WNBL AWARDS

At the end of each season the WNBL announces a range of Award recipients. The history of winners can be found on the HERE.

WNBL AWARDS COMMITTEE

To improve the integrity and impartiality of the WNBL Awards program, selection of recipients will now involve a two-step process – nomination (as outlined below, per previous seasons), and selection by Committee.

WNBL League Management will select 5-8 persons, consisting of past players, coaches and officials, along with media journalists and Basketball Australia representatives, to form the Awards Committee. Following nominations, this Committee will be responsible for selecting the season player awards.

Each Committee member will cast 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.

SEASON AWARDS

SUZY BATKOVIC MEDAL (LEAGUE MVP)

The Award was renamed as the Suzy Batkovic medal in 2019 to recognise and honour one of the competitions best players in Suzy Batkovic.

At the end of each regular season game, both coaches and the lead referee conduct a 3-2-1 vote.  WNBL will compile a list of the top ten (10) players that received game MVP votes throughout the regular season.  The WNBL Awards Committee will vote on this list and the player with the most votes be awarded the Suzy Batkovic Medal.  If players are tied on votes from the WNBL Awards Committee, then the total votes received from coaches/referees during the season will be used to determine the overall MVP of the competition.

COACH OF THE YEAR (introduced 1987)

The WNBL Awards Committee will vote on the list of Head Coaches from the 23/24 season. Coach of the Year voting will be based on win/loss, strategy, fairness and getting the most out of a roster.  If coaches are tied on total points, the number of first-place votes will determine the winner. The top three coaches will be announced as finalists.

SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR (introduced 2019-20)

Prior to the end of the regular season coaches from each team will nominate a maximum of two (2) players within their team for the award. Players that have started in 50% or more of the games during the season are not eligible for the award (no exceptions).

These nominations will form a list from which the WNBL Awards Committee members cast votes 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). If players are tied on total points, the number of first-place votes will determine the winner.

BETTY WATSON BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR (introduced 1988)

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

This award is to be awarded to a Rookie, youth player, or other breakout performer. Prior to the end of the regular season coaches from each team nominate a maximum of two (2) players within their team for the award. These nominations will form a list from which the WNBL Awards Committee members cast votes 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). If players are tied on total points, the number of first-place votes will determine the winner.

ALL WNBL FIRST and SECOND TEAM (introduced 1988)

WNBL will compile a list of the top thirty (30) players that received game MVP votes throughout the regular season. From this, the WNBL Awards Committee will select a First Team and a Second Team, ensuring 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. There is no restriction on the number of international athletes that may be selected in these teams.

ROBYN MAHER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (introduced 1990)

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.

Prior to the end of the regular season coaches from each team nominate the two (2) best defensive players within their team. These nominations will form a list from which the WNBL Awards Committee members cast votes 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). If players are tied on total points, the number of first-place votes will determine the winner.

CYGNETT COMMUNITY AWARD (introduced 22-23)

The Cygnett WNBL Community Award aims to recognise an athlete that has made significant contributions to the community through their time, actions and dedication.

The Award relates to activity undertaken in the immediate season.

At the end of each regular season Clubs will be asked to nominate one or more athletes who have been part of their program (including development players) for the Award. Information requested will include:

• Name of athlete
• Community efforts undertaken
• Impact of those efforts

The recipient of the Community Award will be selected by the WNBL Awards Committee. The winner will receive $5,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

FAN MVP

WNBL  fans will be invited to vote for their MVP out of the starting five (5) players from each team of that season. The player with the most votes will win the FAN MVP.

STATISTICAL AWARDS

Each WNBL season the league will present Statistical Awards at the completion of the regular season. Statistical Awards will be awarded to the leading players in the following categories:

• Leading Scorer
• Leading Rebounder
• Golden Hands Award
• • To be eligible for statistical awards, players must have played in at least 50% of the available games played each season.
  • The awards will be given to the player with the highest average for the season.
  • Golden Hands Award winner is determined by the following equation – (Total Assists + Total Steals – Total Turnovers) / Games Played = Golden Hands Award Rating

WEEKLY RECOGNITION

• After each round of the regular season, WNBL League Management will analyse the results of each game and the player statistics, and recognise one athlete as the Player of the Round, and five athletes in Team of the Round.
• Social Media graphics and a small highlights video of the Player of the Round will be produced and distributed amongst the league social channels.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

1. Consideration for WNBL Life Membership will be triggered automatically at 250 games for players and coaches, (including a combination of both), and 150 games for referees.
2. WNBL Life Membership is awarded for long and outstanding service to the competition and/or its organisation and operation.
3. Any person (in the role of player, coach, referee, technical official, or administrator), who has given outstanding service to the WNBL over an extended period may be nominated and/or considered for WNBL Life Membership.
4. Candidates for WNBL Life Membership will be considered only on the basis of their contributions to, and achievements in, the WNBL competition.
5. Candidates should have displayed the highest level performance and competitive spirit while making a significant, memorable, positive, commendable and lasting contribution to the WNBL.
6. Consideration will be given in exceptional circumstances to players, coaches and referees who have not reached the required criteria.
7. There shall be no limit on the number of people awarded WNBL Life Membership in any one year, but the Basketball Australia Honours and Awards Commission may use its discretion in recommending to the BA Board how many awards will be made.

MEDIA AWARDS

These awards highlight the exceptional work done across all media outlets reporting on the WNBL throughout the season. Media are encouraged to nominate for their relevant category with no limits on the amount of submissions.

The award categories are as follows:

• Feature Story of the Year – this award recognises a well-researched written, audio or video profiling of an individual athlete, team or coach, or other related story (any medium). Please nominate a specific piece of work, rather than an entire body of work for the season. If the entry is a TV feature, please provide a 3-4 minute clip. The journalist will be the recipient of this award.
• Photograph of the Year – this award recognises the incredible imagery captured of athletes, teams or coaches. Photographers may submit a maximum of six photographs. The photographer will be the recipient of this award.
• Reporter of the Year – entrants will be judged on news breaking, features, insight, impact and a consistent high standard of reportage of WNBL stories during the season. The award is open to all forms of media, and the recipient will be an individual.
• Best Overall Coverage – entrants will be judged on news breaking, features, insight, impact and a consistent high standard of reportage of WNBL stories during the season. If the entry is a podcast entry, please provide a 3–4-minute clip. The recipient will be a publication, of any media format.