2021–22 WNBL season

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2021–22 WNBL season

| league = Women's National Basketball League

| sport = Basketball

| logo =

| pixels =

| caption =

| duration = 2 December 2021 – 9 April 2022

| no_of_teams = 8

| TV = ABC
Fox Sports
Kayo

| season = Regular season

| top_seed = Melbourne Boomers

| MVP = Anneli Maley (BEN)

| MVP_link = WNBL Most Valuable Player Award

| top_scorer = Anneli Maley (BEN)

| top_scorer_link = WNBL Leading Scorer Award

| finals = Finals

| finals_link = 2022 WNBL Finals

| finals_champ = Melbourne Boomers

| finals_runner-up = Perth Lynx

| finals_MVP = Lindsay Allen (MEL)

| finals_MVP_link = WNBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award

| seasonslist = List of WNBL seasons

| seasonslistnames = WNBL

| prevseason_link = 2020 WNBL season

| prevseason_year = 2020

| nextseason_link = 2022–23 WNBL season

| nextseason_year = 2022–23

}}

The 2021–22 WNBL season was the 42nd season of the competition since its establishment in 1981.[https://wnbl.basketball/ WNBL official website] The Southside Flyers were the defending champions, however they failed to qualify for finals.{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/flyers-reach-potential-earn-redemption-for-wnbl-championship/|title=Flyers reach potential earn redemption for WNBL championship|publisher=wnbl.basketball}} The Melbourne Boomers won their second championship, defeating Perth in the Grand Final series, 2–1.{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/melbourne-boomers-are-the-wnbl-2021-22-champions/|title=Melbourne Boomers are the WNBL 2021/22 Champions|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

After the 2020 season was condensed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was confirmed in July 2021 that the upcoming season is set to be closer to the traditional season fixture played over several months across the summer.{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/2021-22-wnbl-season-structure/|title=2021-22 WNBL Season structure|publisher=wnbl.basketball}} In October 2021, a new broadcast deal was signed with the ABC, Fox Sports and Kayo,{{cite web|url=https://australia.basketball/wnbl-inks-new-broadcast-deal-ahead-of-2021-22-season/|title=WNBL INKS NEW BROADCAST DEAL AHEAD OF 2021/22 SEASON|publisher=australia.basketball}} with an 84-game season fixture announced shortly after.{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/2021-22-wnbl-season-released/|title=2021/22 WNBL season released|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

Spalding will again provide equipment including the official game ball, alongside iAthletic supplying team apparel for the fifth consecutive season.

Player movement

Standings

Finals

Statistics

= Individual statistic leaders =

class="wikitable" style="width: 35%; text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! width=25%\|Category ! width=30%\|Player ! width=10%\|Statistic
Points per game	Anneli Maley (BEN)	19.8 PPG
Rebounds per game	Anneli Maley (BEN)	15.7 RPG
Assists per game	Stephanie Talbot (ADL)	6.4 APG
Steals per game	Kalani Purcell (SYD)	2.8 SPG
Blocks per game	Ezi Magbegor (MEL)	1.6 BPG

= Individual game highs =

class="wikitable" style="width: 35%; text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! width=25%\|Category ! width=30%\|Player ! width=10%\|Statistic
Points	Anneli Maley (BEN)	38
Rebounds	Anneli Maley (BEN)	24
Assists	Stephanie Talbot (ADL)	12
Steals	Kalani Purcell (SYD)	7
Blocks	Abby Bishop (STH) Ezi Magbegor (MEL)	4

Awards

=Player of the Week=

class="wikitable" style="width: 30%; text-align:center; font-size:90%"

!rowspan=1 width=40|Round #

!width=75|Player

!width=5|Ref.

Round 1

| Brittney Sykes (CBR)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CXKJJlxh5MI/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CXKJJlxh5MI |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=registration|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}{{cbignore}}

Round 2

| Lauren Nicholson (TSV)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CXc2YqNB7_1/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CXc2YqNB7_1 |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=registration|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}{{cbignore}}

Round 3

| Ezi Magbegor (MEL)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuPvtnh-yX/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CXuPvtnh-yX |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=registration|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}{{cbignore}}

Round 4

| Anneli Maley (BEN)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CX9ni-OBayP/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 5

| Alanna Smith (ADL)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CYTNy5ZBIx4/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 6

|colspan=2|

Round 7

| Marina Mabrey (PER)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CY2pwQrB2LH/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 8

| Lauren Nicholson (TSV) (2)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CZGCqgtMtCC/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 9

| Mikaela Ruef (CBR)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CZdHd8NB-6w/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 10

| Anneli Maley (BEN) (2)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ8Jhe_g7gw/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 11

| Alanna Smith (ADL) (2)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CaN-b9Iha6o/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 12

| Anneli Maley (BEN) (3)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CagDmujL8WL/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 13

| Keely Froling (SYD)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cax6zyBrwus/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 14

| Jackie Young (PER)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CbEDRIfBpRW/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Round 15

| Cayla George (MEL)

| {{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CbV72qdLRiB/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

=Postseason Awards=

class="wikitable" style="width: 70%; text-align:center; font-size:90%"

!colspan=1 width=150|Award

!width=125|Winner

!width=125|Position

!width=125|Team

Most Valuable Player

| Anneli Maley

| Forward

| Bendigo Spirit{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/anneli-maley-named-the-wnbl-2021-22-suzy-batkovic-mvp/|title=ANNELI MALEY NAMED THE WNBL 2021/22 SUZY BATKOVIC MVP|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

Grand Final MVP

| Lindsay Allen

| Guard

| Melbourne Boomers

Defensive Player of the Year

| Brittney Sykes

| Guard

| Canberra Capitals{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/2021-22-robyn-maher-defensive-player-of-the-year/|title=2021/22 ROBYN MAHER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

Sixth Woman of the Year

| Kristy Wallace

| Guard

| Southside Flyers{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/2021-22-sixth-woman-of-the-year/|title=2021/22 SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

Youth Player of the Year

| Ezi Magbegor

| Forward

| Melbourne Boomers{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/2021-22-betty-watson-youth-player-of-the-year/|title=2021/22 Betty Watson Youth Player of the Year|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

Coach of the Year

| Ryan Petrik

| Coach

| Perth Lynx{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/2021-22-wnbl-coach-of-the-year/|title=2021/22 WNBL COACH OF THE YEAR|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

Leading Scorer Award

| Anneli Maley

| Forward

| Bendigo Spirit{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CbY0Y5KhJgF/|title=The WNBL on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

Leading Rebounder Award

| Anneli Maley

| Forward

| Bendigo Spirit

Golden Hands Award

| Brittney Sykes

| Guard

| Canberra Capitals

rowspan=5| All-WNBL First Team

| Jackie Young

| Guard

| Perth Lynx{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/all-star-wnbl-first-and-second-teams/|title=ALL-STAR WNBL FIRST AND SECOND TEAMS|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

| Guard

| Guard

| Forward

| Forward/Center

rowspan=5| All-WNBL Second Team

| Guard

| Guard

| Forward

| Forward

| Forward/Center

Team captains and coaches

class="wikitable" style="width: 60%; text-align:center; font-size:90%"

!colspan=1 width=150|Team

!width=125|Captain

!width=125|Coach

Adelaide Lightning

| Stephanie Talbot

| Chris Lucas

Bendigo Spirit{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CYIohc7rM1Y/|title=Bendigo Spirit on Instagram|publisher=instagram.com}}

| Madeleine Garrick / Tessa Lavey (co)

| Tracy York

Canberra Capitals

| Kelsey Griffin

| Paul Goriss

Melbourne Boomers

| Cayla George

| Guy Molloy

Perth Lynx{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/proud-captain-garbin-has-high-expectations-for-lynx/|title=PROUD CAPTAIN GARBIN HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR LYNX|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

Southside Flyers

Sydney Uni Flames{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/sydney-uni/news/mansfield-and-froling-to-fan-the-fire-as-leaders-of-the-young-flames/|title=Mansfield and Froling to fan the fire as leaders of the young Flames|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

| Keely Froling / Lauren Mansfield (co)

| Shane Heal

Townsville Fire{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/townsville/news/captains-announced/|title=Captains announced|publisher=wnbl.basketball}}

| Mia Murray / Lauren Nicholson (co)

| Shannon Seebohm

References

External links

[https://wnbl.basketball/ WNBL official website]
[https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/2020-wnbl-fixture/ WNBL Hub season fixtures]

Basketball

Category:2021 in women's basketball

Basketball

Australia