Flames nominated for NBL1 East awards

Numerous Sydney Flames have been rewarded for their exceptional NBL1 East seasons by being nominated for the competition’s end-of-year awards.

Flames assistant coach Renae Garlepp has been shortlisted for Women’s Coach of the Year, alongside Kristy Bultitude (Newcastle), Nathan Kirwan (Manly-Warringah), Sam McDonald (Albury-Wodonga) and Flame #211 Rachel Maenpaa (Central Coast).

While current athletes of the Harvey Norman Future Flames also featured prominently in the voting.

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Norths’ Carla Pitman (who was also a Flames development player in WNBL24), Illawarra’s Ella Dent and Manly’s Zoey Martin are all in the running for the Women’s Youth Player of the Year – with Hornsby’s Jesse-May Hall and Centre of Excellence’s Monique Bobongie also nominated.

Bears’ Caitlyn Martin (who was also a Sydney development player last season) is in the mix for the Women’s Defensive Player of the Year, with Albury’s Ashlee Hannan, Sydney’s Davida Dale, Newcastle’s Nicole Munger and Hornsby’s Jesse-May Hall.

All the award winners will be announced next week, ahead of the 2024 grand finals at Penrith Basketball Stadium.

Before then though, Norths and Sutherland, headlined by Flame #133 Lauren Nicholson and #144 Vanessa Panousis, in a preliminary final on Saturday from 4pm – which can be streamed here.