Proudly representing UWA on the national stage, Team Maali delivered an impressive campaign at the 2026 UniSport Nationals in Perth, finishing fifth overall after a week of outstanding performances from 26 September to 2 October.
More than 40 universities from across Australia converged on Perth to contest 30 sports, with UWA fielding a record 429 student-athletes in 53 teams across 23 sports, one of the University’s largest Nationals contingents to date.
It was a memorable week of Maali Magic, with UWA athletes securing 8 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze medals across the competition. Murray the Maali also added to the medal tally, racing to gold in the highly coveted UniSport Mascot Race.
Team Maali reinforced UWA’s position as a leading sporting university in Western Australia, being crowned Overall West Champions and West Per Capita Champions, while also receiving the West Spirit Award in recognition of the energy, camaraderie and team spirit displayed throughout the week.
"Winning three major titles and finishing fifth overall is a fantastic result for Team Maali. This achievement reflects the commitment and determination of our student-athletes, coaches and support staff, and we could not be prouder of their performance. Seeing so many UWA students proudly wearing the Maali jersey and representing our university and community was incredible. The unity and passion shown throughout the week was a true reflection of the 'Maali Spirit'."
Jake Wilkins, UWA Sport General Manager
The result builds on UWA’s proud history at UniSport Nationals. UWA was crowned overall national champion on home soil in 2010 and 2016, before securing the West Per Capita Championship in 2022 and the Overall West Championship in 2025.
With the Nationals returning to Perth in 2026, UWA students, staff, alumni and supporters had the opportunity to get behind Team Maali throughout the week, with Sport of the Day fixtures showcasing UWA teams competing across venues around the city.
Finishing fifth nationally represents another strong chapter in UWA’s proud sporting history and reflects the commitment of the student-athletes, coaches, team managers, volunteers and supporters who contributed to the campaign.
Congratulations to all the Team Maali student-athletes on an outstanding week of competition and for representing UWA with pride on the national stage.