On Monday night, the Washington Mystics of the WNBA picked former Kentucky women’s basketball star Georgia Amoore in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft.
She grew up in an athletic family. Her father played soccer and netball, while her mother, Kelly Amoore, is a horse trainer who owns Sylvan Lodge Equine Center, specializing in the pre-training and rehabilitation of thoroughbred horses.​
Her sister, Jemma Amoore, followed in her footsteps and became a basketball player.
Georgia played several sports before focusing on basketball at 17. She joined Loreto College and competed at the youth level for her state team, Victoria Country.
She also played for the Ballarat Rush in the South East Australian Basketball League before joining the Rush in 2019.
Despite an invitation from Portland, she decided to play collegiate basketball in the United States for Virginia Tech, where she was an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman Team selection.
Georgia was named MVP when she led her team to its first ACC tournament title in 2023. She became the all-time assist leader in Virginia Tech basketball history on February 25, 2024.
However, she transferred to Kentucky to reunite with coach Kenny Brooks in April 2024.
I think just for as long as people have called me too short, I’ve been working on how to counteract that. It’s not a shock to me. I know that I have to work in different ways. Use my brain a little bit more, but with my competitive background, I think I have a little bit of dog in me that’s going to keep me fighting.
Georgia Amoore
Georgia Amoore’s Sister, Jemma, Plays For The Hornets
Georgia Amoore, the eldest child of Kelly and Phil Amoore, was born on April 3, 2001, in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Her parents raised her alongside her two siblings, Jemma and Toby.
Jemma is the second member of the Amoore family to attend college in the United States, as her sister was a four-year standout at Virginia Tech.
Jemma has spent her basketball career with the Ballarat Miners, progressing through their junior and senior programs, including the NBL1 team over the past two seasons.
Her leadership and skill were recognized in 2023 when she was named captain of Victoria’s U20 State Team for the Australian Junior Championships.
Before that, she captained the U18 Victoria squad in 2022, her second year with the team, after helping secure a bronze medal at the Nationals in 2021.
Her early success also included selection for the U16 team in 2021.
Jemma’s standout performances have earned her multiple accolades, including the Ballarat Basketball GRIT Award in 2021, Female Athlete of the Year and Player’s Player in 2022, and the NBL1 ANZAC Spirit Medal in 2023.
The 5 feet 4 inches tall player guards for the Sacramento State Hornets, which represent California State University, Sacramento, in intercollegiate athletics.
So excited to announce my commitment to Sacramento State University! Can’t wait to get started and be coached by Coach AKallhoff and his amazing staff at SacStateWBB.
Jemma Amoore
Massive thanks to AUSA_Hoops_WBB and CoachSepo for getting me here.
Beyond basketball, Jemma has also competed in netball and Australian football.
Georgia Amoore’s Role As A Sister In Times Of Distance And Loss
Georgia Amoore has always taken her role as an older sister seriously, but watching her younger sister, Jemma, step into her basketball journey thousands of miles from home has given that role new meaning.
Georgia has fiery intensity contrasts, and Jemma has an easygoing charm. Though their approaches to the game and life couldn’t be more different, their distance has only strengthened their bond.
As an international student, Georgia knows firsthand the loneliness of being far from family.
Now, with Jemma navigating her journey on the opposite coast, that understanding weighs heavier. She wishes she could be there in person as a sister and someone who’s lived through the same struggles.
Their connection deepened during the pandemic when video calls became a lifeline and later when loss reshaped their world.
Georgia becomes a reassuring presence after their grandma dies, telling Jemma and herself that family is the rock when things get rocky.
Their relationship has been a quiet force through every challenge, proving that the proper bond can make the hardest moments feel a little lighter, even when they are miles apart.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Georgia Amoore won a gold medal with the Australian national under-16 team at the 2017 FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship in India.
- She helped her national team win the bronze medal at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Belarus.
- She won the gold medal in 3×3 basketball with her national team at Malaysia’s 2019 FIBA 3×3 Under-18 Asia Cup.
- Her cousin, Keeley Frawley, is a former University of Portland women’s basketball player.
