WNBL 2023/24 AWARDS
Written by Nellie Rose
The Cygnett WNBL’s night of night’s was held in Melbourne on Sunday evening. Fully fitted with the orange carpet the event included musical performances, a formal address from the Head of the WNBL Christy Collier-Hill and honourable medal presenters.
The night ran through 6 individual player awards, 1 coaches award and two ALL WNBL teams’ lineups.
The first award of the night was the 2023/24 Cyngett Community Award which included a $5000 donation to the charity of choice. Courtney Woods of Townsville Fire received the award, due to the Fire competing up in Townsville Wood’s could not make it in person. However, in her recorded speech she pledged the donation go to the Ronald McDonald House.
‘The Sixth Woman of the Year Award’ or the most valuable substitute went to the seasoned veteran, Leilani Mitchell of the Southside Flyers.
The Sydney Flames saw their first player of the night win with the ‘Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award’ going to their guard, Lauren Nicholson. This will be the second time Nicholson has won this award, the first time being back in 2019.
‘Betty Watson Breakout player of the Year Award’ went to Alex sharp, who is just in her 4th season and first year at the UC Capitals.
The ‘Coach of the Year Award’ went to Townsville Fire’s Shannon Seebohm who also could not be in person.
The fans choice or ‘Fan MVP’ was another win for the Caps with the popular 21 year old Jade Melbourne winning.
The 2023/23 ALL WNBL teams were announced with line ups for the second and first teams.
2023/24 ALL WNBL SECOND TEAM: Sami Whitcomb (Townsville Fire), Naz Hillmon (Melbourne Boomers), Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx), Aari McDonald (Perth Lynx), Didi Richards (Sydney Flames).
2023/24 ALL WNBL FIRST TEAM: Jordin Canada (Melbourne Boomers), Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals), Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames), Isobel Borlase (Adelaide Lightning), Mercedes Russell (Southside Flyers).
Finally, to conclude the night, the 2023/24 Suzy Batkovic Medal – WNBL MVP award went to Jordan Canada from the Melbourne Boomers. Canada averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds across 18 home-and-away games. Canada is just the second international player to win the award.
___
2023/2024 CYGNETT WNBL AWARD WINNERS
Suzy Batkovic Medal (League MVP): Jordin Canada (Melbourne Boomers)
Fan MVP: Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals)
ALL WNBL FIRST TEAM: Jordin Canada (Melbourne Boomers), Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals), Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames), Isobel Borlase (Adelaide Lightning), Mercedes Russell (Southside Flyers)
ALL WNBL SECOND TEAM: Sami Whitcomb (Townsville Fire), Naz Hillmon (Melbourne Boomers), Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx), Aari McDonald (Perth Lynx), Didi Richards (Sydney Flames)
Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award: Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames)
Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Leilani Mitchell (Southside Flyers)
Coach of the Year Award: Shannon Seebohm (Townsville Fire)
Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award: Alex Sharp (UC Capitals)
Cygnett Community Award: Courtney Woods (Townsville Fire)
__
2023/24 Suzy Batkovic Medal – WNBL MVP Finalists
Isobel Borlase (Adelaide), Jordin Canada (Melbourne), Jade Melbourne (Canberra), Lauren Nicholson (Sydney), Sami Whitcomb (Townsville)
2023/24 Suzy Batkovic Medal – WNBL MVP
Jordin Canada (Melbourne)
2023/24 Fan MVP Finalists
Jordin Canada (Melbourne), Monique Conti (Melbourne), Lauren Jackson (Southside), Jade Melbourne (Canberra), Lauren Nicholson (Sydney)
2023/24 Fan MVP
Jade Melbourne (Canberra)
2023/24 ALL WNBL FIRST TEAM
Jordin Canada (Melbourne Boomers), Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals), Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames), Isobel Borlase (Adelaide Lightning), Mercedes Russell (Southside Flyers)
2023/24 ALL WNBL SECOND TEAM
Sami Whitcomb (Townsville Fire), Naz Hillmon (Melbourne Boomers), Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx), Aari McDonald (Perth Lynx), Didi Richards (Sydney Flames)
2023/24 CYGNETT Community Award Finalists
Alex Bunton (Canberra), Sherrie Calleia (Melbourne), Lara McSpaden (Sydney), Chloe Tugliach (Canberra), Courtney Woods (Townsville)
2023/24 CYGNETT Community Award Winner
Courtney Woods (Townsville)
2023/24 Coach Award Finalists
Chris Lucas (Melbourne), Guy Molloy (Sydney), Shannon Seebohm (Townsville)
2023/24 Coach of the Year
Shannon Seebohm (Townsville)
2023/24 Betty Watson Breakout Player Award Finalists
Amy Atwell (Perth), Issy Bourne (Adelaide), Monique Conti (Melbourne), Alex Sharp (Canberra), Courtney Woods (Townsville)
2023/24 Betty Watson Breakout Player Winner
Alex Sharp (Canberra)
2023/24 Sixth Woman of the Year Award Finalists
Emma Clarke, Alicia Froling, Leilani Mitchell, Tera Reed, Abbey Wehrung
2023/24 Sixth Woman of the Year Winner
Leilani Mitchell (Southside)
2023/24 Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award Finalists
Jordin Canada, Lauren Nicholson, Steph Reid, Mercedes Russell, Brianna Turner
2023/24 Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Winner
Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames)
__
Stay updated with weekly WNBL news and features – subscribe now for more insights delivered to your inbox.