COMING into the 2024/25 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season, Bendigo Spirit star Marianna Tolo is eager to bring some success to her side after missing the finals by a painful margin.

Tolo enjoyed a busy few months throughout the off-season, representing Australia as a member of the Opals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but admits it is a relief to be back on Australian shores when speaking to Rookie Me Central after spending time overseas.

“It’s so nice to be home and see some familiar faces,” she said. “It’s lovely to be home and to see how the league has progressed over the last few years is really exciting. I can’t wait to be a part of it this season.”

Tolo spent a lot of time plying her trade in European basketball competitions, and brings back plenty of experience after playing against some of the world’s best talent.

“Playing in Europe can be really taxing,” she said. “You’re playing for eight, nine months a year, twice a week, every week. Having the experience to play against some of the best players in the world week in, week out helps in all aspects of my game.

“It really helps me form that consistency because I have to show up game after game. But I will keep being me, which is being that interior base post and trying to get those rebounds and set some hard screens.”

Returning to the WNBL, it was somewhat expected that Tolo would sign with the UC Capitals given she played for the team in the past. However, she chose to take her talents to the Spirit, a decision that did not come easily for the veteran.

“It was hard for me to decide to play with Bendigo because I had only ever played with the Capitals,” she said. “My husband actually got offered a job as the general manager of the Bendigo Spirit so that was a big reason to come.

“Also I have a close friend of mine in Kelsey Griffin in the team and playing with Kelly Wilson in the past. Having a great team helped me decide to come back. It just seemed right.”

In Paris, Tolo was a member of the Opals side that brought home bronze in a strong campaign against the best nations in the world, and says the experience was certainly one to remember.

“The Olympics was a bit of a whirlwind, there were lots of highs and lots of lows,” she said. “Obviously with Bec Allen going down and then us losing the first game, the quick turnaround to try and get things going. One of the highlights was playing against France in France in front of 27,000 fans and having to win by six points or more to try and qualify for finals was just incredible.

“It was not just about that tournament or those couple of weeks, it was about the entire 12-year journey leading up to that moment. It was unreal.”

Without Tolo last season, the Spirit recorded 11 wins and 10 losses, but missed out on a top four spot marginally. Although the team pulled off some impressive wins over the course of the season, inconsistency proved a burden.

Now with some proven performers such as Tolo joining the team, finals are certainly on the cards if they can fire.

“We are finally going to have everyone together at practice on Thursday which will be great and will help us form that connection going into game one,” she said. “We look good. It’s hard, we had my first practice game against the Southside Flyers and it felt good to have a game that felt like a real game and it was such a good hitout. We’ll be ready for Adelaide Lightning in Round 1.”

The WNBL is as stacked as ever when it comes to talent, and last season’s close finish in the standings was perfect evidence of that, and Tolo understands that it will be a tight race for a finals spot.

“I think it is going to be tough,” she said. “Every team has a really solid starting five and it is really who can perform most consistently and not fluctuate too much. I think that is going to be key this season.”

When it comes to her own team, Tolo says the expectations for the Spirit extend beyond the basketball court as part of a bigger picture.

“I think getting more people to games and getting out in the community is going to be really important for us in Bendigo,” she said. “We want to impact people’s lives,” she said.

“Secondly we want to get back into finals. Its been 10 years since Bendigo has been in the finals and this is the year to do it.”

Tolo also flagged Abigail Wehrung as a player to keep an eye on for season 2024/25, and with plenty of attention on some of the bigger names, she could fly under the radar and make a vital impact on the team’s success.

The Spirit certainly have the talent to make a return to the postseason, and it will be a massive lift for the organisation if they can see some finals action in a few months time.

Bendigo’s season kicks off on Saturday, November 2 when it hosts the Lightning.

Roster

Abbey Wehrung, Asha Nightingale, Ashlee Hannan, Casey Samuels, Georgia Booth, Kelly Wilson, Kelsey Griffin, Marianna Tolo, Micah Simpson, Opal Bird, Sami Whitcomb, Veronica Burton