Chris Lucas’ first WNBL Coach of the Year award to help ease pain of Adelaide Lightning’s grand final loss

Adelaide Lightning coach Chris Lucas has been recognised for resurrecting the club and guiding it to its first grand final in 11 years with his first WNBL’s coach of the year award.

Lightning coach Chris Lucas hugs Penina Davidson after the win during game two of the WNBL grand final series between the Adelaide Lightning and the UC Capitals at Titanium Security Arena. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

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Adelaide Lightning coach Chris Lucas has been named the WNBL’s coach of the year for the first time after resurrecting the club and guiding it to its first grand final in 11 years.

Lucas, a two-time WNBL championship winning coach, was judged the competition’s top mentor by coaches and captains who voted on the award at the end of the regular season.

Lightning coach Chris Lucas celebrates with his players after winning game two of the grand final series against UC Capitals at Titanium Security Arena. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

Adelaide won 12 of its last 15 games to storm into the grand final series against Canberra where it lost 2-1 on the weekend. Capitals coach Paul Goriss was runner-up six votes behind.

Lucas is out of contract and says he hasn’t thought about his future as the Lighting prepares to finalise a new ownership agreement this week.

There was more good news for the Lightning at last night’s WNBL awards with three-point shooter Lauren Nicholson crowned the defensive player of the year. Nicholson — who played through the finals series with a broken nose — won the award by nine votes from Townsville’s Micaela Cocks.

Adelaide Lightning star Lauren Nicholson, driving against Kia Nurse of the Canberra Capitals in Saturday’s grand final, is the WNBL’s defensive player of the year. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Canberra’s grand final MVP Kelsey Griffin made it a double by winning the season MVP as well after polling 20 more votes than nearest rival Bec Cole from the Dandenong Rangers.

Adelaide MVP Nia Coffey was fifth and Nicholson finished 10th in MVP voting, while Coffey made the All-Star five which was voted on by coaches and captains at the end of the season.

Coffey averaged 18 points in the regular season which was the fifth best in the competition to go with her 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, while her aggression saw her draw the most fouls and hit the most free-throws in the league.

The All-Star five also included Griffin, Lindsay Allen, Bec Cole and Asia Taylor.