The fourth round of the 2024/25 WNBL season delivered captivating storylines and standout performances across the league. As teams jostled for position on the ladder, individual players stepped into the spotlight, while one club took a moment to honor a legend of the game.
Griffin’s Return on the Horizon for Unbeaten Bendigo
The Bendigo Spirit, sitting pretty atop the WNBL standings with a perfect 5-0 record, received a boost of good news this week. Superstar forward Kelsey Griffin, sidelined since fracturing her shooting hand in a pre-season practice incident, is nearing a return to action.
The four-time WNBL champion and three-time Grand Final MVP has been steadily ramping up her on-court work and will consult with specialists this week to chart her comeback path. “I started shooting with my right hand last Thursday and progressing as tolerated,” Griffin told ESPN. “Appointments this week will inform what my weekend and next week look like – there could be a weekend.”
Griffin’s impending return is a frightening prospect for the rest of the league. Bendigo has been flawless in her absence, with the likes of Anneli Maley and Kelly Wilson leading the charge. Adding a player of Griffin’s caliber to an already formidable squad could make the Spirit near unstoppable.
Loughridge’s Career Night Propels Flyers
Sunday’s action saw one of the WNBL’s brightest young guards deliver a breakout performance. Southside Flyers’ 20-year-old floor general Dallas Loughridge exploded for a career-high 16 points off the bench in her team’s win over the UC Capitals.
It was a significant moment for Loughridge, who experienced the depths of injury despair in 2022 when she ruptured her ACL in a pre-season game. The Flyers documented her rehabilitation journey in the “She Hoops” web series, chronicling Loughridge’s determination to return stronger than ever.
“Dallas is someone who can shoot the three for us but then also break down the defence and in a way she does it with ease because she has so much variation to what she does when she gets into the paint.”
– Kristi Harrower, Southside Flyers head coach
Under the tutelage of Flyers coach and Aussie basketball icon Kristi Harrower, Loughridge appears poised to elevate her game to new heights. Her blazing speed, crafty finishing, and growing confidence make her a dynamo for opposing defenses to contain.
Townsville Celebrates a True Champion
In a touching ceremony, the Townsville Fire paid tribute to one of their all-time greats, retiring the No. 32 jersey of three-time WNBL champion Micaela Cocks. The sharpshooting New Zealand native was a vital cog in Townsville’s championship three-peat from 2015-2018.
Cocks, who also represented the Tall Ferns with distinction in a 17-year international career, was moved to tears as her jersey was raised to the rafters alongside fellow Fire legends Suzy Batkovic, Rachael McCully, and Mia Murray.
“I felt more emotional than I thought I’d be. I’ve kind of blocked out accolades during my career because you just want to play and win, but this was different. Seeing the names I was next to, not only great teammates but awesome people and some of my best friends, was what made it really special.”
– Micaela Cocks
Cocks’ legacy extends beyond her on-court achievements. She was a beloved teammate, a consummate professional, and an inspiration to countless aspiring ballers in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Her place in Townsville Fire folklore is now eternally enshrined.
Around The League
- The Southside Flyers announced the mutual parting of ways with import center Lynetta Kizer. The former WNBA player appeared in one game for the Flyers.
- Reigning champions Melbourne Boomers bounced back from a sluggish start to the season with wins over Adelaide and Sydney to improve to 3-2.
- The Canberra Capitals unveiled a new indigenous-themed alternate jersey to be worn during their Reconciliation Round clash against Townsville. The design was a collaboration between Indigenous artist Lynnice Church and the Capitals playing group.
As the WNBL season rolls on, the storylines continue to percolate. From redemption quests to emerging stars, historic milestones to shock results, the best women’s basketball league in the world is delivering the goods. With the race for the playoffs heating up, expect the intensity to rise and the cream to rise to the top in the coming weeks.
