February 9, 2026

Borlase headlines Spirit success at WNBL Awards

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The excellence of the Bendigo Spirit has been recognised on the League stage, with Isobel Borlase and Kennedy Kereama both taking home major honours at the 2025–26 WNBL Awards Night, while co-captain Kelsey Griffin was also acknowledged among the competition’s elite.

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In her first season in Spirit colours, 21-year-old Borlase was awarded the Suzy Batkovic Medal as the competition’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) after a remarkable campaign that saw her average 22.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.  Borlase also earned selection in the All-Star First Team, and was recognised as the League’s top points scorer for the regular season, having already amassed 526.  Whilst there have been countless memorable plays by Borlase so far this season, a highlight was Round 15, where she notched a club-record and individual personal best of 42 points in a single game against Southside Melbourne Flyers, before going on to tally a total of 98 points across three games the Spirit played in Round 15, all inside five days.

Spirit Head Coach, Kennedy Kereama, was deservedly named Coach of the Year, recognised for guiding Bendigo through a season of significant roster change and disruption while maintaining a strong results base at the same time as continuing to invest in the development of emerging talent.  The reigning Champions compiled a 16–7 win-loss record to date in season 2025-26, finishing third on the ladder and guaranteeing the team a spot in the post-season long before the final game of the regular season.  Following key departures in the off-season (namely Sami Whitcomb, Veronica Burton and Kelly Wilson) and setbacks across the season – highlighted by losing co-captain Marianna Tolo (pregnancy), Casey Samuels and Micah Simpson (both injury) - Kereama’s ability to build cohesion and confidence in a reshaped group - including the continued growth of young contributors across the roster, such as Borlase, Olivia Pollerd and Kelsey Rees - has been a defining feature of the Spirit’s year.

Co-captain Kelsey Griffin was also honoured with selection in the All-Star Second Team, continuing to underline her value as one of the competition’s most respected leaders both on and off the court.  The 38-year-old has averaged 11.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season, providing stability, toughness and high-level decision-making at both ends of the floor.

Spirit General Manager, Dan Jackson, said the awards were a reflection of both individual excellence and the collective standards the club continues to set, and was thrilled that a Spirit player had taken out the League’s top individual honour for a second consecutive year.

“Having Izzy recognised as the League MVP in her first season with us is a huge credit to the work she’s put in and the way she’s embraced what we’re building in Bendigo,” Jackson said. “Kennedy has done an outstanding job again - we’ve had to navigate plenty this year, but he's continued to compete, develop, and find ways to win.”

“And what Kelsey gives this program can’t be overstated - her leadership, basketball IQ and professionalism are invaluable to any team she’s a part of, but this recognition also confims that she’s an incredibly skilled player who’s a force to be reckoned with in terms of her game play too.”

The Spirit will now look towards their club Awards Night on Wednesday (February 11), followed by the all-important Game 1 of the semi-final series against the Lynx in Perth on Saturday (February 14).