MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – August 24, 2026 – Wheelchair Basketball Australia (WBA) celebrated the thrilling conclusion of its 2026 season this weekend, capping off a monumental year with an extraordinary finals series made possible by the funding agreement with the Victorian Government.
In a fiercely contested NWBL Grand Final on Sunday, the Manly Wheel Eagles defeated the Red Dust Heelers 81-74. The WNWBL Grand Final was equally captivating, with the Sydney Blues securing a hard-fought 56-50 victory over the Victoria Wonders. The standout performers of the grand finals were Tom O'Neill Thorne of the Manly Wheel Eagles, named the NWBL Finals MVP, and Kylie Gauci of the Sydney Blues, who took home the WNWBL Finals MVP honours.
Reflecting on the successful weekend, John Palmer, Executive General Manager of WBA, praised the elite standard of competition and the league's continued commercial and athletic growth.
"This weekend wasn't just a spectacular conclusion to our most well-received Finals series to date; it was a celebration of how far wheelchair basketball has come and where it is heading," Palmer said. "The sheer intensity and elite skill on display across both Grand Finals demonstrate exactly why our national league is the premier pathway to international representation. Standing alongside the pioneers of our 1996 Gold Medal team, it is clear that we are building upon a profound legacy. With the backing of our dedicated partners, this is truly the beginning of a new era for Wheelchair Basketball Australia as we look to elevate our athletes on the road to Brisbane 2032."
Celebrating Excellence: 2026 WBA Award Winners
The weekend's festivities included the WBA Awards Night at the Hyatt Place Caribbean Park. The evening recognised the outstanding individual contributions across both leagues: WBA Most Valuable
Players of the Year: Mitchell Bond (Red Dust Heelers) and Hannah Dodd (Sydney Uni Lions).
Coaches of the Year: Brett Stibners (Wollongong RollerHawks) and Lauren Robinson (Victoria Wonders). Defensive Players of the Year: Tom O'Neill Thorne (Manly Wheel Eagles) and Ebony Stevenson (Perth Wheelcats).
Top Point Scorers: Tristan Knowles (Wollongong RollerHawks) and Georgia Munro Cook (Sydney Blues). Men's All-Star Five: Frank Pinder, Eithen Leard, Steven Elliott, Tristan Knowles, and Mitchell Bond. Women's All-Star Five: Sarah Vinci, Kylie Gauci, Shelley Matheson, and Laura Davoli, and Hannah Dodd. WBA Community Impact Award: The inaugural award was presented to the PlayOn Program, accepted by founders Shelley Matheson and Leanne Del Toso. Through their passion and hard work, they have created a space where joy, connection, and opportunity thrive for all women.
Life Membership Inductees: Nine new Life Members were inducted, marking a historic milestone with the first female athletes added to the ranks. Inductees included Sue Hobbs, Lisa Edmonds, Liesl Tesch AM, Alison Mosely, Lisa Chaffey, Sarah Stewart, Troy Sachs OAM, Brad Ness OAM, and Matt Wells.
A major highlight of the weekend was the 30th-anniversary celebration of the historic 1996 Gold Medal-winning Australian Rollers team. Eleven members of the gold medal team and coaching staff attended the awards night and received a special half-time presentation from Basketball Australia during Sunday's NWBL Grand Final.
The successful delivery of the 2026 season and finals series was made possible by the crucial support of WBA's dedicated partners. Special thanks must go to WBA Presenting Partner BrightSky Australia, as well as Forward Ability Support, William Buck, Sargood on Collaroy, and the Victorian Government for their vital contributions to the WBA Finals Series.
Media Contact:
John Palmer
Executive General Manager Wheelchair Basketball Australia
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