6
Oct
Explainer
Bendigo Spirit: Five things you need to know
Defending WNBL champions Bendigo Spirit enter 2025-26 retooled after losing star Sami Whitcomb.
- The Bendigo Spirit have won three WNBL titles
- The Spirit won last year’s WNBL championship
- Spirit have lost 2025 WNBL MVP and FMVP Sami Whitcomb
The Spirit enter the 2025-26 season not just as defending champions, but as a team determined to validate their resurgence. The Spirit went almost a decade without a single playoff appearance, before they bound back into the spotlight and took the title last year.
Now, after the departure of legend Sami Whitcomb, the Spirit face the challenge of proving they remain a contender within the league. Nestled in Southern Victoria, the Spirit have the smallest market by metro population, but this has led to a fiery and passionate fanbase.
2024-25 Season Summary
- Record (18-3)
- Finish 1st (Won the championship)
- All NBL Selections: Sami Whitcomb (MVP/1st Team), Veronica Burton (2nd Team), Kelsey Griffin (2nd Team)
Losing Whitcomb is a tough blow for the franchise, but the Spirit didn’t stand still. The club reloaded smartly, signing Opals guard Isobel Borlase, whose breakout season with Adelaide made her one of the league’s brightest young stars, and bringing in Megan McConnell, an import known for her playmaking, defensive energy, and versatility. McConnell’s pace and creativity should slot seamlessly alongside the veteran leadership of Kelsey Griffin and Marianna Tolo, while youngsters Olivia Pollerd and Kelsey Rees add valuable depth and long-term upside.
Bendigo Spirit Roster
Head coach: Kennedy Kereama
- Isobel Borlase (signed Thursday, June 5, 2025)
- Casey Samuels (signed on Friday, June 13, 2025)
- Olivia Pollerd (signed Thursday, June 19, 2025)
- Kelsey Griffin (signed on Friday, June 27, 2025)
- Kelsey Rees (signed on Tuesday, July 1, 2025)
- Abbey Wehrung (re-signed on Friday, July 11, 2025).
- Marianna Tolo (re-signed on Thursday, July 24, 2025)
- Micah Simpson (re-signed on Thursday, July 31, 2025).
- Georgia Booth (signed on Thursday, August 28, 2025)
INS: Isobel Borlase, Olivia Pollerd, Kelsey Rees
OUTS: Sami Whitcomb
MATERNITY LEAVE: Kelly Wilson
Bendigo Spirit History
The Bendigo Spirit were founded in 2007 and made their WNBL debut in the 2007-08 season, led by coach Bernie Harrower and spearheaded on the court by his daughter Kristi Harrower, a three-time Olympic silver medalist with the Opals and the 2009-10 WNBL MVP. Harrower’s leadership helped establish a strong foundation for the fledgling club.
From 2013 to 2015, the Spirit experienced their first golden era. They reached three consecutive Grand Finals, winning back-to-back titles in 2012-13 and 2013-14, with a roster anchored by veterans Gabrielle Richards and Kelsey Griffin, alongside Kristi Harrower. During this period, Bendigo became known for its gritty defensive intensity, and the ability to dictate pace.
However, the 2015-16 through 2023-24 seasons proved challenging for the club. Despite having talent such as Anneli Maley, a league MVP, the Spirit failed to make the playoffs, struggling with roster turnover and injuries.
The 2024-25 season marked a dramatic resurgence. With Sami Whitcomb delivering a phenomenal campaign, the Spirit rebuilt through smart recruitment and cohesive team culture. Bendigo finished the regular season with the best record in the league and carried that momentum into the finals, sweeping the Townsville Fire to reclaim the WNBL crown.
Five Fast Facts
- The Spirit have unveiled a new logo and colourway for this season
- Sami Whitcomb recently helped vault the Connecticut Sun to the WNBA Finals
- The Spirit are the pride of a large basketball community in Bendigo, which is the birthplace of NBA star Dyson Daniels
- Bendigo is the newest team is the WNBL, being founded in 2007
- Anneli Maley’s 15.7 rebounds per game in the 2021-22 season was the most ever.
Club Timeline
- 2007: Club founded and debuted in the WNBL under coach Bernie Harrower and captain Kristi Harrower.
- 2009-10: Kristi Harrower wins league MVP, establishing Bendigo as a rising contender.
- 2012-13: Win first WNBL championship
- 2013-14: Go back-to-back, earning a reputation for elite defence and toughness.
- 2014-15: Reach a third straight Grand Final
- 2015-24: Miss playoffs for nearly a decade
- 2024-25: Return to glory, topping the league and sweeping Townsville to win the title.
Even without Whitcomb, the Spirit are sure to be a force in the WNBL, with the team eager to prove that last year’s resurgence was more than just a one-off. With new additions, a great coach and championship experience, keep your eyes out for the Spirit as one of the contenders to take the title in WNBL26 and repeat.
WNBL Team Profiles
- Adelaide Lightning: Five things you need to know
- Bendigo Spirit: Five things you need to know
- Geelong Venom: Five things you need to know
- Perth Lynx: Five things you need to know
- Southside Melbourne Flyers: Five things you need to know
- Sydney Flames: Five things you need to know
- Townsville Fire: Five things you need to know
- Canberra Capitals: Five things you need to know
