Miela Goodchild

Miela Elizabeth Goodchild (born 4 June 2000) is an Australian professional basketball player for the North Gold Coast Seahawks of the NBL1 North. After winning a championship in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) as a development player with the Townsville Fire in 2018, she played four seasons of college basketball in the United States for the Duke Blue Devils. She returned to the WNBL in 2022, playing a season for the Melbourne Boomers before joining the Perth Lynx in 2023.

Early life and career
Goodchild was born in Brisbane, Queensland, where she attended Moreton Bay College. She played basketball at Moreton Bay and won numerous sport awards.

As a junior, Goodchild played for the Logan Thunder. She was selected the 2016 and 2017 Basketball Queensland Player of the Year and the Logan Basketball Junior Player of the Year. She made her debut for the Thunder in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) in 2016, earning one appearance as a 15-year-old. In 13 games in 2017, she averaged 10.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

In July 2017, Goodchild signed with the Townsville Fire of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) as a development player for the 2017–18 season. She appeared in two games during the season as the Fire went on to win the WNBL championship.

For the 2018 QBL season, Goodchild joined the Townsville Flames and won the QBL U-23 Youth Player of the Year after averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 16 games.

College career
Goodchild moved to the United States to play college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the NCAA Division I. As a freshman in 2018–19, she played 30 games with 22 starts, averaging 10.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game. She subsequently earned ACC All-Freshman Team honours. She made a Duke freshman record 73 3-pointers, which also ranked as the eighth-most in the ACC history by a freshman. She had a career-high 26 points with eight 3-pointers against Notre Dame.

As a sophomore in 2019–20, Goodchild averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 assists per game. She scored a season-high 26 points against Troy and became the quickest Blue Devil to reach 100 3-pointers, doing so in only 45 contests.

Goodchild's junior year was cut short after the team withdrew from the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic after only four games. She averaged 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

As a senior in 2021–22, Goodchild played 29 games with 12 starts, averaging 6.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Goodchild concluded her career ranking tied for eighth with 170 career 3-pointers made. She earned ACC All-Academic Team in 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2021–22 and earned ACC Honor Roll in 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21.

Professional career
In May 2022, Goodchild returned to Australia and joined the Mackay Meteorettes of the NBL1 North. In seven games, she averaged 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Goodchild joined the Melbourne Boomers for the 2022–23 WNBL season. In 20 games, she averaged 6.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

Following the WNBL season, Goodchild joined the Mount Gambier Pioneers for the 2023 NBL1 South season. In 21 games, she averaged 24.24 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.57 assists and 1.67 steals per game. She subsequently earned NBL1 South All-Star Five honours.

On 5 June 2023, Goodchild signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2023–24 WNBL season. She suffered a broken nose early in the season which led to her wearing a protective mask for six weeks. The Lynx made the WNBL grand final series in 2023–24, where they lost to the Southside Flyers.

Goodchild joined the North Gold Coast Seahawks of the NBL1 North for the 2024 season. She was named to the NBL1 North First Team.

National team career
Goodchild debuted for Australia at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, where she helped the Sapphires win the gold medal. She went on to play at the 2017 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship, 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship, and 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

Goodchild was a member of the Australian national 3x3 team in May 2023.

Personal life
Goodchild is the daughter of David and Michelle Goodchild. She has one brother, Conor, and one sister, Briana. Her father and sister appeared on Australian Survivor: Blood V Water in 2022.