Nicholson and Richards receive WNBL24 award honours
For the second time in her career, Sydney Flames’ Lauren Nicholson has won the WNBL’s prestigious Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year award.
Nicholson, who also won the award in 2019 while with Adelaide, was announced as the winner at Sunday’s WNBL awards night in Melbourne – edging out Melbourne’s Jordin Canada, Townsville’s Steph Reid, Southside’s Mercedes Russell and Adelaide’s Brianna Turner for the prize.
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This was just one of the acknowledgements Sutherland product Nicholson received, also being named in the competition’s All-WNBL First Team, alongside Adelaide’s Izzy Borlase, Melbourne’s Jordin Canada, Canberra’s Jade Melbourne Loz Nicholson and Southside’s Mercedes Russell.
Joining Nicholson (who finished the season with averages of 16.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game) in receiving recognition on Sunday was Flames import Didi Richards, who was named in the All-WNBL Second-Team.
All-WNBL Second Team honours for Didi Richards 🔥#FlameOn #WeAreWNBL pic.twitter.com/HI1auP062X
— Sydney Flames (@TheSydneyFlames) February 25, 2024
Also in that team alongside Richards – who averaged 13.4 points, 6.4 boards and two dimes per contest – were Perth’s Amy Atwell, Melbourne’s Naz Hillmon, Perth’s Aari McDonald and Townsville’s Sami Whitcomb.
Other major awards on the night went to Melbourne’s Jordin Canada (MVP with Nicholson finishing second in the voting), Canberra’s Jade Melbourne (Fan MVP), Townsville’s Shannon Seebohm (Coach), Townville’s Courtney Woods (Community), Canberra’s Alex Sharp (Breakout) and Southside’e Leilani Mitchell (Sixth Woman).