WNBL AWARD CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED
As the regular season draws to a close and the WNBL Finals begins, it’s time for the WNBL Award candidates to be revealed and winners to be announced.
Announcement dates:
Betty Watson Youth Player of the Year – Friday 25th March.
Robin Maher Defensive Player of the Year – Monday 28th March.
Sixth Woman of the Year – Tuesday 29th March.
Coach of the Year – Tuesday 29th March.
Suzy Batkovic Medal – WNBL MVP – Friday 1st April.
All WNBL First and Second Team – Monday 4th April.
For more detailed information on the awards, all the candidates and the nomination and selection process, please see below:
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:
Brittany Sykes (UCC)
Jackie Young (PER)
Anneli Maley (BEN)
Steph Talbot (ADL)
Kelsey Griffin (UCC)
Alanna Smith (ADL)
Cayla George (MEL)
Ezi Magbegor (MEL)
SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Prior to the end of the regular season coaches from each team nominate the two best sixth player recipients within their team, these nominations form a list from which each coach and 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.
Players that have started in 50% or more of the games during the season are not eligible for the award.
CANDIDATES:
Steph Reid (TSV)
Chelsea Brook (ADL)
Alex Ciabattoni (PER)
Kristy Wallace (STH)
Jade Melbourne (UCC)
BETTY WATSON AUSTRALIAN YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This award is for Australian players competing in the WNBL that are under 23 years of age. 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. 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 players are tied on total points, the number of first-place votes will determine the winner.
A pioneer for women’s basketball in Australia, the Award is named in honor of Betty Watson.
CANDIDATES:
Ezi Magbegor (MEL)
Katie Deeble (SYD)
Shyla Heal (SYD)
Jade Melbourne (UCC)
Samantha Simons (ADL)
ROBYN MAHER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Prior to the end of the 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. Each first-place vote is worth three points; each second-place vote is worth two points; 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 league’s greatest players, Robyn Maher, who was regarded as the best defensive player in the league during her playing career in the WNBL.
CANDIDATES:
Steph Reid (TSV)
Kiera Rowe (SYD)
Kalani Purcell (SYD)
Brittney Sykes (UCC)
Maddy Rocci (STH)
Tiffany Mitchell (MEL)
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, making sure they do not select the same player in each 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.