Magbegor Betty Watson Youth Player of the Year for season 21/22
Ezi Magbegor has been awarded the WNBL 21/22 Betty Watson Youth Player of the Year Award.
At 22 years old, Magbegor had a stellar home and away season for the Boomers, averaging 16.1 points, and 7.5 rebounds throughout her 15 games the season.
From a possible 42, Magbegor amassed 35 votes, with last year’s recipient, Shyla Heal, polling 17 votes.
Boomers Acting General Manager, Jake Keogh expressed the club’s congratulations for Magbegor.
“As a club we are incredibly proud of Ezi’s continued growth as not only a star player, but also as a leader.”
“She is a very deserved winner of the youth player of the year, and we can’t wait to see her take her great form further into finals.”
This marks the third time Magbegor has won the WNBL’s award given to the most outstanding Australian player 23 years old or under.
Now in her fourth consecutive season with the Boomers, Magbegor was the Betty Watson recipient, in 2020, with 38 out of 42 votes.
As coaches and captains vote for this award (but cannot vote for their own players), this illustrates the strong impression Magbegor has made among her sporting peers and leaders throughout her time in the league so far.
Magbegor was also crowned WNBL Rookie of the Year back in season 2017/18 (the award’s former incarnation) when she played for the Canberra Capitals.
The WNBL’s 2020 Hub season wrapped up with Magbegor listed in the All WNBL Second Team and finishing runner-up by one vote in the Betty Watson Australian Youth Player of the Year Award. She also took fourth place in the WNBL’s Suzy Batkovic Most Valuable Player Award.
A formidable member of the national women’s team, the Australian Opals, Magbegor made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Olympics last year, averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Following the current WNBL season, Magbegor will head back to the WNBA and her club, Seattle Storm, for her third season. Having already achieved winning a WNBA Championship and the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup. In the 2021 season, Magbegor averaged 6.74 points and 4 rebounds per game for the Storm.
Speaking to the WNBL, Magbegor expressed her thanks for recognised amongst her peers.
“I appreciate being considered for this award and I’m very grateful to receive it, especially knowing all the young talent that is in the WNBL,” Magbegor told WNBL Media.
“Receiving this award is an honour, but the main focus now is continuing to help my team win the WNBL championship.”
No doubt Magbegor will be honoured, but her focus will remain on the task at hand, as the Boomers travel to Adelaide for game two of the semi-final series after securing the win in game one at the Boom Box last night.