Bendigo Spirit

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Bendigo Spirit
Bendigo Spirit Villawood 2020 logo primary.png
Leagues WNBL
Founded2007
HistoryBendigo Spirit
2007–present
Arena Red Energy Arena
Capacity4,000+
Location Bendigo, Victoria
Team colorsDodger blue, yellow
Main sponsor TAC
General manager Daniel Jackson
Head coachKennedy Kereama
Ownership Sports Entertainment Group
Championships3 (2013, 2014, 2025)
Website wnbl.basketball/bendigo

The Bendigo Spirit are an Australian professional basketball team based in Bendigo, Victoria. The Spirit play in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and play their home games at Red Energy Arena. The team debuted in the WNBL in 2007.

Contents

History

The Bendigo Spirit were formed in 2007 and debuted in the Women's National Basketball League in the 2007–08 season. [1] The inaugural team was coached by Bernie Harrower and was led by his daughter, Kristi Harrower.

The Spirit played in three straight WNBL Grand Finals between 2013 and 2015, winning back-to-back WNBL championships in 2012–13 and 2013–14. [2] At the time, the team was led by Harrower, Gabrielle Richards, Kelly Wilson as well as imports Chelsea Aubry and the now naturalised, Kelsey Griffin.

The Spirit missed the playoffs every year between 2015–16 and 2023–24. In 2024–25, the Spirit returned to the playoffs and made the WNBL Grand Final behind league MVP, Sami Whitcomb. [3] The Spirit went on to defeat the Townsville Fire 2–0 in the grand final series to win their third WNBL championship. [4] [5]

Season-by-season records

SeasonStandingsRegular seasonFinalsHead coach
WLPCT
Bendigo Spirit
2007–08 7th101441.6Did not qualifyBernie Harrower
2008–09 5th14863.6Lost Elimination Final (Adelaide, 73–81)Bernie Harrower
2009–10 5th13959.1Lost Elimination Final (Townsville, 73–84)Bernie Harrower
2010–11 3rd15768.2Won Semi Final (Logan, 74–53)
Lost Preliminary Final (Canberra, 78–83)		Bernie Harrower
2011–12 6th121054.5Did not qualifyBernie Harrower
2012–13 1st21387.5Won Semi Final (Dandenong, 78–71)
Won Grand Final (Townsville, 71–57)		Bernie Harrower
2013–14 1st22291.6Won Semi Final (Dandenong, 71–62)
Won Grand Final (Townsville, 94–83)		Bernie Harrower
2014–15 2nd15768.2Lost Semi Final (Townsville, 63–82)
Won Preliminary Final (Sydney, 85–77)
Lost Grand Final (Townsville, 65–75)		Bernie Harrower
2015–16 6th121250.0Did not qualifySimon Pritchard
2016–17 6th131154.1Did not qualifySimon Pritchard
2017–18 8th41719.1Did not qualifySimon Pritchard
2018–19 7th71433.3Did not qualifySimon Pritchard
2019–20 7th51623.8Did not qualifyTracy York
2020 8th0130.0Did not qualifyTracy York
2021–22 5th7943.7Did not qualifyTracy York
2022–23 5th111052.3Did not qualifyTracy York
2023–24 6th111052.3Did not qualifyKennedy Kereama
Regular season19217253.02 Minor Premierships
Finals6554.52 WNBL Championships

Source: Bendigo Spirit Archived 22 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Players

Current roster

Bendigo Spirit roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
F/C 0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Hannan, Ashlee 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)23 – (2001-03-21)21 March 2001
F 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bird, Opal 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)19 – (2006-03-03)3 March 2006
G 5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simpson, Micah 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)22 – (2002-12-02)2 December 2002
G 6 Flag of the United States.svg Burton, Veronica  (I)1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)24 – (2000-07-12)12 July 2000
F 10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nightingale, Asha  (DP)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)18 – (2006-03-20)20 March 2006
C 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tolo, Marianna 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)35 – (1989-07-02)2 July 1989
G 13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wehrung, Abigail 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)29 – (1995-12-28)28 December 1995
G 14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Booth, Georgia  (DP)1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)22 – (2003-01-17)17 January 2003
G 16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Samuels, Casey 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)30 – (1994-08-02)2 August 1994
G 22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wilson, Kelly 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)41 – (1984-01-01)1 January 1984
F 23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Griffin, Kelsey 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)37 – (1987-07-02)2 July 1987
G 32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Whitcomb, Sami 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)36 – (1988-07-20)20 July 1988
Head coach

Kennedy Kereama

Assistant coach(es)

John White Deanna Smith Zoe Carr

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: 2 November 2024

Former players

Coaches and staff

Head coaches

Bendigo Spirit head coaches
NameStartEndSeasonsRegular seasonFinals
WLPCTGWLPCTG
Bernie Harrower 2007201581216166.41826554.511
Simon Pritchard 201520184365440.090000.00
Tracy York 20192022351623.80000.00
Kennedy Kereama 20221701000000.00

Ownership

In April 2022, the team's WNBL license was purchased from Bendigo Stadium Limited (BSL) by Sports Entertainment Group. [6] [7]

References

  1. ↑ "WNBL Media Guide 2016–17" (PDF). wnbl.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Bendigo Spirit confirm WNBL Grand Final details - Bendigo Spirit". Bendigo Spirit. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  3. ↑ "Spirit lock in WNBL Grand Final berth - Bendigo Spirit". Bendigo Spirit. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "Champions! Whitcomb's Spirit sweep Townsville to break WNBL title drought | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "Spirit claim third WNBL title with grand final victory over Fire". ABC News. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  6. ↑ Bendigo (12 April 2022). "BENDIGO SPIRIT FUTURE LOCKED IN FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS, SEN TO ACQUIRE LICENCE". wnbl.basketball/bendigo. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK GROW BASKETBALL PRESENCE WITH WNBL BENDIGO SPIRIT ACQUISITION". sen.com.au. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.


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