BENDIGO Spirit says it is fully supportive of the WNBL and its decision to postpone last Friday night’s clash against Southside Flyers, scheduled to be played at Selkirk Stadium in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
The round 13 game was to be the second of two games played by the Spirit in Ballarat during the 2025-26 season, following their crushing win over Geelong Venom in December.<\/p>\n
But severe weather impacting Ballarat and the surrounding areas due to Victoria’s bushfires led to the tough, but necessary decision by the WNBL to postpone the game.<\/p>\n
“In consultation with local authorities and venue operations, and with the safety of fans, players, officials, and the wider community our highest priority, the decision has been made to reschedule the game,” the WNBL said in a statement last Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
“The WNBL is reviewing scheduling and ticketing options for the game and will provide further information in due course.”<\/p>\n
The Spirit were heading into the game on top of the ladder at 13-3, but looking to atone for an 89-78 loss to Sydney Flames at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney earlier in the week.<\/p>\n
Branded as the upset of the season to date, the Flames’ victory snapped a 10-game winning streak by the Spirit.<\/p>\n
Last Friday’s postponement followed a basketball clinic for local kids held by Spirit players at Selkirk Stadium the previous day.<\/p>\n
In a statement released on the club’s social media accounts, the Spirit said it was ‘in full support’ of the league’s decision to postpone the clash in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
“With bushfires in the region impacting air quality, the decision has been made in the interest of player safety,” the statement read.<\/p>\n
“Information regarding ticketing and potential re-scheduling of this fixture will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.<\/p>\n
“Bendigo Spirit is thinking of all Victorians affected by the current bushfires right across the state.<\/p>\n
“To the players, staff and supporters of both teams, please take extra care to travel home safely, and stay alert to all warnings and advice from Victorian Emergency Services.”<\/p>\n
Selkirk Stadium has become a fortress for the Spirit, who defeated the Venom by 35 points last month and beat Southside Flyers 79-70 in 2024 during their championship-winning season.<\/p>\n
Captain Kelsey Griffin and star recruit Isobel Borlase were the stars of the victory over the Venom with 19 points apiece.<\/p>\n
The Spirit returned to action last night in Perth against Perth Lynx.<\/p>\n
The team’s next home game will be against Canberra Capitals on January 23 as part of the WNBL’s Pride Round.<\/p>\n
The Spirit-Flyers clash was not the only game national league game postponed last weekend, with Saturday night’s National Basketball League clash between Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets to be rescheduled because of the threat of a cyclone in Far North Queensland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BENDIGO Spirit says it is fully supportive of the WNBL and its decision to postpone last Friday night’s clash against Southside Flyers, scheduled to be played at Selkirk Stadium in Ballarat. The round 13 game was to be the second of two games played by the Spirit in Ballarat during the 2025-26 season, following their […]<\/p>\n