The Women's National Basketball League Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) award given since the league's second season. MVP voting takes place throughout the regular season and is determined by a players' accumulated score from game-by-game voting. In every game, each head coach and the referees from each respective game complete a voting card, with three points being awarded for a first place vote, two for second, one for third, a player can take a maximum of nine votes from any one game.[1] It is the most prestigious award for individual players in the WNBL.

Suzy Batkovic is the most decorated player in WNBL history, winning the prestigious award a record six times. Due to this, from 2019 onwards the award will be known as the Suzy Batkovic Most Valuable Player Award (known as the Suzy Batkovic Medal).[2] Highly regarded as one of the greatest of all time, Lauren Jackson also won the award four times, and solely held the record until 2016.

Winners

Denotes player whose team won the Championship that year
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
SeasonPlayerPositionNationalityTeamRef
1982Karen OgdenSt Kilda Saints
1983Karen Ogden (2)St Kilda Saints (2)
Robyn MaherNunawading Spectres
1984Julie NykielNoarlunga Tigers
1985Kathy FosterNorth Adelaide Rockets
1986Kathy Foster (2)Hobart Islanders
1987Robyn Maher (2)Nunawading Spectres (2)
1988Julie Nykiel (2)Noarlunga Tigers (2)
1989Kathy Foster (3)Hobart Islanders (2)
1990Debbie SlimmonBulleen Melbourne Boomers
1991Joanne MetcalfeMelbourne Tigers
1992Debbie Slimmon (2) Bulleen Melbourne Boomers (2)
1993Allison CookGuardMelbourne Tigers (2)
1994Shelley GormanGuardSydney Flames
1995Sandy BrondelloGuardBrisbane Blazers
1996Rachael SpornForwardAdelaide Lightning
1997Rachael Sporn (2)ForwardAdelaide Lightning (2)
1998Michelle GriffithsForwardSydney Flames (2)
1998–99Lauren JacksonForward/centerAustralian Institute of Sport
1999–00Lauren Jackson (2)Forward/centerCanberra Capitals
Trisha FallonGuard/forwardSydney Flames (3)
2000–01Penny TaylorForwardDandenong Rangers
2001–02Penny Taylor (2)ForwardDandenong Rangers (2)
2002–03Lauren Jackson (3)Forward/centerCanberra Capitals (2)
2003–04Lauren Jackson (4)Forward/centerCanberra Capitals (3)
2004–05Katrina HibbertGuard/forwardBulleen Melbourne Boomers (3)
2005–06Katrina Hibbert (2)Guard/forwardBulleen Melbourne Boomers (4)
2006–07Hollie GrimaCenter/forwardBulleen Melbourne Boomers (5)
2007–08Natalie PorterForwardSydney Uni Flames (4)
2008–09Rohanee CoxGuard/forwardTownsville Fire
2009–10Kristi HarrowerGuardBendigo Spirit
2010–11Liz CambageCenterBulleen Boomers (6)
2011–12Suzy BatkovicCenterAdelaide Lightning (3)
2012–13Suzy Batkovic (2)CenterAdelaide Lightning (4)
2013–14Suzy Batkovic (3)CenterTownsville Fire (2)
2014–15Abby BishopForward/centerCanberra Capitals (4)
2015–16Suzy Batkovic (4)CenterTownsville Fire (3)
2016–17Suzy Batkovic (5)CenterTownsville Fire (4)[3]
2017–18Suzy Batkovic (6)CenterTownsville Fire (5)[4]
2018–19Kelsey GriffinForwardCanberra Capitals (5)[5]
2019–20Kia NurseGuardCanberra Capitals (6)[6]
2020Stephanie TalbotGuard/forwardAdelaide Lightning (5)[7]
2021–22Anneli MaleyForwardBendigo Spirit (2)[8]
2022–23Cayla GeorgeForward/centerMelbourne Boomers (7)[9]
2023–24Jordin CanadaGuardMelbourne Boomers (8)[10]
2024–25Sami WhitcombGuardBendigo Spirit (3)[11]
2025–26Isobel BorlaseGuardBendigo Spirit (4)[12]

Multi-time winners

RankPlayerTeam(s)AwardsYears
1Suzy BatkovicAdelaide Lightning (2) / Townsville Fire (4)62012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
2Lauren JacksonAustralian Institute of Sport (1) / Canberra Capitals (3)41999, 2000, 2003, 2004
3Kathy FosterNorth Adelaide Rockets (1) / Hobart Islanders (2)31985, 1986, 1989
4Karen OgdenSt Kilda Saints21982, 1983
Julie NykielNoarlunga Tigers1984, 1988
Debbie SlimmonBulleen Melbourne Boomers1990, 1992
Rachael SpornAdelaide Lightning1996, 1997
Penny TaylorDandenong Rangers2001, 2002
Katrina HibbertBulleen Melbourne Boomers2005, 2006

See also

References

  1. ^ Townsville (16 January 2018). "Batkovic crowned WNBL MVP". Townsville Fire. wnbl.com.au.
  2. ^ Women's National Basketball League. SUZY BATKOVIC MVP TO BE AWARDED FROM 2019/20 SEASON. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  3. ^ Sod (8 March 2017). "SUZY BATKOVIC RE-WRITES HISTORY BOOKS WITH RECORD FIFTH MVP". WNBL. wnbl.basketball.
  4. ^ Townsville (16 January 2018). "BATKOVIC CROWNED WNBL MVP". Townsville Fire. wnbl.basketball.
  5. ^ Uccapitals (18 February 2019). "KELSEY GRIFFIN CLAIMS WNBL MVP". Uc Capitals. wnbl.basketball.
  6. ^ Sarahripley (13 February 2020). "#WNBL20 MVP KIA NURSE". WNBL. wnbl.basketball.
  7. ^ Maddisonpettit (14 December 2020). "STEPH TALBOT NAMED 2020 CHEMIST WAREHOUSE WNBL MVP". WNBL. wnbl.basketball.
  8. ^ "ANNELI MALEY NAMED THE WNBL 2021/22 SUZY BATKOVIC MVP". WNBL. wnbl.basketball. 31 March 2022.
  9. ^ Brooke (5 March 2023). "Cayla George Named MVP at WNBL Awards Night". WNBL. wnbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Suzy Batkovic Medal WNBL 2023/24 League MVP: Jordin Canada". twitter.com/WNBL. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Whitcomb headlines Spirit success at WNBL Awards Night". wnbl.basketball. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  12. ^ "ISOBEL BORLASE IS YOUR WNBL26 SUZY BATKOVIC MEDAL WINNER!". facebook.com/TheWNBL. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.