Basketball On The Internet.

THE WNBL certainly got it right with Sami Whitcomb last night finally claiming its Most Valuable Player honours. But Lordy Lordy, how many awards did the league get so completely wrong? It was almost embarrassing. Veronica Burton? Kennedy Kereama? Alex Fowler? Shaneice Swain? 

They sure had pretty good cases to feel seriously hard done by. Hell, where was Kanye West when you need him?

I guess we should content ourselves with the fact this year at least Naz Hillmon WASN'T introduced as Naz Hamilton.

Progress!

Bendigo Spirit and WNBL superstar Whitcomb taking the Gold? Spot on. No dispute. 

Best Defensive to a centre? Sorry Veronica. You will have to take comfort in winning the championship with Bendigo.

The same holds true for Coach Kennedy. His Spirit went 18-3 and hardly had a slip all season. He is BY FAR the 2024-25 season's Coach of the Year.

No offence intended toward Townsville's Shannon Seebohm who, after all, doesn't pick the award. But is this just a popularity contest now?

Shannon winning this award for a record fifth time means he now tops even our greatest WNBL coach in Tom Maher (four CotY wins). Come on now. That is, well, a bit of a giggle.

Abbey Wehrung is admittedly a favourite of mine but Best Sixth Woman when you can enter a lot of your games with your team already creaming the opposition? Really feel Alex Fowler had a case. 

Shaneice Swain averaged 17.5 points (3rd) and 4.0 assists (8th) for Sydney and her points hauls included a 36 and a 40-piece. Not the Breakout Player of the Year?

Congratulations to all the winners but maybe this was another case of "Envelopegate" because some judges definitely were in La La Land.

2024-2025 CYGNETT WNBL AWARD WINNERS

Suzy Batkovic Medal (League MVP):  Sami Whitcomb – Bendigo Spirit

ALL WNBL FIRST TEAM: Alex Wilson (Perth Lynx), Laeticia Amihere (Perth Lynx), Naz Hillmon (Southside Flyers), Sami Whitcomb (Bendigo Spirit), Courtney Woods (Townsville Fire).

ALL WNBL SECOND TEAM: Veronica Burton (Bendigo Spirit), Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo Spirit), Anneli Maley (Perth Lynx), Jade Melbourne (Canberra Capitals) and Miela Sowah (Perth Lynx).

Coach of the Year Award: Shannon Seebohm (Townsville Fire)

Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award: Abbey Ellis (Townsville Fire)

Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Abbey Wehrung (Bendigo Spirit)

Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award: Lauren Cox (Townsville Fire)

Cygnett Community Award: Courtney Woods (Townsville Fire)

Ford Fan MVP: Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals)

Truly gratified to be recognised and among the WNBL's seven new Life Member inductees.

Now it's time to turn to Final Four action

SEMI FINAL (1v4) BENDIGO SPIRIT v SYDNEY FLAMES 

Game 1 – Sunday, February 23, 3:30pm (AEDT) – Red Energy Arena, Bendigo

Game 2 – Thursday, February 27, 7pm (AEDT) – Quaycentre, Sydney

Game 3 (if required) – Sunday, March 2, 2:30pm (AEDT) – Red Energy Arena, Bendigo

SEMI FINAL (2v3) PERTH LYNX v TOWNSVILLE FIRE

Game 1 – Saturday, February 22, 5pm (AWST) – Bendat Basketball Centre, Perth

Game 2 – Wednesday, February 26, 6:30pm (AEST) – Townsville Entertainment Centre

Game 3 (if required) – Saturday, March 1, 5pm (AWST) – Bendat Basketball Centre, Perth 

FYI

The Cygnett WNBL Grand Final Series Dates

Game 1 – Wednesday, March 5 – Time TBC

Game 2 – Sunday, March 9 – Time TBC

Game 3 (if required) – Wednesday, March 12 – Time TBC