Four teams are represented in the 2016/17 WNBL All-Star Five with Perth Lynx’s Sami Whitcomb, JCU Townsville Fire’s Suzy Batkovic and Marianna Tolo of the University of Canberra Capitals joining two players from the Brydens Sydney University Flames in Leilani Mitchell and Asia Taylor.
The All-Star five is voted on by the league’s coaches and captains.
Finishing second for points per game (21.2) and rebounds (10.6), Townsville captain Batkovic has been named in the All-Star five for a sixth time and now sits equal third on the all-time selections list alongside Allison Tranquilli and Lauren Jackson.
Only Michele Timms, Shelley Sandie and Kristi Harrower (all on seven selections) and Rachael Sporn (eight) own more nominations.
Batkovic was first named in 2009-10 and has subsequently been featured in five of the last seven All-Star Five’s.
The league-leader in assists this season, Mitchell has joined the likes of Vicki Daldy, Erin Phillips, Penny Taylor, Natalie Porter and Deanna Smith with her third selection after being named in 2013-14 and 2015-16.
The Flames’ on court leader, Mitchell is now chasing her first WNBL Championship with Sydney Uni set to host Game 1 of the three-game Grand Final series this weekend.
Alongside Batkovic and Mitchell, Whitcomb is the third member of this year’s All-Star Five returning from last season.
She led the competition with an average of 23.6 points, over two points more per game than any other player while her 567 total regular season points placing her second all-time in the Top Shooters Award, falling just short of Penny Taylor’s tally of 570 in 2002.
The Lynx guard has also created history as the first non-Australian to be named in back-to-back All-Star Five’s.
For Tolo, it is also her second selection after she was named in 2010-11, a record equaling six year gap between nominations.
Returning to the WNBL this season, the Caps centre finished third for points and rebounds per game with 18.1 and 8.5 respectively.
Sydney Uni’s Taylor is the only player to be named in her first WNBL All-Star Five, leading a highly offensively talented team with 16.8 points per game while adding 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals in a very impressive performance at both ends of the court.
Media Contact:
Sally Phillips
Head of WNBL
0425 768 462
sally.phillips@basketball.net.au
