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Women's National Basketball League 2024-25
Champion: Bendigo Spirit
Regular Season Champion: Bendigo Spirit
Women's National Basketball League Final: Bendigo Spirit - Townsville Fire 55-63 Bendigo: Veronica Burton 4, Samantha Whitcomb 26, Kelsey Griffin 8, Marianna Tolo 17, Kelly Wilson 2, Abigail Wehrung 3, Casey Samuels 3, Micah Simpson 0, Georgia Booth 0, Ashlee Hannan 0, Opal Bird 0, Asha Nightingale 0 Standings 2024-25
- qualified to the play-offs Stats Leaders 2024-25
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 Bendigo Player of the Week: Round 16(RS)  Canberra Women's National Basketball League Final  Bendigo Spirit sweep Fire to win third WNBL title (Photo: ESPN)
 Bendigo Spirit sweep Fire to win third WNBL title-Mar 9, 2025
Bendigo Spirit have claimed their third WNBL championship after defeating Townsville Fire 63-55 in game two of the grand final series. The best team all season, the Spirit seized control after half-time to complete a series sweep at a sold-out Townsville Entertainment Centre on Sunday. League MVP Samantha Whitcomb (178-G-1988, college: Washington) added a Rachael Sporn grand final MVP award to her growing trophy cabinet after scoring 26 points, while Mariana Tolo combined 17 points with nine rebounds. "Honestly, there is no other team I would rather have won with," Samantha Whitcomb said. "It felt inevitable with this group; it felt like we were building something from the beginning. "This was hard and so, so tough, but we earned it and I'm so proud." Veterans Tolo, Kelsey Griffin (188-F/C-1987, college: Nebraska) and Kelly Wilson (170-G-1984) celebrated their fifth championship. It was Bendigo's first title since winning back-to-back pennants in 2013-14, against Townsville. "I'm so happy for the playing group right now," Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama said. "It's just a fantastic achievement by our team and I'm incredibly proud of everybody." Lauren Cox (193-F-1998, college: Baylor, agency: LBM Management) posted 17 points for the Fire, while captain Courtney Woods (183-G/F-1997, college: NIU)' 10 points were offset by 10 turnovers. It was physical and defence-dominated early, with more than three minutes passing before the contest's first field goal as both sides missed their opening five shots. Bendigo settled first and moved ahead 11-5 before Townsville recovered to lead 21-20 at quarter-time, with Cox scoring 13 points. With the Spirit's bigs finding foul trouble, the Fire went on an 11-0 run either side of the first break to motor ahead 29-20. Townsville dominated the offensive rebounds 11-2 in the first half but their poor perimeter shooting kept Bendigo in the hunt. Samantha Whitcomb and Tolo combined to close Townsville's buffer to 34-33 at half-time before the Spirit, as in Game One, got on top courtesy of a third-quarter defensive masterclass. The Fire had more turnovers (10) than points (seven) for the term and Bendigo, piloted by Samantha Whitcomb, took advantage to move ahead 46-41 at three-quarter-time. Townsville went more than seven minutes without a field goal as the Spirit's lead swelled to double digits on an Abbey Wehrung trey. The Fire diligently chipped away at the deficit and closed the margin to two points when rookie Abbey Ellis (168-G, college: Purdue) drained a three, but the home side would be left to rue more turnovers and missed free throws down the stretch. Courtesy of: espn.com Australiabasket.com All-Australian WNBL Awards 2025-Mar 13, 2025
 The standout American guard Samantha Whitcomb picked up the Grand Final MVP of the championship-winning the Bendigo Spirit.
She graduated from the Washington fifteen years ago.
Whitcomb received multiple other awards, was named the Player of the Year and was voted to the First Team.
With Whitcomb's excellent performance, the Bendigo Spirit achieved the best record of the season in the league, finishing with an impressive 18 to 3 in the regular season.
Her excellent performance assisted her team in beating Townsville 2 to 0 in the final series.
Whitcomb was previously voted the Guard of the Year back in 2016, Defensive Player of the Year back in 2016 and 2017, selected to the First Team four times in the past, Forward of the Year, Import Player of the Year back in 2017 and Second Team last year.
She averaged almost 7 rebounds per game in the league.
Whitcomb was the Player of the Week honoree twice during the 24 25 campaign.
She led the WNBL in points per game with 21.
Whitcomb has totalled 15 games of 20 or more points on the year and recorded 30 or more points in 3 games.
She registered double-doubles in 4 games at the event.
Whitcomb's 35 points against Townsville were the most she scored in the 24 25 season.
Among many awards Whitcomb's team won the Australian WNBL Regular Season in 2018 and 2024.
Courtney Woods, swingman from the Townsville Fire, was selected as the Community Award at the National Basketball League.
She is the Northern Illinois alumna from 2020.
Woods was also chosen to the First Team.
Her best performance made her team reach the finals but they unfortunately lost against Bendigo 0 to 2.
Woods' court vision was unparalleled as she secured the fourth spot in points per game, delivering an average of 16.
She also had almost 6 rebounds per game that season in the league.
Woods has totalled 6 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 6 games on the year.
Her 27 points against Perth were the most she scored in the 24 25 season.
Among many awards Woods' team won the Australian WNBL Regular Season for two years in a row (2023 and 2024).
She was also selected as the Australiabasket All-Australian NBL1 Player of the Year in 2023.
Woods was selected to the All-MAC First Team between 2018 and 2020.
Laeticia Amihere, 23-year old Canadian forward from the Perth Lynx, was named to the First Team of National Basketball League.
She is ex University of South Carolina from 2023.
Amihere received Player of the Week award twice during the 24 25 campaign.
She logged over 15 points and 6 rebounds per game over the season in the league.
Amihere has totalled 7 games of 20 or more points and registered double-doubles in 4 games on the year.
Her 29 points against Canberra were the most she scored in the 24 25 season.
Among many awards Amihere's college team won the SEC Tournament in 2020, 2021 and 2023.
She was selected to the Latinbasket All-FIBA AmeriCup Second Team back in 2021.
Naz Hillmon-Baker, American forward from the Southside Flyers Dandenong, earned a spot in the First Team at the National Basketball League.
She is alumna of the Michigan from 2022.
Hillmon-Baker was previously voted to the Second Team last year.
Her consistent performance as a playmaker earned her the second ranked in points per game, showcasing average of over 19 and fifth in rebounds per game with an average of almost 10.
Hillmon-Baker has totalled 9 games of 20 or more points and notched double-doubles in 9 games on the year.
Her 30 points against Sydney were the most she scored in the 24 25 season.
Among many awards Hillmon-Baker's team made it to the Australian WNBL Semifinals in 2024.
She was also selected as the All-Big Ten Player of the Year as well as the All-Americans First Team and the All-Americans Second Team back in 2021.
Hillmon-Baker was also selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team back in 2022.
Alex Wilson, 30-year old guard from the Perth Lynx, was selected to the First Team of National Basketball League.
Her exceptional play earned her the fifth spot in points per game, boasting an impressive average of almost 16 and fourth in assists per game, an average of almost 5.
Wilson has totalled 6 games of 20 or more points on the year.
Her 32 points against Townsville were the most she scored in the 24 25 season.
Among many awards she won the Australian NBL1 championship title in 2023.
She was selected to the Australiabasket All-Australian NBL1 First Team for three consecutive years between 2021 and 2023.
Grand Final MVP:  Samantha Whitcomb (178-G-1988) of BendigoPlayer of the Year: Samantha Whitcomb (178-G-1988) of BendigoFord Fan MVP:  Jade Melbourne (178-G-2002) of CanberraBetty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award: Abbey Ellis (168-G) of TownsvilleDefensive Player of the Year: Lauren Cox (193-F-1998) of TownsvilleSixth Player of the Year: Abigail Wehrung (177-G-1995) of BendigoCommunity Award: Courtney Woods (183-G/F-1997) of TownsvilleCoach of the Year: Shannon Seebohm of Townsville Australiabasket.com All-Australian WNBL First Team 2025  Amihere  Hillmon-Baker Whitcomb  Wilson  Woods  Laeticia Amihere (191-F-2001) of Perth Naz Hillmon-Baker (188-F-2000) of Southside Samantha Whitcomb (178-G-1988) of Bendigo Alex Wilson (175-G-1994) of Perth Courtney Woods (183-G/F-1997) of TownsvilleAustraliabasket.com All-Australian WNBL Second Team 2025  Burton  Griffin  Maley Melbourne  Goodchild Veronica Burton (175-G-2000) of Bendigo Kelsey Griffin (188-F/C-1987) of Bendigo Anneli Maley (185-F-1998) of Perth Jade Melbourne (178-G-2002) of Canberra Miela Goodchild (180-G-2000) of Perth*The awards were created by Australiabasket.com staff based on the stats (if available), teams' performance and players' performance.
It very often required deeper research and collecting various data about the players and their teams. |
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