CYGNETT WNBL ANNOUNCE CANDIDATES FOR 2022/23 AWARDS 

With the regular season drawing to a close, the Cygnett Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) is set to acknowledge the top talent at this year’s WNBL Awards Night. Here are the candidates for each award category.  

SUZY BATKOVIC MEDAL (MOST VALUABLE PLAYER) 

At the end of each regular-season game both coaches and the lead referee conduct a 3-2-1 vote, with the Most Valuable Player being the player with the most votes at the end of the regular season.  Renamed as the Suzy Batkovic medal in 2019, the award recognises and honours one of the competition’s best players in Suzy Batkovic. 

Candidates:  

Steph Talbot (ADL) 

Keely Froling (SYD) 

Tianna Hawkins (TSV) 

Sami Whitcomb (PER) 

Cayla George (MEL) 

Tiffany Mitchell (MEL) 

Anneli Maley (BEN) 

Kayla Thornton (STH) 

Kristy Wallace (MEL) 

Jade Melbourne (UCC)  

COACH OF THE YEAR 

Each club Head coach and team captain casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. Each first-place vote is worth three points; each second-place vote is worth two points; and each third-place vote is worth one point. The person with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. if coaches are tied on total points, the number of first-place votes will determine the winner. 

Candidates:  

Chris Lucas (MEL) 

Ryan Petrik (PER) 

Shannon Seebohm (TSV) 

Kennedy Kereama (BEN) 

Kristen Veal (UCC)  

SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR 

Prior to the end of regular season coaches from each team nominate the two best sixth player recipients within their team, these nominations inform a list from which each coach and captain casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. A player from each team must be nominated for the final list. Each first-place vote is worth three points; each second-place vote is worth two points; and each third-place vote is worth one point. The person with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. 

Candidates:  

Abbey Wehrung (BEN) 

Alex Sharp (PER) 

Isobel Borlase (ADL) 

Megan McKay (BEN) 

Nyadiew Puoch (STH) 

BETTY WATSON BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR 

This award is for any player that has an outstanding BREAKOUT season, providing a far improved overall performance than in previous years. The winner is selected at the end of the regular season by coaches and team captains, each of whom casts a vote for first, second and third place. The person with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. If players are tied on total points, the number of first-place votes will determine the winner. 

The Award is named in honor of Betty Watson, who was a pioneer for women’s basketball in Australia. 

Candidates:  

Alicia Froling (BEN) 

Chloe Bibby (PER) 

Isobel Borlase (ADL) 

Jade Melbourne (UCC) 

Nyadiew Puoch (STH)  

ROBYN MAHER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR 

Prior to the end of regular season coaches from each team nominate the two best defensive players within their team, these nominations form a list from which each Head Coach and Captain casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. A player from each team must be on the final list. Each first-place vote is worth three points; each second-place vote is worth two points; and each third-place vote is worth one point. The person with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. 

The Award is named in honor of one of the leagues greatest players, Robyn Maher, who was regarded as the best defensive player in the league during her playing career in the WNBL. 

Candidates:  

Abbey Wehrung (BEN) 

Kayla Thornton (STH) 

Kristy Wallace (MEL) 

Steph Reid (TSV) 

Steph Talbot (ADL)  

ALL WNBL FIRST and SECOND TEAM 

The All-WNBL First & Second Teams shall be decided by a vote from all coaches and captains in the league from a list of twenty players that received game MVP votes throughout the regular season. Coaches and captains select a First Team and a Second Team. Players are to be selected based on their performance throughout the season, and not necessarily by position. No more than two restricted players can be selected in each team. 

Players receive two votes for each First Team selection and one vote for each Second Team selection. 

Candidates:  

The WNBL Awards night will take place on Sunday March 5. Stay tuned on our social channels from 6:00pm AEDT to catch all the action!