Spirit captain re-signs
Bendigo Spirit is thrilled to announce the re-signing of its captain and five-time Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) champion, Kelsey Griffin, for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Griffin is set to continue her time with the Spirit, signing a one-year deal for the 2025-26 season, as they aim to continue on their Championship winning trajectory.
Drafted third overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2010 WNBA Draft, Griffin went on to play five seasons with the Connecticut Sun, before moving to Australia, gaining citizenship in 2015, and going on to play for the Australian Opals. Highlights for Griffin in the green and gold included winning the MVP Award at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup and becoming a gold medallist at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
In the WNBL, Griffin is one of the League’s modern greats, having been a standout player for the two teams she has represented – Bendigo Spirit and Canberra Capitals – and having captained 10 of the 13 teams she’s been a part of in the WNBL to date. As well as five Championships (three at the Spirit and two at the Caps), Griffin has won the Suzy Batkovic Medal for League MVP (2019), is a three-time Grand Final MVP, and has made an All-WNBL Team on five occasions.
Committing to her 10th season with the Spirit – and 14th playing in Australasia’s premier women’s basketball league – the 37-year-old said she was thrilled to be pulling on a Spirit jersey once again.
“The decision to re-sign wasn’t about whether or not I’d play in Bendigo; that part was easy. This community has given me and Erin so much, and we feel deeply connected here. What I really had to consider was whether it was time to retire or go around one more time.
“In the end, I felt like there was still more to do. With the new ownership of the League and SEN’s continued commitment to Bendigo, I saw an opportunity to be part of shaping what comes next, not just for the Spirit but for the future of women’s basketball in regional communities. I want to help build a sustainable club that keeps giving back to Bendigo long after I’ve finished playing. That is what this next chapter is about – creating a legacy and making sure I leave things better for the next generation.”
Spirit General Manager, Dan Jackson, shared his enthusiasm on Griffin’s re-signing, saying it was her off-court experience and leadership in particular that were valuable assets to the club.
“Having Kelsey on board for next season is amazing for the club,” he commented. “We all know what a star she is on the court, but her leadership – both on and off the court – and how she immerses herself in the local community is what makes her a truly special individual. As a club, we are nothing without our community, and Kelsey does a great job at blending the on- and off-court seamlessly.”
Griffin joins Isobel Borlase, Olivia Pollerd and Casey Samuels as players currently signed for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Words by Abby Crozier