WNBL Champ re-commits to Spirit
Bendigo Spirit is excited to announce the re-signing of 2024-25 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Championship player, Casey Samuels, for the upcoming two seasons.
After first signing with the Spirit in 2023, Samuels has locked in at least another two years in Bendigo, signing on until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Debuting in the WNBL with the Canberra Capitals in 2012, Samuels has developed her skills to become a highly valued and integral member of any team she plays for. As a competitive forward, her presence on the court and strong talent was a significant advantage in the Spirit’s path to the 2024-25 Championship.
As a leading scorer within the team, the 30-year-old’s experience and skill are vital in the team’s performance continuing on an upwards trajectory.
Samuels said she was eager to continue to build on the Spirit’s momentum from season 2024-25.
“I’m really excited to stay in Bendigo and be continuing on with the Spirit for at least the next two years,” Samuels said. “Last year’s Championship win and everything we went through to get to that point was such a thrill to be a part of – even the tough moments – so I’m looking forward to getting the group back together and seeing what we can achieve as we work to defend our title.”
Spirit General Manager, Dan Jackson, shared his enthusiasm on Samuels’ re-signing.
“Re-signing Casey for another two years is a real positive for our club,” Jackson said. “Her experience, skill and forward-thinking has been an absolute asset to the Spirit on-court, and she’s now a really valued member of the Bendigo community off it as well.”
“The way she stepped into our starting five at the start of last season when [captain] Kelsey [Griffin] was injured, I think really highlighted what a valuable player she is and how important she is to our team,” Jackson continued, “so we look forward to seeing her game continue to evolve over the next two seasons.
Samuels joins Opals young-gun, Isobel Borlase, as the players announced on the Spirit roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Words by Abby Crozier