At just 17 years old, Sitaya Fagan has emerged as a towering figure in women’s basketball. Standing 6’4″ with exceptional defensive instincts and rapidly developing offensive skills, the Australian phenom has college recruiters across America scrambling to secure her commitment for the class of 2026.
With an unprecedented 18 Division 1 scholarship offers already in hand, Fagan represents the rare combination of current production and future potential. Her performances in both domestic and international competitions showcase a player ready to make an immediate impact at the collegiate level and potentially beyond.
From Australia to America’s Elite Programs: Fagan’s Meteoric Rise
Social media has been buzzing about Fagan’s recruitment, with reports indicating she’s received the highest number of offers ever extended to a female basketball player. Her first offer came unexpectedly from Louisville, sparking an avalanche of interest from prestigious programs.
18 DIVISION I OFFERS. THAT’S RIGHT, 18 DIVISION I OFFERS.
We strongly suggest you start tweeting about Sitaya Fagan now, so you can show everyone your receipts when she blows up. pic.twitter.com/TQ9QGaq3Ti
— basketball.com.au (@bouncepassau) April 23, 2025
“Louisville was my first official offer, and I was almost screaming. I was like no freaking way and then they just kept coming” Fagan said. Elite programs including South Carolina, LSU, Texas and UCLA are now in hot pursuit of the Australian star.
The international spotlight first found Fagan during the 2024 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup in Mexico, where she averaged 6.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and an impressive 1.9 blocks per game. This performance accelerated her recruitment dramatically as she helped Australia secure a fifth-place finish.
“It all blew up after Mexico really, because that’s when schools could contact me” Fagan explained. Her international resume continues to grow, with selection to the Australian Gems squad for the upcoming Under-19 FIBA World Cup in Czechia this July.
A Defensive Phenom with Rapidly Developing Offensive Arsenal
What makes Fagan unique among elite prospects is her defensive mindset in an era often dominated by offensive highlights. Using her 6’4″ frame and remarkable athleticism, she disrupts opposing offenses at multiple levels, earning the description of defensive cheat code from basketball analysts.
“I actually prefer playing defence than offense sometimes” Fagan told Basketball.com.au. “In my earliest stages, I was like ‘no, I want to score, I want to drop 20’, but moving on, you learn that defence wins games.” This philosophy was evident during April’s U18 National Championship, where her three steals in the final 1:30 helped Vic Metro secure gold.
While defense remains her calling card, Fagan’s offensive game has blossomed significantly. Currently competing in Australia’s NBL1 East competition for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, she’s averaging an impressive 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48.9% on two-point attempts.
Her recent performances highlight this growth including a dominant 30 points and 10 rebounds display against the Hills Hornets on May 10, 2025. This followed other stellar 27 points and 13 rebounds performance against the Albury-Wodonga Bandits.
Fagan’s mature approach extends beyond basketball, reflecting her academic priorities. “My mum is a teacher, so I’m big on 50-50 with basketball and education. Having offers from those top programs that are also top in education, it’s just really good” she noted when discussing her options.
Also Read: With Paige Bueckers Gone, Who Will Be the Next Face of Women’s College Basketball?
As Fagan prepares for the Under-19 World Cup and weighs her college options, her decision will likely shape not only her development but potentially the entire women’s college basketball landscape. Whatever program secures her commitment will be getting both an immediate impact player and a potential cornerstone for championship aspirations.
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