The Ballarat Miners are excited to announce the signing of European import forward Julia Gladkova for the upcoming 2025 Mitsubishi NBL1 South season. Known for her scoring prowess and versatility, Gladkova brings a wealth of international experience to the Miners’ roster.
Standing at 182 cm, Gladkova has showcased her talents across various leagues, most recently, in 2024, playing for Rojas in Mexico. In the 2020-2021 season, she played for Lobas in Mexico, averaging 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over 14 appearances. The following season, she joined Halcones in the Mexican LNBPF, where she maintained impressive stats with 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 22 games.
Expressing her enthusiasm about joining the Miners, Gladkova stated, “I’m so excited to become part of the Ballarat Miners team, family and community. I appreciate the opportunity that Kennedy has given me and will always do my best for the team and our fans!”
Head Coach Kennedy Kereama was pleased to bring in someone of Julia’s experience, saying, “We are very excited to welcome Julia Gladkova to the Ballarat Miners for this NBL1 season. Her extensive international experience and championship-winning background at multiple levels ranging from youth EuroBasket tournaments to the World University Games make her a tremendous asset to our program.
Kereama added, “Her versatility, scoring ability, and defensive tenacity will significantly enhance our offensive and defensive capabilities, as she has shown the capacity to perform under pressure and deliver in crucial moments at all levels. In addition to strengthening our lineup, Julia has demonstrated a genuine desire to work with junior athletes and grow the game of basketball, bringing valuable coaching experience to our association. Her ability to inspire and mentor young players, combined with her international experience, makes her an invaluable asset. We’re looking forward to utilising her leadership on and off the court as we aim for a successful season together.”
Nev Ivey, CEO of Ballarat Basketball, had this to say on the inclusion of Gladkova “Julia’s signing is a fantastic addition to our program. Her experience at the international level and ability to impact the game in multiple ways will be a huge asset for us this season. We’re excited to welcome her to Ballarat and look forward to seeing the influence she’ll have both on the court and within our basketball community.”
Julia becomes the 9th member of our Miners Women’s squad, joining re-signed players Millie Cracknell, Abbey Wehrung, Ella Gordon & Micah Simpson, returning local Laura Taylor, other new recruits Ally Knights & Opal Bird, and also last week’s other import signing of Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis who will join the team in the next month.