WNBL Awards: Sami Whitcomb named league MVP, defensive player award causes a stir

There were no surprises as Lauren Jackson’s top MVP pick Sami Whitcomb finished her master season as the league’s best. Plus, the defensive player award caused a stir. Every award winner.

Unstoppable Paris Olympic bronze medallist Sami Whitcomb has won the Suzy Batkovic Medal for the WNBL’s Most Valuable Player.

The 36-year-old Australian Opals guard led the league in scoring and her Bendigo team to the best record, with the Spirit top of the table heading into the playoffs.

Whitcomb began hot with a 33-point, six-steal masterclass against last season’s champions Southside, remained consistent throughout the season and saved her best basketball for the best teams and the stretch run home.

A 35-point, seven-rebound, six-assist outing against third-placed Townsville preceded her 16-10-13 triple-double on second side Perth.

She closed out the regular season with 30, 23, 28, 25 and 27-point performances.

Sami Whitcomb is named WNBL MVP. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The naturalised American is a two-time WNBA champion and added a fifth WNBL All Star Five berth to her resume in a season where the Spirit are favoured to help break her duck of Australian league titles.

Shannon Seebohm (Townsville), Kennedy Kereama (Bendigo) and Ryan Petrik (Perth) all had claims to the throne of Coach of the Year but it was the Fire mentor in Queensland who was named best in the business for a third-straight season – and a remarkable fourth in five years.

All awards apart from the MVP are voted on by a committee featuring former players, coaches, referees, commentators, podcasters and league boss Christy Collier-Hill.

The Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year race caused a stir.

The Fire’s giant woman in the middle Lauren Cox and Adelaide’s elite stopper Brianna Turner tied for the award, named for one of Australian basketball’s all-time greats.

Lauren Cox narrowly won Defensive Player. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Only thing is, while the two Texans each garnered 13 votes, Cox recieved more three-vote games than Turner and was declared winner.

Cox anchored the best defence in the WNBL, helping Townsville hold opponents to just 71.8 per contest.

Each player averaged a ridiculous 3.1 blocks per game, to share the league lead.

Turner, the WNBA veteran, topped the competition in in steals at 2.5 per game and rebounding at 12.7 in a dominant defensive season — a second in a row where she could have claimed the highest honour for those who impact the game without the ball.

In another boilover on the night, plucky Fire guard Abbey Ellis topped emerging Sydney superstar Shaneice Swain for Betty Watson Breakout Player.

Abbey Ellis had a superstar breakout season. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Jade Melbourne is a fan favourite. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Ellis was a key cog in Townsville’s run to the playoffs, averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and hitting her three ball at 35 per cent from deep, but Swain was the show in Sydney, finishing third in the league in scoring at 17.5 points per game while adding 3.6 rebounds and 4 assists.

And just one vote stopped the Fire from a near scoop of the major awards outside of MVP, with Bendigo’s Abbey Wehrung sneaking past tough forward Alex Fowler for Sixth Woman of the Year Trophy on account of her impact off the bench for the league leaders.

While Whitcomb is the present, young future face of the Opals Jade Melbourne, 22, proved the most popular player in Australia – voted Fan MVP for her on-court excellence in Canberra and her off-court character.

Originally published as WNBL Awards: Sami Whitcomb named league MVP, defensive player award causes a stir