WNBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award explained

The Women's National Basketball League Grand Final Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) award given to the best player of the Grand Final. Since 2014, the award has been known as the Rachael Sporn Medal, named after Adelaide's most recognised and successful WNBL player, Rachael Sporn, also a twice winner of the award.[1] Lauren Jackson has won the award four times, while Kelsey Griffin has won the award three times.

Winners

Denotes player inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame
Denotes player who is still active
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player had been named MVP at that time
Team (X)Denotes the number of times a player from this team had won at that time
SeasonPlayerPositionNationalityTeam
1985Karin MaarCoburg Cougars
1986Shelley GormanNunawading Spectres
1987Nunawading Spectres (2)
1988Shelley Gorman (2)Nunawading Spectres (3)
1989Samantha ThorntonNunawading Spectres (4)
1990Donna BrownNorth Adelaide Rockets
1991Hobart Islanders
1992Tanya Fisher
1993Annie BurgessGuard
1994Rachael SpornForwardAdelaide Lightning
1995Rachael Sporn (2)ForwardAdelaide Lightning (2)
1996Michelle GriffithsForwardAdelaide Lightning (3)
1997Guard/forwardSydney Flames (2)
1998Jo HillForwardAdelaide Lightning (4)
1999Kristen VealGuardAustralian Institute of Sport
2000Kristen Veal (2)Guard
Annie Burgess (2)GuardSydney Panthers (3)
Forward/centerCanberra Capitals (2)
Lauren Jackson (2)Forward/centerCanberra Capitals (3)
ForwardDandenong Rangers
Forward/centerDandenong Rangers (2)
Lauren Jackson (3)Forward/centerCanberra Capitals (4)
CenterCanberra Capitals (5)
GuardAdelaide Lightning (5)
GuardCanberra Capitals (6)
Lauren Jackson (4)Forward/centerCanberra Capitals (7)
Guard
GuardDandenong Rangers (3)
ForwardBendigo Spirit
Kelsey Griffin (2)ForwardBendigo Spirit (2)
2015Mia NewleyGuardTownsville Fire
2016GuardTownsville Fire (2)
2017GuardSydney Uni Flames (4)
2018CenterTownsville Fire (3)
2019Kelsey Griffin (3)ForwardCanberra Capitals (8)
2019–20Olivia ÉpoupaGuardCanberra Capitals (9)
2020Leilani Mitchell (2)GuardSouthside Flyers (4)
2022Lindsay AllenGuardMelbourne Boomers (2)
2023Tianna HawkinsForwardTownsville Fire (4)
2024Mercedes RussellCenterSouthside Flyers (5)

Multi-time winners

Rank PlayerTeam(s)AwardsYears
1Lauren JacksonCanberra Capitals42002, 2003, 2006, 2010
2Kelsey GriffinBendigo Spirit (2) / Canberra Capitals (1)32013, 2014, 2019
3Shelley GormanNunawading Spectres21986, 1988
Rachael SpornAdelaide Lightning1994, 1995
Kristen VealAustralian Institute of Sport (1) / Canberra Capitals (1)1999, 2000
Annie BurgessSydney Flames / Panthers1993, 2001
Leilani MitchellSydney Uni Flames (1) / Southside Flyers (1)2017, 2020

See also

Notes and References

  1. Nagy, Boti (March 5, 2014). Rachael Sporn Medal the new award for WNBL grand final Most Valuable Player. The Adelaide Advertiser. Retrieved 2015-01-31.