Spirit return to Ballarat

Bendigo Spirit is thrilled to announce that they will be returning to Ballarat during the 2025-26 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season. 

The reigning WNBL Champions will be returning to Selkirk Stadium in Round 8, for a regional Victorian clash with the Geelong Venom on December 5. 

In a celebration of the country’s top female basketball league returning to Ballarat, three-time Olympian and five-time WNBL Champion, Marianna Tolo, visited Ballarat to conduct a clinic with some of Ballarat’s finest up-and-coming basketball talent.  Held in conjunction with the Ballarat Basketball Association, there was a Q&A session with Tolo, followed by a skills and drills session, held thanks to the support of the Spirit’s official club partner, Sixt. 

“Like so many regional centres, Ballarat is a hot bed of up-and-coming basketball talent,” Tolo said.  “Although I know that Ballarat and Bendigo can be viewed as rivals in some respects, we received such great support when we played here last year, so we’re excited to be coming back again this season.” 

Spirit head coach, Kennedy Kereama – who is also head coach of the Ballarat Miners women’s team in the NBL1 – also spoke on the importance of the connection between Bendigo and Ballarat.  

“We are really thrilled to be working with Ballarat Basketball during the regular WNBL season once again,” Kereama said. “The quality of basketball in this area is really impressive, and we know how much the people of Ballarat love their basketball, so it will be great to be back and play in front of a Ballarat home crowd.” 

“Abbey [Wehrung] and Micah [Simpson] are both much loved members of the community here given they play for the Miners as well as the Spirit, so we’re confident the crowd will be on our side when we return to play in December.”

Words by Abby Crozier