Super Sami nets league, Spirit MVP

A BRILLIANT season by Bendigo Spirit guard Sami Whitcomb has earnt Most Valuable Player honours at league and club level.

Whitcomb was adjudged the Cygnett Women’s National Basketball League’s MVP for the 2024-25 season.

In her first year with Spirit the Paris Olympics bronze medallist played a starring role in an 18-3 run across the regular season in arguably the world’s second-best women’s basketball competition.

Whitcomb’s attacking prowess, in which she led the league scoring on 440 points and averaged 21 points, 6.3 rebounds and five assists per game, clinched the Suzy Batkovic Medal as the league’s MVP.

Later in the week, Whitcomb was presented with the Spirit MVP at the club’s awards night held at The Sporting Globe.

Another of Spirit’s first-year players, Veronica Burton, earnt the Defensive Player of the Year award as Bendigo marked a long-awaited return to the play-offs.

In her WNBL debut, Burton tallied an average of 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

The Kennedy Kereama-coached Spirit prides itself on defensive intensity in all parts of the court, and it was Burton who often set such a high standard.

Spirit’s Breakout Player of the Year was Casey Samuels.

When a finger injury meant captain Kelsey Griffin would be sidelined for the opening six matches, it was Samuels who impressed.

Samuels was in the team’s top five for average minutes played (25.9), total points (216) and total rebounds (81).

The final award of the night was Club Person of the Year, which went to game day manager Luke McAlpine.

Spirit general manager Dan Jackson said McAlpine’s passion and work ethic led to a memorable experience at all of Spirit’s home matches.

“It’s been an incredible season so far,” Jackson said.

“All award recipients have shown exceptional talent and commitment, as have all our players and staff.”