandits for the 2016 SEABL season. In 22 games for the Bandits, she averaged 12.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.[11]

In June 2016, Ciabattoni re-signed with the Adelaide Lightning for the 2016–17 WNBL season.[12]

In March 2017, Ciabattoni joined the Hobart Chargers for the 2017 SEABL season. She was rushed into the squad as a replacement for American Cassie Cooke, who was ruled out for the season with a knee injury. After originally signing with the Melbourne Tigers, Ciabattoni felt it wasn't the right fit and ended up landing in Hobart.[13]

On 1 August 2017, Ciabattoni signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2017–18 WNBL season.[14] Following the WNBL season, she joined the Kalamunda Eastern Suns for the 2018 WSBL season.[15]

Ciabattoni split the 2018–19 season in Italy, starting with Reyer Venezia before being loaned to Ponzano Basket Veneto in February 2019.[16] She joined the Rockingham Flames in June 2019 for the rest of the WSBL season[17] and helped the team win the championship.[18]

For the 2019–20 season, Ciabattoni returned to Reyer Venezia.[19] In November 2019, she left Reyer and joined rival team Treofan Battipaglia for the rest of the season.[20]

Ciabattoni returned to the Perth Lynx for the 2020 WNBL Hub season[21] and then returned to the Rockingham Flames for the 2021 NBL1 West season.[22]

In June 2021, Ciabattoni re-signed with the Lynx for the 2021–22 WNBL season.[23] In May 2022, she joined the South West Slammers for the 2022 NBL1 West season.[24]

In December 2022, Ciabattoni was appointed head coach of the Slammers for the 2023 NBL1 West season.[25] She also made multiple appearances as a player.[26]

On 26 June 2023, Ciabattoni signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2023–24 WNBL season, returning to the team for a third stint.[27] [28] Key to her return was her leadership, basketball smarts, and being a quality ball handler and defender.[29]

Ciabattoni joined the Cockburn Cougars for the 2024 NBL1 West season.[30] [31] On 12 July, she had a triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a 131–78 win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.[32] She was named to the All-NBL1 West First Team.[33] She helped the Cougars reach the NBL1 West grand final,[34] [35] where they lost 97–81 to the Rockingham Flames despite Ciabattoni's game-high 30 points.[36]

Personal life

Ciabattoni holds an Italian passport.[37]

She gave birth to her first child in January 2023.[38] As of December 2023, she is engaged to former basketball player James Goodlad.[39] [40]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alex Ciabattoni – 2014–15 Women's Basketball Roster – Stetson Athletics. GoHatters.com. 1 August 2017.
  2. Web site: Morgan. Niki. CIABATTONI RUMORED TO TRANSFER NEXT YEAR. NewmanVantage.com. 12 April 2014. 1 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170801115210/http://www.newmanvantage.com/2014/04/12/ciabattoni-rumored-to-transfer-next-year/. 1 August 2017. dead.
  3. Web site: Sutton. Lauren. Sports Night 2016. MaryMackillop.sa.edu.au. 26 October 2016. 1 August 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170330233431/http://www.marymackillop.sa.edu.au/community/old-scholars/old-scholars-news?newsItem=18368. 30 March 2017.
  4. Web site: Player statistics for Alexandra Ciabattoni. SportsTG.com. 1 August 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170801120314/http://websites.sportstg.com/nf/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=202140260&client=1-3656-44099-203177-16744584. 1 August 2017.
  5. Web site: Nagy. Boti. Whistle blows for the start of the State Basketball League. HeraldSun.com.au. 5 April 2013. 1 August 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170309123525/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/state-basketball-league-tips-off/news-story/1877588f388f7657c3a7e79e924b91a5. 9 March 2017.
  6. Web site: Newman University Athletics Jets – Alexandra Ciabattoni – 2013–14. NewmanJets.com. 1 August 2017.
  7. Web site: Ciabattoni Named to Heartland All-Tournament Team. NewmanJets.com. 11 March 2014. 1 August 2017.
  8. Web site: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNS ALEXANDRA CIABATTONI. GoHatters.com. 3 June 2014. 1 August 2017.
  9. Web site: Nagy. Boti. Adelaide Lightning 'new face' Alex Ciabattoni claims WNBL Rookie of the Year award. AdelaideNow.com.au. 10 March 2016. 1 August 2017.
  10. Web site: Nagy. Boti. Adelaide Lightning signs local quartet but leave door ajar for possible second import 'big'. AdelaideNow.com.au. 24 August 2015. 1 August 2017.
  11. Web site: Player statistics for Alex Ciabattoni. SportsTG.com. 1 August 2017.
  12. Web site: Nagy. Boti. Reigning WNBL Rookie of the Year Alex Ciabattoni first player to sign for MAC Adelaide Lightning. AdelaideNow.com.au. 12 June 2016. 1 August 2017.
  13. Web site: Smith. Adam. Rushed preparation no concern for Hobart's newest SEABL signing. TheMercury.com.au. 5 April 2017. 1 August 2017.
  14. News: ALEX CIABATTONI SIGNS WITH PERTH LYNX. wnbl.basketball. 1 August 2017. 23 January 2022 . Sod .
  15. Web site: 2018 WOMEN'S SBL SEASON PREVIEW. SBL.asn.au. 14 March 2018. 18 March 2018.
  16. Web site: ALEX CIABATTONI IN PRESTITO AL PONZANO BASKET. reyer.it. 7 February 2019. 6 June 2019. Italian.
  17. Web site: ANNOUNCEMENT. facebook.com. 5 June 2019. 6 June 2019.
  18. Web site: GRAND FINAL SPOTLIGHT | DEEP FLAMES TOO HOT FOR SENATORS . SBL.asn.au . 30 August 2019 . 30 August 2019.
  19. Web site: ALEX CIABATTONI CONFERMATA PER LA STAGIONE 2019/20. reyer.it. 8 August 2019. 28 October 2019. Italian.
  20. Web site: PB63, ingaggiata Alexandra "Alex" Ciabattoni, fortissima ala Italo-Australiana. battipaglia1929.it. 29 November 2019. 31 January 2020. Italian.
  21. News: VERSATILE GUARD ALEX CIABATTONI RETURNS TO THE PERTH LYNX. wnbl.basketball/perth. 26 June 2020. 30 July 2020 . Perth .
  22. Web site: Championship winner Ciabattoni re-signs with Flames. rockinghamflames.com.au. 3 November 2020. 23 January 2022.
  23. News: ALEXANDRA CHIBBA CIABATTONI IS BACK FOR PERTH LYNX THIS SEASON. wnbl.basketball/perth. 24 June 2021. 23 January 2022 . Lauren .
  24. Web site: Alexandra Ciabattoni. nbl1.com.au. 9 December 2022.
  25. Web site: 2023 NBL1 West Women's Head Coach Appointed. facebook.com/SouthWestSlammers. 9 December 2022. 9 December 2022.
  26. Web site: Alexandra Ciabattoni. nbl1.com.au. 23 June 2023.
  27. News: FAN FAVOURITE ALEXANDRA CIABATTONI IS BACK!. wnbl.basketball/perth. 26 June 2023. 26 June 2023 . Lauren .
  28. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Alex Ciabattoni signs WNBL contract with Perth Lynx just months after giving birth to son Elijah. thewest.com.au. 26 June 2023. 30 June 2023. dead. https://archive.today/20230630044730/https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/alex-ciabattoni-signs-wnbl-contract-with-perth-lynx-just-months-after-giving-birth-to-son-elijah-c-11085348. 30 June 2023.
  29. News: CHIBBA THANKFUL OF TEAMMATES, COACH IN SUCCESSFUL RETURN. wnbl.basketball/perth. 19 December 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20231222022227/https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/chibba-thankful-of-teammates-coach-in-successful-return/. 22 December 2023 . Lauren .
  30. Web site: Cougars add Ciabattoni to championship defence. cougarfamily.com. 27 January 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240127035137/https://cougarfamily.com/cougars-add-ciabattoni-to-championship-defence/. 27 January 2024.
  31. Web site: Pike. Chris. Chibba joins Cougars out to forget Lynx heartbreak. authory.com. 11 April 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240412123151/https://authory.com/ChrisPike/Chibba-joins-Cougars-out-to-forget-Lynx-heartbreak-a066442d33fbb4b4fbc652166c693d0f4. 12 April 2024.
  32. Web site: Kalamunda Eastern Suns vs Cockburn Cougars. NBL1.com.au. 12 July 2024. live. https://archive.today/20240712122413/https://nbl1.com.au/game?id=4f68ff67-8f80-11ee-9bcb-7d37dfc48fd6. 12 July 2024.
  33. Web site: NBL1 West Women All-NBL1 1st Team. facebook.com/NBLOneWest. 20 July 2024. 20 July 2024.
  34. Web site: Pike. Chris. Thwaites, Chibba excited for Grand Final opportunity. NBL1.com.au. 7 August 2024. live. https://archive.today/20240808132318/https://cockburncougars.nbl1.com.au/news/thwaites-chibba-excited-for-grand-final-opportunity. 8 August 2024.
  35. Web site: Pike. Chris. Chibba's amazing return as a mum continues at Cougars. authory.com. 8 August 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240809045702/https://authory.com/ChrisPike/Chibbas-amazing-return-as-a-mum-continues-at-Cougars-aea287f369f6d44b7be7b3e029900b193. 9 August 2024.
  36. Web site: Pike. Chris. Recap NBL1 West Women's Grand Final. NBL1.com.au. 10 August 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240810154818/https://nbl1.com.au/article/recap-nbl1-west-or-womens-grand-final. 10 August 2024.
  37. Web site: Alex Ciabattoni. closersport.com. 6 June 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190606042240/https://www.closersport.com.au/alexciabattoni. 6 June 2019.
  38. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Former Perth Lynx guard Alex Ciabattoni talks motherhood and basketball after giving birth to son Elijah. thewest.com.au. 12 March 2023. 13 March 2023. dead. https://archive.today/20230408114755/https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/former-perth-lynx-guard-alex-ciabattoni-talks-motherhood-and-basketball-after-giving-birth-to-son-elijah-c-9952320. 8 April 2023.
  39. Web site: Pike. Chris. New mother Ciabattoni embarks on coaching journey at Slammers. nbl1.com.au. 6 April 2023. 6 April 2023.
  40. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Dribble Podcast: Perth Lynx guard Alex Ciabattoni on combining playing WNBL while raising son Elijah. thewest.com.au. 7 December 2023. 7 December 2023. dead. https://archive.today/20231207003357/https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/dribble-podcast-perth-lynx-guard-alex-ciabattoni-on-combining-playing-wnbl-while-raising-son-elijah-c-12804131. 7 December 2023.