The Bendigo Spirit defeated the Townsville Fire 63-55 in Game 2 of the WNBL Grand Final to claim their third WNBL championship.
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03-10, 2025The Spirit, the best-performing team this season, took control of the game after halftime, completing a Grand Final sweep of the Fire in front of a sold-out crowd at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on Sunday. Their consistent performance throughout the season culminated in this decisive victory.
League MVP Sami Whitcomb added the Rachael Sporn Grand Final MVP trophy to her already impressive collection after scoring 26 points. Mariana Tolo contributed 17 points and 9 rebounds. Whitcomb's outstanding performance was crucial to their success, and Tolo's contribution further solidified their dominance.
“Honestly, I couldn’t find a group of people I’d rather win with,” Whitcomb said.
“I felt like it was inevitable with this group; from the start, we felt like we were building something together.”
“It was tough, very, very tough, but we earned it, and I’m proud of that.”
Veterans Tolo, Kelsey Griffin, and Kelly Wilson celebrated their fifth championship. This is Bendigo's first title since defeating Townsville in consecutive seasons in 2013-14. The team's experience and leadership proved invaluable in securing the win.
Lauren Cox led the Fire with 17 points, while captain Courtney Woods' 10 points were offset by 10 turnovers. The game was physical and defense-oriented early, with both teams going over three minutes without a field goal and missing their first five shots. The intense defensive pressure from both sides made scoring difficult in the initial stages.
Bendigo got off to a faster start, leading 11-5, before Townsville recovered, taking a 21-20 lead at the end of the first quarter, with Cox scoring 13 points. As Spirit's interior players ran into foul trouble, the Fire went on an 11-0 run around the first-quarter break to lead 29-20. Townsville's early surge put Bendigo on the back foot, forcing them to adjust their strategy.
Townsville dominated the offensive boards 11-2 in the first half, but their poor outside shooting allowed Bendigo to stay within striking distance. Whitcomb and Tolo combined to reduce Townsville's lead to 34-33 at halftime, before the Spirit took over with a defensive masterclass in the third quarter, similar to Game 1. The Spirit's resilience and ability to capitalize on Townsville's weaknesses proved to be key.
The Fire had more turnovers (10) than points (7) in the quarter, and Bendigo took advantage, led by Whitcomb, to take a 46-41 lead at the end of the third. Townsville went over seven minutes without a field goal, and the Spirit's lead grew to double digits on a three-pointer by Abby Wehrung. Bendigo's strong defensive performance in the third quarter swung the momentum in their favor.
The Fire fought hard to close the gap, with rookie Abby Ellis hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two points, but the home side would ultimately rue more turnovers and missed free throws at crucial moments. Ultimately, Townsville's inability to maintain composure and execute in the final minutes cost them the game.
