SAN FRANCISCO ― Atlanta Dream guard Isobel Borlase's game isn't loud or flashy.
It's smooth, measured and nearly always timely, a fitting reflection of how the 22-year-old Australia native presents herself. Teammates describe Borlase as "quiet" but confident. Izzy, as the Dream call her, has challenged herself to step up during Atlanta's WNBA Finals run.
Borlase was critical during the semfinals against the New York Liberty, helping Atlanta secure a sweep. She produced back-to-back double-digit performances off the bench in Games 2 and 3, including shooting 83% from the field in the clinching game.
With the Golden State Valkyries on tap for the Finals, Borlase knew she had to find another gear. During Atlanta's title series against Golden State,
Borlase has typically been one of the first players off the bench with veteran DeWanna Bonner.
Head coach Karl Smesko has leaned on Borlase in his seven-player Finals rotation, expecting her to contribute offensively and keep up with high defensive standards that helped the Dream reach the championship series. To Borlase's credit, she has continued her solid production in the Finals.
She has two games with 10 points or more and four with one block each. Borlase has also taken on tough defensive assignments, like guarding Veronica Burton, two-time All-Star Gabby Williams and even 6-foot-3 center and three-time WNBA champion Kiah Stokes.
"You can tell she looks fearless, and I think it's because she knows we also have her back. And (we're) pouring into her so much, but she just continues to trust her work. She puts in the work every single day," Dream forward Angel Reesesaid. "... She said that she wanted to be better defensively, and she has,"
"You can see it. She said she didn't wanna be a liablity, and you can tell on the court. She's continued to step her defense up. You can't iso her easily because she's just there, and she's solid."
BIG BORLASE WITH THE BLOCK pic.twitter.com/LuDhVRggvW
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) October 20, 2026
Borlase's WNBA rise years in the making
Borlase was a pro before she ever stepped foot onto a WNBA court. She won the Women's National Basketball League's Breakout Player of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year in 2023. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per matchup during her second year in the Australian league.
In 2024, the Dream drafted Borlase with the 20th overall pick. The same year, she won a bronze medal during the Australian national team's Olympic run in Paris. During the women's basketball semifinal game against the United States, Borlase, who was 19 at the time, finished as Australia's high scorer, putting up 11 points in 14 minutes.
During the 2025-2026 season, Borlase was the WNBL scoring champion and MVP and punctuated her season by earning her second first-team All-WNBL honor. She averaged 22.8 points a game on 45.3% shooting from the field along with 6.7 rebounds, four assists and 1.4 steals. Borlase's production hardly came as surprise to her Dream teammates.
"She's not even reached like 75% of her potential in the league. You know, obviously people know her. Now, they know her as WNBL MVP, but I'm continuing to get on her to come out and prove that here," Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard said. "I have the utmost confidence (in) her, and we have plays that we go to her, and we expect her to come out with something positive. ... She's stepped up, and she's accepted each challenge with grace."
Multiple players describe Borlase as someone who is willing to learn and with a desire to get better. What's more she earned high praise from Bonner, a 17-year veteran, who has seen her fair share of WNBA rookies.
Izzy Borlase had an IMPRESSIVE night, helping the Atlanta Dream secure the win over Golden State in Game 3 😤 pic.twitter.com/KkgajYKH9q
— WNBL (@WNBL) October 22, 2026
"(She's) underrated. A lot of people don't know her work ethic though," Bonner said. "People see the results, but Izzy's in (the gym) every single day. Even if we have an off day, she's in the gym somewhere, and she just wants to get better and better and better.
"That's what it takes to be in this league, to stay in this league, but also make an impact in this league. How she's impacted this series is just unreal, and it's just a testament of the work that she puts in every single day."
Borlase was playing well prior to the WNBA's FIBA break, but something flipped after she played in the World Cup with Australia. She recorded 20 total points during the team's three group games against Puerto Rico, Turkey and Belgium. However, the Dream guard had a breakout performance on Sept. 9 with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. The Opals sorely needed it as they managed injuries to multiple starters.
The young guard recorded 23 points in 11 minutes during the first half and finished with 30 points to help Australia secure an 82-80 win. When she returned from FIBA play, Borlase put up a career-high 18 points on Sept. 19 against the Chicago Sky, and continued her momentum all the way into the Finals.
"I can't tell you the amount of times all the starters ... (are) just telling me to shoot the ball all time, and I think it's just a confidence thing. It comes from preparation from me. I think believing (in) the work that you put in," Borlase told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm honestly just proud of myself being able to step up when it's mattered, but job's not done."
Dream will need Borlase to win WNBA title
The Dream have a chance to make make history on Saturday when they play Golden State in the final game of the WNBA season (8 p.m. ET, USA Network, Peacock). Like the Valkyries, they are within sight of the franchise's first championship.
Atlanta forced a decisive Game 7 — the first ever — with a 80-69 victory on Thursday, Oct. 29 at a sold-out State Farm Arena. The Dream's 13 3-pointers tied a record for the most made triples made by a team facing elimination in WNBA Finals history. The three's helped Atlanta get out to a 32-15 lead in the first 10 minutes.
Allisha Grayscored 23 points including five 3-pointers. Howard scored 21, adding four 3-pointers. Reese added her fourth double-double of the series with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Jordin Canada had 10 points to round out Atlanta players in double-figures.
For the second straight game, Borlase finished with four points. However, Atlanta will likely need another double-digit outing and a stellar defensive performance from rookie to help secure the championship.
"Izzy, she does so much for the team. Just, as a rookie and just coming in and having that impact, I mean, it's amazing," Gray said.
"Izzy ― she's my rookie. She just makes me proud. She comes in, (works) hard every day, stay after practice, gets extra shots in. So it's like, she never complains if she's playing two minutes or 20 minutes. She always plays her hardest and always gives her best."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Quiet confidence has carried Isobel Borlase to WNBA's biggest stage
