Issy Bunyan and Carys Roy are besties – a friendship forged on basketball courts around the globe.
They’ve played together from club level to Great Britain – and this weekend the US-based pair will try to help Wales qualify for the 3×3 basketball tournament at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“Being able to represent Wales is what everyone dreams of,” said Roy, who like Bunyan is 21.
“My favourite memories of basketball have always been in a Wales jersey, so I’m really excited.”
Both Wales’ women and men will compete in a round-robin event at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester from 22-23 May.
The winner’s of Saturday’s finals will claim the final spots for this summer’s Games in this fast-paced, half-court version of traditional basketball, which features three players on each team playing for 10 minutes with 21 points the winning target.
Roy and Bunyan have been sharing special moments on court since they were 15 years old.
However, their paths to basketball were quite different.
Roy, daughter of a Wales rugby international, is a convert from netball. Bunyan followed in family footsteps, playing since childhood at Pontypridd Panthers, the club her father – former Just Rentals Rhondda and Wales centre Jon Bunyan – set up 15 years ago.
“Izzy was only about five or six when I started the club and she was probably a little bit too young to join because we started it for under 10s,” said Bunyan.
“Her older brother was in the club at the time and she just kept pestering me, ‘can I come play, can I come play?’
“As a dad you say, ‘yes, of course you can’. So, she came and started when she was about six and just got involved in it from there.”
Standing 6ft 3in (1.9m) Roy also inherited useful sporting genes – her 6ft 6in (1.98m) father Stuart won a cap for Wales at the 1995 Rugby World Cup during a career as a lock forward with Cardiff, Pontypridd and Newport.
“Basketball began when I joined the Cowbridge secondary school team and from there I played for my local club, Vale Vipers,” said Roy.
“Netball was my major focus with Celtic Dragons U17s until I came to the Panthers where I met Issy.
“They really showed me what I could do with basketball and being able to play with Issy as well was huge because she was already a very good player and the quality of the coaching as well.”
The duo then moved to Cardiff Met Archers, initially to play in age group teams, before graduating to senior level in the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL).
“I continued playing netball alongside basketball for a bit and they worked quite well together,” added Roy.
“But I think I enjoyed basketball more. Covid also played a part because the netball stopped whereas my basketball didn’t.
“I don’t regret it at all. It’s such an exciting sport that can take you so many places and so many opportunities come from it.”
American opportunities – and challenges
The two women have certainly taken the opportunities the sport has presented them, both are currently on basketball rosters at US colleges competing in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Bunyan has recently finished her third season in America at Montana State University studying sociology and playing for Montana Bobcats – where she was part of the squad that won the Blue Sky Conference in a thrilling 2025 finale.
Roy is a biology student at St Peter’s University, New Jersey. In the season just finished she played a key role for the Peacocks, appearing in 30 games with 23 starts.
The last few years, however, have been particularly challenging after twice sustaining anterior cruciate ligament injuries that have required three operations.
“My first one happened when I was playing a pre-season friendly at Bristol before I went into my last year at school,” recalled Roy.
“After a year out I was able to play my freshman year in the US, and I came back here doing Euros prep for GB under-20s. In one of our last prep games before the tournament I hurt the same knee again.”
It meant another long period on the sidelines, missing out on her second of four US college years.
“”Honestly, I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone,” she added.
“It’s mentally and physically a very tough situation because the recovery is so long. Even if you’re back after a year’s recovery, it took me until the second half of this season to really feel like myself again on the court.
“It takes a lot to get over it. I think especially the way I was injured both times, it was contact injury.
“A lot of people don’t come back from it too, so I’m grateful to be able to be back playing again.”
While many of their US based team-mates will be resting up in the post-season break, Bunyan and Roy turn their attention to some of the very best players in the UK, all hoping to reach the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“We know a lot of the England girls, we know that they’ll be strong, so we know what to expect going into that,” said Bunyan.
“I think it’s a mix of everything. They have a couple youngsters in their long squad, I know.
“They have a couple of seniors, really experienced, and I know a lot of them are pretty strong, so we’re going up against it a bit.”
She added they are also aware of what Northern Ireland has to offer but has confidence in the Wales squad.
“We’ve got Tia Freeman who’s very physical, very strong, can get down the lane. Eleanor Bishop – she really is a sniper. And then we have Carys, who’s obviously a massive presence for us.
“I love playing with Carys. It’s amazing. I think we have a really good bond, and you can see that on the court as well.
“We know it’s going to be a tough weekend, but we know that we’re capable as well.”
Wales 3×3 squads
Women
Eleanor Bishop – Brent Bulls
Issy Bunyan – Montana State University, USA
Tia Freeman – Anglia Ruskin University
Carys Roy – Saint Peter’s University, New Jersey, USA
Men
Rhys Farrell – Gloucester City Kings
Jake Kinder – Exeter Spartans
Alex Koukouravas – Oxford University
Johny McKew – Essex Rebels
Glasgow 2026 home nations qualifying fixtures
All times BST
Friday, 22 May
15:10 Men – Wales v Northern Ireland
15:50 Women – Wales v Northern Ireland
16:30 Men – England v Isle of Man
19:10 Women – England v Isle of Man
19:50 Men – Northern Ireland v Isle of Man
20:30 Women – Northern Ireland v Isle of Man
Saturday, 23 May
10:10 Men – England v Wales
10:50 Women – England v Wales
11:30 Men – Wales v Isle of Man
14:10 Women – Wales v Isle of Man
14:50 Men – England v Northern Ireland
15:30 Women – England v Northern Ireland
18:10 Men’s Final
18:50 Women’s Final