Whitcomb continues stellar week, taking out Spirit MVP
Sami Whitcomb’s week of individual accolades continued in Bendigo this evening, with the star guard collecting her second MVP award for the week to headline the winners at the Bendigo Spirit Awards Night.
Following being crowned as the League MVP at the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Awards Night held in Melbourne on Monday, Whitcomb – unsurprisingly – was also named Bendigo Spirit’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024/25 season. In her first season with the Spirit, Whitcomb’s leadership on the court, combined with her scoring prowess and playmaking abilities, made her an invaluable asset to the team, which enjoyed an impressive 18-3 record through the regular season. Whitcomb led the League in scoring with 440 points and averaged 21 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.
Veronica Burton‘s tenacity and defensive skills were unmatched this season, earning her the Spirit’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. Burton’s dynamic playmaking and defensive play were outstanding throughout her debut WNBL season, with the US import finishing with an average of 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Arguably one of the imports of the season – an opinion confirmed with her League-wide acknowledgement after being named in the WNBL’s 2024/25 All-Star Second Team earlier in the week – her ability to shut down opponents and create turnovers was crucial to the team’s success.
Amongst a roster of stars, Casey Samuels has had a remarkable season for the Spirit, earning herself the Breakout Player of the Year Award in the process. Particularly in the first part of the season, when captain Kelsey Griffin was missing from the line-up due to injury, Samuels stepped up to more than adequately fill the position. As part of a roster full of international experience, Samuels finished in the Spirit’s top five for average minutes played (25.9), total points scored (216), average points scored (10.8), total rebounds (81), and average rebounds per game (4.1).
For the final award of the evening, Luke McAlpine was honored with the Club Person of the Year Award for his unwavering commitment and contribution to the club. As the Spirit’s Game Day Manager, McAlpine goes above and beyond the scope of his role to ensure a Bendigo Spirit home game is a memorable experience for all involved. Showing genuine care for the team on the court, the club as a whole, and the community they represent, McAlpine’s dedication behind the scenes – supporting both players and staff -has been instrumental in the club’s success. McAlpine’s passion and hard work embody the spirit of the Bendigo community.
Dan Jackson, General Manager of the Bendigo Spirit, expressed his pride in the team’s achievements so far this season.
“To date, this season on-court has been incredible, and these awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players and staff both on and off the court. Each person recognised this evening has shown exceptional talent and commitment to our club and what we set out to achieve, and I couldn’t be prouder of them all.
“Now we’ve wrapped up the regular season and celebrated our achievements there, it’s time to turn 100% of our attention to the playoffs and our ultimate goal of the Championship.”
Game 1 of the semi-final series against the Sydney Flames will be held this Sunday (February 23) at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo.
Tip-off is at 3.30pm, with tickets now available to purchase via Ticketek.