THE 2024/25 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season is complete, with the Bendigo Spirit crowned champions after defeating the Townsville Fire in two games in the Grand Final Series over the past week.

The Spirit were the most dominant team all season, with Bendigo finishing the fixture with 18 wins from 21 games and heading into the postseason as favourites. Throughout the finals, the Spirit did not drop a game, and proved to be deserving winners despite a brave effort from Townsville.

Game two of the Grand Final Series took place on Saturday in Townsville, and it was looking like the Fire were a chance of stealing a match after a gutsy performance in the opener despite the loss. However, the Spirit proved too strong and ran out eight-point winners in a low-scoring affair.

Townsville Fire (55) def. by Bendigo Spirit (63)

Although it was far from their most productive offensive match, it was the Spirit defence that proved to be the most defining factor in the match, with Townsville restricted to just 34 points in the final three quarters, including seven points in the entire third term. For a team with plenty of offensive options, the Fire could not find open looks.

Both sides were far from accurate in their shot attempts, but it was Townsville’s inefficiency from long range that was the most damning statistic. The Spirit completely took away the opposition’s three-point shot, and the hosts shot a measly 3/24 from long range.

Despite a poor night offensively, the Fire did make one final charge in the fourth quarter, and drew within two points in the dying minutes of the match. However, the Spirit remained cool, calm and collected in the clutch, knocking down the necessary free throws and continuing to get stops and deliver down the stretch and take home the ultimate prize.

As expected, Sami Whitcomb was named Grand Final MVP, capping off one of the best individual campaigns in recent memory, having also taken out the top gong for her efforts in the regular season.

In game two, she posted 26 points on 9/15 shooting, which was very impressive efficiency given the nature of the match, with few players struggling to find their mark. She was as important as anyone in getting Bendigo over the line and delivered down the stretch to ice the game.

Marianna Tolo was the only other Spirit player to reach double-digits with 17 points on 6/14 shooting, while Lauren Cox was Townsville’s most impactful performer with 17 points of her own.