2015–16 WNBL season

The 2015–16 WNBL season is the 36th season of competition since its establishment in 1981. A total of 9 teams contested the league. The regular season was played between October 2015 and February 2016, followed by a post-season involving the top four on 28 February to 18 March 2016. The Townsville Fire were the defending champions and they would go on to repeat their run to the WNBL title, defeating the Perth Lynx 2–0 in the final.[1]

2015–16 WNBL season
LeagueWomen's National Basketball League
SportBasketball
Duration9 October 2015 – 18 March 2016
Number of teams9
Regular season
Top seedTownsville Fire
Season MVPSuzy Batkovic Fire
Top scorerSuzy Batkovic Fire
Finals
ChampionsTownsville Fire
  Runners-upPerth Lynx
Finals MVPMicaela Cocks Fire

Sponsorship included Wattle Valley, entering its third year as league naming rights sponsor. Spalding provided equipment including the official game ball, with Peak supplying team apparel. This season also saw the return of a team from South Queensland with the debut of the South East Queensland Stars.

Transfers
Main article: List of 2015–16 WNBL season signings

Team standings
# WNBL Championship Ladder
Team W L PCT GP
1 Townsville Fire17770.8324
2 Perth Lynx16866.6724
3 Dandenong Rangers15962.5024
4 South East Queensland Stars15962.5024
5 Sydney Uni Flames131154.1724
6 Bendigo Spirit121250.0024
7 Adelaide Lightning101441.6724
8 Melbourne Boomers81633.3324
9 University of Canberra Capitals2228.3324

Finals
Main article: 2016 WNBL Finals
SemifinalsPreliminary finalGrand final
28 February – Townsville 12, 18 March – Perth / Townsville
Townsville Fire72Perth Lynx0
Perth Lynx91 5 March – TownsvilleTownsville Fire2
Townsville Fire91
27 February – DandenongSouth East Queensland Stars71
Dandenong Rangers82
South East Queensland Stars86

Statistics

Individual statistic leaders
Category Player Team Statistic
Points per gameSuzy BatkovicTownsville Fire20.8 PPG
Rebounds per gameCayla GeorgeTownsville Fire12.1 RPG
Assists per gameKelly WilsonBendigo Spirit5.5 APG
Steals per gameSami WhitcombPerth Lynx2.8 SPG
Blocks per gameLouella TomlinsonPerth Lynx2.0 BPG
Three point percentageBrittany SmartMelbourne Boomers49.2%
Free throw percentageTahlia TupaeaSydney Uni Flames89.7%

Individual game highs
Category Player Team Statistic
PointsSara BlicavsDandenong Rangers38
ReboundsCayla GeorgeTownsville Fire18
Mikaela RuefAdelaide Lightning
AssistsLauren MansfieldSouth East Queensland Stars11
StealsSami WhitcombPerth Lynx7
BlocksElyse PenalunaMelbourne Boomers7
Louella TomlinsonPerth Lynx
Three pointersCarley MijovicPerth Lynx9

Season award winners

Player of the Week Award
Round # Player Team
Round 1Tess MadgenMelbourne Boomers
Round 2Suzy BatkovicTownsville Fire
Round 3Sami WhitcombPerth Lynx
Round 4Rachel JarrySouth East Queensland Stars
Round 5Gabrielle RichardsBendigo Spirit
Round 6Tahlia TupaeaSydney Uni Flames
Round 7Suzy Batkovic (2) Townsville Fire
Round 8Cayla GeorgeTownsville Fire
Round 9Belinda SnellBendigo Spirit
Round 10Brittany SmartMelbourne Boomers
Round 11Jordan HooperSouth East Queensland Stars
Round 12Kelsey GriffinBendigo Spirit
Round 13Gabrielle Richards (2) Bendigo Spirit
Round 14Lauren MansfieldSouth East Queensland Stars
Round 15Kayla StandishAdelaide Lightning
Round 16Natalie NovoselTownsville Fire
Round 17Leilani MitchellAdelaide Lightning
Round 18Abby BishopCanberra Capitals

Team of the Week Award
Round # Team
Round 1 Tess Madgen Boomers Sami Whitcomb Lynx Kelsey Griffin Spirit DeNesha Stallworth Stars Elyse Penaluna Boomers
Round 2 Katie-Rae Ebzery Flames Belinda Snell Spirit Kelsey Griffin (2) Spirit Suzy Batkovic Fire Louella Tomlinson Lynx
Round 3 Tahlia Tupaea Flames Sami Whitcomb (2) Lynx Kelsey Griffin (3) Spirit Sara Blicavs Rangers Nadeen Payne Stars
Round 4 Tess Madgen (2) Boomers Leilani Mitchell Lightning Madeleine Garrick Boomers Rachel Jarry Stars Suzy Batkovic (2) Fire
Round 5 Katie-Rae Ebzery (2) Flames Lauren Mansfield Stars Betnijah Laney Lynx Gabrielle Richards Spirit Carolyn Swords Flames
Round 6 Tahlia Tupaea (2) Flames Sami Whitcomb (3) Lynx Ify Ibekwe Stars Suzy Batkovic (3) Fire Louella Tomlinson (2) Lynx
Round 7 Katie-Rae Ebzery (3) Flames Sami Whitcomb (4) Lynx Tamara Tatham Fire Suzy Batkovic (4) Fire Elyse Penaluna (2) Boomers
Round 8 Tess Madgen (3) Boomers Sami Whitcomb (5) Lynx Stephanie Cumming Rangers Belinda Snell (2) Spirit Cayla George Fire
Round 9 Tessa Lavey Lynx Leilani Mitchell (2) Lightning Belinda Snell (3) Spirit Mikaela Ruef Lightning Gabrielle Richards (2) Spirit
Round 10 Brittany Smart Boomers Madeleine Garrick (2) Boomers Annalise Pickrel Rangers Jordan Hooper Stars Suzy Batkovic (5) Fire
Round 11 Katie-Rae Ebzery (4) Flames Lauren Mansfield (2) Stars Sara Blicavs (2) Rangers Jordan Hooper (2) Stars Suzy Batkovic (6) Fire
Round 12 Leilani Mitchell (3) Lightning Stephanie Cumming (2) Rangers Kelsey Griffin (4) Spirit DeNesha Stallworth (2) Capitals Cayla George (2) Fire
Round 13 Lauren Mansfield (3) Stars Sami Whitcomb (6) Lynx Sara Blicavs (3) Rangers Betnijah Laney (2) Lynx Gabrielle Richards (3) Spirit
Round 14 Lauren Mansfield (4) Stars Rachel Jarry (2) Stars Kelsey Griffin (5) Spirit Betnijah Laney (3) Lynx Suzy Batkovic (7) Fire
Round 15 Lauren Mansfield (5) Stars Sami Whitcomb (7) Lynx Stephanie Cumming (3) Rangers Kayla Standish Lightning Cayla George (3) Fire
Round 16 Lauren Mansfield (6) Stars Renee Montgomery Capitals Natalie Novosel Fire Jordan Hooper (3) Stars Carley Mijovic Lynx
Round 17 Leilani Mitchell (4) Lightning Carley Mijovic (2) Lynx Ify Ibekwe (2) Stars Abby Bishop Capitals Suzy Batkovic (8) Fire
Round 18 Katie-Rae Ebzery (5) Flames Sami Whitcomb (8) Lynx Jordan Hooper (4) Stars Abby Bishop (2) Capitals Cayla George (4) Fire

Player & Coach of the Month Awards
For games played Player of the Month Coach of the Month
Player Team Coach Team
October 2015Suzy BatkovicTownsville FireShane HealSouth East Queensland Stars
November 2015Katie-Rae EbzerySydney Uni FlamesAndy StewartPerth Lynx
December 2015Suzy Batkovic (2) Townsville FireLarissa AndersonDandenong Rangers
January 2016Betnijah LaneyPerth LynxLarissa Anderson (2) Dandenong Rangers
February 2016Jordan HooperSouth East Queensland StarsChris LucasTownsville Fire

Postseason Awards
Award Winner Position Team
Most Valuable Player Award Suzy Batkovic Centre Townsville Fire
Grand Final MVP Award Micaela Cocks Guard Townsville Fire
Rookie of the Year Award Alex Ciabattoni Forward Adelaide Lightning
Defensive Player of the Year Award Stephanie Cumming Guard Dandenong Rangers
Top Shooter Award Suzy Batkovic Centre Townsville Fire
Coach of the Year Award Andy Stewart Coach Perth Lynx
All-Star Five Leilani Mitchell Guard Adelaide Lightning
Sami Whitcomb Guard Perth Lynx
Katie-Rae Ebzery Guard Sydney Uni Flames
Kelsey Griffin Forward Bendigo Spirit
Suzy Batkovic Centre Townsville Fire

Team Captains & Coaches
Team Captain Coach
Adelaide Lightning Kelly Bowen / Leilani Mitchell (co) Tracy York
Bendigo Spirit Kelly Wilson Simon Pritchard
Dandenong Rangers Aimie Clydesdale / Stephanie Cumming (co) Larissa Anderson
Melbourne Boomers Tess Madgen Guy Molloy
Perth Lynx Tessa Lavey Andy Stewart
South East Queensland Stars Rachel Jarry Shane Heal
Sydney Uni Flames Katie-Rae Ebzery Shannon Seebohm
Townsville Fire Suzy Batkovic Chris Lucas
University of Canberra Capitals Abby Bishop / Carly Wilson (co) Carrie Graf

References
  1. "Kiwi Micaela Cocks named MVP of Aussie WNBL grand final". stuff.co.nz.
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