Marena Whittle (3×3 basketball) was the star of the show in Australia’s bronze-medal winning game against New Zealand at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a massive nine point, six-rebound game, including landing the only two-point basket. She also led the 1-point shooting percentage (62.0) at the tournament. Starting basketball aged four, Marena became a key player of the NCAA Division I outfit North Dakota State between 2012-2016. Playing an average of 35.8 minutes per game in her final year, she clocked 16.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the All-Summit League First Team. Signing with the Townsville Fire in 2017, Whittle gradually found her feet in the WNBL. Named the Perth Lynx’s Most Improved Player in 2019-2020, she eventually found her home at the Adelaide Lightning, her fourth WNBL club in five seasons. Discovering the 3×3 basketball format after competing at a 3×3 Hustle tournament, Whittle has become a mainstay of Australia’s 3×3 outfit. Whittle was also part of Australia’s side that won the 2019 3×3 Asia Cup in China and the 2022 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore alongside Commonwealth Games teammates Lauren Scherf and Lauren Mansfield.