WNBL: Bendigo Spirit, Townsville Fire will meet in the Grand Final

The Bendigo Spirit and Townsville Fire will face off in the 2024-25 WNBL Grand Final. The first game of the best-of-three series tips off on Wednesday, March 5.

Here’s a look at the two teams before they go for WNBL glory:

MVP Sami Whitcomb spurs the favored Spirit

The Spirit are the favorites. They have the newly-crowned MVP and Phoenix Mercury-signee Sami Whitcomb, who, at age 36, is crossing over much younger players and launching step-back 3s like it’s nothing. In the two games against the Sydney Flames in the semifinals, she averaged 24 points and 10 boards, not shying away from physical contact.

Whitcomb has been playing as a woman on a mission, aided by Golden State Valkyrie Veronica Burton, who in Game 1 against the Flames had 19 points, a key contribution as was customary for her this season. Burton is one of the less-experienced players in the Spirit’s starting lineup, which features Whitcomb, 41-year-old Australian guard Kelly Wilson and 35-year-old Aussie center Marianna Tolo. Their experience gives them their biggest upside.

Cox, Coffey fueled the Fire into the Final

The Perth Lynx were the favorites entering the semifinal series against the Fire, especially with four players on the two All-WNBL teams—proof that they were the most well-rounded team of the season.

But the Fire have the best defensive player of the league in Lauren Cox, with No. 3 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft averaging almost three blocks per game. Her team, though, beat the Lynx with their offense, headlined by Atlanta Dream’s Nia Coffey, who exploded for 36 points in Game 1. Game 2 saw the Fire play more like a team than the Lynx, with six players scoring in double figures, beating the favored Lynx by 30 points, 106-76. They will be now trying to carry over the momentum to the Final, and cause the ultimate upset.

WNBL Grand Final schedule

Games are available for streaming on the FIBA Basketball YouTube channel.

Game 1: Wednesday, Mar. 5 at 3 a.m. ET

Game 2: Sunday, March 9 at 11 p.m. ET

Game 3 (if necessary): Wednesday, Mar. 12 at 3 a.m. ET