WNBL star Anneli Maley hit with $150 fine as Basketball Australia investigates Townsville fans’ clash

Superstar Bendigo basketballer Anneli Maley has been penalised for an on-court incident in Townsville, but Basketball Australia’s integrity probe into claims of abuse directed at her is ongoing.

Reigning WNBL MVP Anneli Maley has avoided a ban after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an on-court incident in Townsville.

The star Bendigo guard was charged with careless, high-impact contact on Fire’s Karlie Samuelson after she pulled the import down from behind during the second quarter of Spirit’s 68-66 win.

Maley elected not to challenge the game review panel’s findings, her early guilty plea resulting in a $150 fine, downgraded from a one-game ban.

Anneli Maley attempts to get past Karlie Samuelson. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The 24-year-old will now suit up for Spirit’s Mildura clash with Adelaide Lightning.

Referees, at the time, assessed the play, labelled “dirty” by Fire coach Shannon Seebohm, as unsportsmanlike and medicos ruled out Samuelson for the rest of the game after her head hit the court.

Fans then allegedly took aim at Maley, who later called them out on social media, prompting Basketball Australia’s integrity unit to launch a probe.
BA investigators have consulted Maley and both clubs and an outcome is expected in the coming days.

WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Karlie Samuelson is fouled by Anneli Maley during their round 4 WNBL match at Townsville Entertainment Centre. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Maley did not directly address the on-court incident, but told News Corp a small portion of the Townsville crowd participated in “verbal abuse and physical threats”.

“I understand that some people can handle that level of misogynistic and degrading verbal attacks but I can’t and I’m OK with that,” Maley said.

“I can’t and that doesn’t make me a weaker player or person.”

Seebohm was slapped with a $500 fine for criticising the referees in the media.

WNBL fan abuse, Opal’s ‘dirty’ play probed

Basketball Australia’s integrity unit is probing allegations of crowd abuse directed at reigning WNBL MVP Anneli Maley.

And an incident involving the Bendigo Spirit superstar and Townsville Fire’s Karlie Samuelson has been referred to the WNBL’s games review panel.

The Opal took to social media on Sunday to call out allegedly “drunk” men in the Townsville Convention and Entertainment Centre crowd who abused her following the unsportsmanlike foul on Samuelson.

News Corp has been told members of the crowd allegedly made disparaging comments about Maley’s tattoos, her exit from the WNBA’s Chicago Sky after less than two months in the American league and her future with the Australian team.

Less than an hour after the game, the frustrated 24-year-old, who has been open about her past mental health struggles, posted on Instagram: “Hey Townsville Fire having a group of drunk men at your game abusing a female player with mental health issues is bad form … be better. It’s not passionate fans. It’s masoganistic [sic], it’s abuse and it’s disgusting.”

Maley and Samuelson had several physical clashes during the fiery 68-66 Bendigo win, before the Californian was pulled down from behind by the Spirit superstar.

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The game review panel can issue fines and suspensions, should it decide to cite Maley.

Medicos ruled Samuelson out of the rest of the game after her head hit the floor in the incident, which Fire coach Shannon Seebohm labelled “dirty”.

“I don’t want to get fined but to be completely honest, the fact that Anneli Maley was still on the floor after the second quarter is f---ing befuddling to me,” Seebohm told News Corp.

“It’s really bad. It’s really ugly. It’s a dirty play and it’s just a shame that they didn’t adjudicate that one appropriately.”

Maley has been contacted for comment.