Miners recognised in Spirit award

BENDIGO Miners pair Abbey Wehrung and Laura Taylor have shared in the spoils at the Bendigo Spirit awards night for 2025-26.

Held in Bendigo last week, Wehrung – the WNBL defending champion’s vice-captain – was honoured as the team’s defensive player of the year.

It was a fitting reward for another disciplined and reliable campaign from the 30-year-old.

She averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and two assists, consistently taking on some of the league’s toughest guard assignments while bringing her trademark composure and leadership.

In her second stint with the Spirit, the Daylesford-born guard and a product of the Miners’ junior program stepped into a starting role with the Spirit, after last season being voted the WNBL’s sixth player of the year.

Meanwhile, Taylor – whose re-signing for the Miners was only recently announced – was named the Spirit’s development player of the year.

A dedicated training partner with the Spirit throughout the season, her commitment, reliability and positive influence were widely praised, following on from her strong 2025 NBL1 season for Ballarat in which she averaged 9.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

As expected, star recruit and Rio Olympian Izzy Borlase took out the Spirit’s MVP award, the win coming only two days after she was crowned the Suzy Batkovic medallist as the league MVP.

Borlase’s league MVP win gave the Spirit back-to-back wins in the top individual honour, following in the footsteps of Sami Whitcomb last season.

Spirit general manager Dan Jackson praised Borlase, Wehrung, Taylor and the club’s other award winners, saying the presentation night was a great reflection of a great regular season on-court for the club.

“We’re incredibly proud of this group and what they achieved this season,” Jackson said.

“Izzy’s impact in her first year was extraordinary – to win both the league MVP and our club MVP at just 21 shows the type of star she is becoming.

“Abbey once again set the tone for us defensively, taking on the toughest assignments every week.

“Laura’s attitude and commitment as our development player were outstanding.”

In other club awards, 2025-26 season recruit Kelsey Rees won the sixth player of the year and breakout player awards, administration officer Erin Ross won club person of the year, and local firefighter Bryan Greenwood was the inaugural winner of the Red Energy community person of the year; an initiative launched this season to celebrate outstanding local contributions.