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2025–26 Perth Wildcats season

Australian professional basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Perth Wildcats season was the 45th season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL), and their fourth under the leadership of head coach John Rillie.

Head coachAustralia John Rillie
CaptainAustralia Jesse Wagstaff
ArenaPerth Arena
Record21–12 (63.6%)
Quick facts Perth Wildcats season, Head coach ...
2025–26 Perth Wildcats season
Head coachAustralia John Rillie
CaptainAustralia Jesse Wagstaff
ArenaPerth Arena
NBL results
Record21–12 (63.6%)
Ladder4th
Finals finishSemifinalist
(lost to Kings 0–2)
Stats at NBL.com.au
Ignite Cup results
Record3–1 (75%)
Ladder3rd
Ignite Cup finishDid not qualify
All statistics correct as of 14 March 2026.
← 2024–25
2026–27 →
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Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

More information Players, Coaches ...
2025–26 Perth Wildcats roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
C 0 South Sudan Lual-Acuil, Jo 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 103 kg (227 lb)
G 1 New Zealand Russo-Nance, Dontae 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
F 2 South Sudan Mayen, Lat 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 92 kg (203 lb)
G/F 3 United States Windler, Dylan Injured (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 85 kg (187 lb)
F 5 United States Doolittle, Kristian (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 105 kg (231 lb)
G 8 South Sudan Dech, Sunday 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 92 kg (203 lb)
G 9 Australia Rillie, Jaron Injured (DP) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 84 kg (185 lb)
G/F 10 Australia Henshall, Ben 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
G 12 United States Duke Jr., David (I) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
F 13 France Kouakou-Heugue, Noa (NS) 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) 95 kg (209 lb)
F 22 Australia Gerovich, Thomas (DP) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
F 24 Australia Wagstaff, Jesse (C) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 103 kg (227 lb)
F 25 Australia Huefner, Cameron (DP) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 104 kg (229 lb)
F 35 Australia Okwera, David 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
G 40 Australia Pepper, Elijah 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 91 kg (201 lb)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Australia Keegan Crawford
  • United States Ben Peterson
  • New Zealand Aaron Young
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Australia Josh Cavanagh
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • (SRP) Special restricted player
  • (NS) Next Star player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 14 March 2026
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Depth chart

More information Pos., Starting 5 ...
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Development Injured
PG Ben Henshall Dontae Russo-Nance
SG Elijah Pepper Sunday Dech Jaron Rillie (DP) injured
SF David Duke Jr. (I) Lat Mayen Cameron Huefner (DP) Dylan Windler (I) injured
PF Kristian Doolittle (I) Jesse Wagstaff Noa Kouakou-Heugue (NS) Thomas Gerovich (DP)
C Jo Lual-Acuil David Okwera
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Standings

Ladder

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos 2025–26 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1 Sydney Kings 33 24 9 72.73% 5–0 W11 13–4 11–5 3276 2879 113.79%
2 Adelaide 36ers 33 23 10 69.70% 2–3 L1 12–5 11–5 3042 2890 105.26%
3 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 33 22 11 66.67% 3–2 L1 11–5 11–6 3324 3061 108.59%
4 Perth Wildcats 33 21 12 63.64% 4–1 W1 10–7 11–5 2996 2840 105.49%
5 Melbourne United 33 20 13 60.61% 2–3 W1 11–6 9–7 3041 2905 104.68%
6 Tasmania JackJumpers 33 14 19 42.42% 2–3 L2 6–10 8–9 2873 2884 99.62%
7 New Zealand Breakers 33 13 20 39.39% 2–3 W1 7–9 6–11 3022 3058 98.82%
8 Illawarra Hawks 33 13 20 39.39% 3–2 W2 7–9 6–11 3074 3205 95.91%
9 Cairns Taipans 33 9 24 27.27% 1–4 L2 4–13 5–11 2754 3194 86.22%
10 Brisbane Bullets 33 6 27 18.18% 0–5 L13 2–14 4–13 2710 3196 84.79%
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Updated to match(es) played on 20 February 2026. Source: NBL.com.au

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

Ladder progression

Leader and qualification to semifinals
Qualification to semifinals
Qualification to play-in
Last place
More information Team ╲ Round, Adelaide 36ers ...
2025–26 NBL season
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Adelaide 36ers—212233322111111111122
Brisbane Bullets37897777889999910101010101010
Cairns Taipans7477810910101010101010109999999
Illawarra Hawks—99810810879888878878888
Melbourne United2121111111223234444555
New Zealand Breakers6101010998997677787787777
Perth Wildcats5643655554455555555444
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix1564322233332422223333
Sydney Kings—856564445544343332211
Tasmania JackJumpers4335446666766666666666
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Updated to match(es) played on 20 February 2026. Source: NBL.com.au

Game log

Pre-season

Main article: 2025 NBL pre-season

The 2025 NBL Blitz will run from 27 to 31 August 2025 with games being played at the AIS Arena, Canberra.[1][2]

More information 2025 NBL Blitz game log Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1), Game ...
2025 NBL Blitz game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
August: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 27 August Melbourne W 84–78 Ben Henshall (16) Ben Henshall (7) three players (2) AIS Arena
n/a		 1–0
2 29 August @ Illawarra L 100–92 Dylan Windler (27) Dontae Russo-Nance (8) three players (5) AIS Arena
n/a		 1–1
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Regular season

Main article: 2025–26 NBL regular season

The regular season will begin on 18 September 2025.[3] It will consist of 165 games (33 games each) spread across 22 rounds, with the final game being played on 20 February 2026.[4]

More information 2025–26 game log Total: 21–12 (Home: 10–7; Road: 11–5), Game ...
2025–26 game log
Total: 21–12 (Home: 10–7; Road: 11–5)
September: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 20 September Tasmania L 72–75 Mason Jones (16) Jo Lual-Acuil (14) Jones, Windler (3) Perth Arena
11,701		 0–1
2 27 September @ New Zealand W 78–89 Jo Lual-Acuil (21) Dylan Windler (15) Doolittle, Henshall (3) Spark Arena
4,047		 1–1
October: 4–3 (Home: 1–2; Road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
3 2 October Illawarra W 92–84 Jo Lual-Acuil (22) Dylan Windler (14) Doolittle, Jones (4) Perth Arena
11,572		 2–1
4 10 October @ Cairns W 77–80 Jo Lual-Acuil (30) Dylan Windler (11) Russo-Nance, Windler (3) Cairns Convention Centre
3,985		 3–1
5 15 October Brisbane L 93–110 Mason Jones (19) Kristian Doolittle (5) Kristian Doolittle (6) Perth Arena
6,110		 3–2
6 19 October @ Sydney L 94–72 Jo Lual-Acuil (17) Kristian Doolittle (10) Lual-Acuil, Rillie (3) Sydney SuperDome
8,032		 3–3
7 22 October @ Cairns W 78–110 Jo Lual-Acuil (24) Kristian Doolittle (8) three players (4) Cairns Convention Centre
3,317		 4–3
8 25 October Illawarra L 84–85 Jo Lual-Acuil (18) Jo Lual-Acuil (12) Kristian Doolittle (5) Perth Arena
12,497		 4–4
9 29 October @ Tasmania W 84–95 Jo Lual-Acuil (23) Dontae Russo-Nance (7) Kristian Doolittle (4) Derwent Entertainment Centre
4,139		 5–4
November: 3–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
10 2 November @ S.E. Melbourne L 94–89 Kristian Doolittle (19) Kristian Doolittle (13) Jaron Rillie (7) John Cain Arena
9,386		 5–5
11 9 November @ Adelaide W 87–94 Dylan Windler (18) Dylan Windler (12) Dylan Windler (5) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
10,029		 6–5
12 15 November New Zealand W 88–75 Kristian Doolittle (24) Kristian Doolittle (14) three players (2) Perth Arena
12,350		 7–5
13 21 November Tasmania W 101–95 Kristian Doolittle (30) Jo Lual-Acuil (8) Kristian Doolittle (6) Perth Arena
10,930		 8–5
14 23 November @ Melbourne L 98–87 Kristian Doolittle (20) Kristian Doolittle (11) Kristian Doolittle (6) John Cain Arena
9,212		 8–6
December: 3–4 (Home: 1–3; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
15 4 December Melbourne W 96–84 Jo Lual-Acuil (18) Kristian Doolittle (9) Kristian Doolittle (7) Perth Arena
10,210		 9–6
16 7 December Adelaide L 94–95 Jo Lual-Acuil (19) Kristian Doolittle (11) Kristian Doolittle (6) Perth Arena
13,661		 9–7
17 12 December Sydney L 79–108 Dylan Windler (14) Dylan Windler (8) David Duke Jr. (7) Perth Arena
10,958		 9–8
18 14 December @ Brisbane W 62–86 Ben Henshall (15) Jo Lual-Acuil (9) David Duke Jr. (3) Brisbane Entertainment Centre
5,167		 10–8
19 18 December S.E. Melbourne L 76–77 David Duke Jr. (21) Dylan Windler (11) David Duke Jr. (5) Perth Arena
10,802		 10–9
20 21 December @ Tasmania W 85–94 Kristian Doolittle (30) Kristian Doolittle (6) David Duke Jr. (5) Derwent Entertainment Centre
4,340		 11–9
21 28 December @ Adelaide L 95–84 Kristian Doolittle (18) Kristian Doolittle (6) Ben Henshall (4) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
10,041		 11–10
January: 7–1 (Home: 3–1; Road: 4–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
22 1 January @ Brisbane W 75–95 Jo Lual-Acuil (17) Jo Lual-Acuil (8) David Okwera (4) Brisbane Entertainment Centre
3,984		 12–10
23 4 January @ New Zealand W 91–99 Kristian Doolittle (21) Dylan Windler (10) Henshall, Rillie (4) Spark Arena
5,141		 13–10
24 10 January @ S.E. Melbourne W 97–107 Dylan Windler (27) Kristian Doolittle (12) Doolittle, Rillie (4) State Basketball Centre
3,422		 14–10
25 16 January Illawarra W 92–87 Kristian Doolittle (21) Kristian Doolittle (11) Ben Henshall (7) Perth Arena
12,507		 15–10
26 22 January Cairns W 106–69 Elijah Pepper (25) Jo Lual-Acuil (6) Ben Henshall (7) Perth Arena
11,377		 16–10
27 25 January Melbourne L 73–74 Jo Lual-Acuil (24) Jo Lual-Acuil (11) three players (3) Perth Arena
12,707		 16–11
28 28 January S.E. Melbourne W 101–93 Dylan Windler (23) Dylan Windler (11) Ben Henshall (9) Perth Arena
6,245		 17–11
29 31 January @ Illawarra W 99–106 Kristian Doolittle (26) Ben Henshall (9) Ben Henshall (6) Wollongong Entertainment Centre
4,234		 18–11
February: 3–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
30 6 February Cairns W 98–84 Kristian Doolittle (32) Dylan Windler (11) Ben Henshall (5) Perth Arena
11,161		 19–11
31 13 February Brisbane W 94–75 Kristian Doolittle (28) Jo Lual-Acuil (8) Kristian Doolittle (6) Perth Arena
11,447		 20–11
32 15 February @ Sydney L 102–84 Kristian Doolittle (19) Elijah Pepper (10) Jesse Wagstaff (3) Sydney SuperDome
13,613		 20–12
33 20 February Adelaide W 86–74 Elijah Pepper (22) Jesse Wagstaff (7) Kristian Doolittle (8) Perth Arena
13,574		 21–12
2025–26 season schedule
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NBL Ignite Cup

Main article: 2025–26 NBL Ignite Cup

The NBL introduced the new NBL Ignite Cup tournament for the 2025–26 season, with all games except the championship final counting towards the regular-season standings.[5][6]

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W L PF PA PP BP Pts Qualification
1 Adelaide 36ers 4 3 1 390 329 118.5 12 21 Ignite Cup final
2 New Zealand Breakers 4 3 1 441 385 114.5 11 20
3 Perth Wildcats 4 3 1 399 365 109.3 9.5 18.5
4 Melbourne United 4 2 2 390 359 108.6 9.5 15.5
5 Tasmania JackJumpers 4 2 2 349 338 103.3 8.5 14.5
6 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 4 2 2 408 402 101.5 8 14
7 Illawarra Hawks 4 2 2 372 397 93.7 7 13
8 Brisbane Bullets 4 1 3 334 411 81.3 6 9
9 Sydney Kings 4 1 3 350 381 91.9 5 8
10 Cairns Taipans 4 1 3 340 406 83.7 3.5 6.5
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Updated to match(es) played on 28 January 2026. Source: Ignitecup.com.au

Postseason

Main article: 2026 NBL Finals
More information 2026 finals game log Total: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2), Game ...
2026 finals game log
Total: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
Seeding qualifier: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 4 March @ S.E. Melbourne L 111–94 Kristian Doolittle (22) three players (6) Dylan Windler (7) John Cain Arena
3,891		 0–1
Play-in game: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
2 7 March Melbourne W 95–77 Jo Lual-Acuil (28) Jo Lual-Acuil (12) Doolittle, Henshall (6) Perth Arena
6,731		 1–1
Semifinals: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 11 March @ Sydney L 105–104 Kristian Doolittle (31) Jo Lual-Acuil (12) David Duke Jr. (8) Sydney SuperDome
10,132		 0–1
2 14 March Sydney L 75–89 Ben Henshall (20) Jo Lual-Acuil (14) David Duke Jr. (5) Perth Arena
9,711		 0–2
2026 finals schedule
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Transactions

Free agency began on 4 April 2025.[7][8]

Re-signed

More information Player, Date Signed ...
Player Date Signed Contract Ref.
Dylan Windler20 April 20252-year deal[9]
David Okwera24 April 20251-year deal[10]
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Additions

More information Player, Date Signed ...
Player Date Signed Contract Former team Ref.
Cameron Huefner4 April 20253-year dealSam Houston Bearkats[11]
Sunday Dech23 April 20253-year deal (mutual option)Adelaide 36ers[12]
Lat Mayen23 April 20252-year dealAdelaide 36ers[13]
Jo Lual-Acuil22 July 20252-year dealAl Ittihad Alexandria[14]
Mason Jones8 September 20251-year dealStockton Kings[15]
David Duke Jr.24 October 20251-year dealSan Antonio Spurs[16]
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Subtractions

More information Player, Reason left ...
Player Reason left Date Left New Team Ref.
Michael HarrisFree agent7 April 2025Adelaide 36ers[17]
Bryce CottonFree agent22 May 2025Adelaide 36ers[18]
Mason JonesReleased17 October 2025n/a[19]
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Awards

Club awards

See also

References

External links

Related Articles

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