Bendigo Spirit to retire Gabe Richards’ jersey
Bendigo Spirit is proud to announce that for the first time a Spirit Jersey will be retired, with the announcement that Gabe Richards‘ iconic number 20 jersey will be immortalised in club history.
A jersey retirement is the highest accolade in basketball, honoring Richards’ exceptional contributions the Spirit and the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), as well as the wider Australian basketball and Bendigo communities in general.
Richards’ career is nothing short of extraordinary. Across her 293 WNBL games, 251 were played with Bendigo Spirit – a long-standing record that has only just been surpassed by current Spirit player, Kelly Wilson. Richards ranks 10th all-time for WNBL career rebounds with 2,175, and recorded 21 rebounds in a single game against Melbourne on September 2, 2014, placing her 25th all-time for most rebounds in a single game.
Richards was a two-time WNBL All-Star Five player, and a pivotal player in Bendigo’s back-to-back Championship victories in 2013 and 2014. Beyond her achievements with the Spirit, Richards represented Australia as a member of the Opals, including at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, where the team secured a bronze medal.
After recognising the need to formally acknowledge the outstanding achievements and contributions of past players and key club personnel, the decision to retire Richards’ jersey was made by the Bendigo Spirit’s newly established Honours and Awards Committee. Consisting of Andrea Walsh, inaugural Bendigo Spirit Captain, Ashley Donaldson, current Game Commissioner and former Spirit Board member, and Dan Jackson, General Manager of the Bendigo Spirit, the Committee established the criteria for jersey retirement, which include: a minimum of 150 games with the Spirit, at least one Championship with the Spirit, recognition as an elite talent through league awards and/or Australian Opals representation, and having spent the majority of one’s WNBL career with the Spirit.
Upon evaluation, the committee unanimously recommended Richards for this inaugural honor.
Richards expressed her gratitude at the recognition.
“It’s an incredible honor to have my jersey retired by the Bendigo Spirit,” Richards said. “This team and community have been a significant part of my life, and I’m deeply humbled by this recognition.”
Jackson added: “Gabe’s dedication and performance were not only instrumental in the Spirit’s on-court success at the time, but it’s a legacy she and the team created for the Bendigo community during those Championship years. Her leadership and commitment set a standard for all players, and retiring her jersey is a fitting tribute to this legacy.”
Richards’ jersey retirement ceremony will take place on December 14 before the Spirit’s next home game at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo.
With tip-off scheduled for 5pm AEDT, the Spirit will take on the Townsville Fire – fittingly, the team Bendigo defeated in both finals during their back-to-back Championship seasons.