The 163cm pocket rocket scored 283 points at a team high 12.9 points per game, shooting 41.6 per cent from the field. She was also precise from 3-point range, knocking down 41-of-108 attempts at 38 per cent.
Graham averaged career high numbers in points (12.9), rebounds (3.3) and assists (2.2) per game.
Sharing point guard duties with veteran Kristen Veal, Graham started the season with a career-best 21 points to lead all scorers against the Perth Lynx in Round 1 before setting a new bench mark of 24 points against Sydney Uni in Round 4.
She went on to be Logan’s highest-scorer in the team’s debut season, scoring ten-or more points in 18 games.
Graham was named the Nivea Player of the Week in Round 17 after inspiring Logan to an upset win over the Adelaide Lightning. She made a number of clutch baskets throughout the game and led all scorers with 19 points, including three-of-five from 3-point range and grabbed six rebounds.
The Brisbane native made her ADF WNBL debut last season and played in four games for the Dandenong Rangers but she took the court in all 22 of the Thunder’s games this season and top-scored in seven outings. She credited her improvement to hard work in the pre-season and more court time.
“Coming into a younger team with not much experience I got a few more opportunities and was able to take them this year,” Graham said.
“I had a better pre-season and they were the two main differences between this season and last.”
The 19-year-old played with a maturity beyond her years as she fearlessly took on more experienced opponents including ADF Opal and Bendigo Spirit point guard Kristi Harrower and Canberra Capitals’ Natalie Hurst.
“It was a bit daunting at first playing Kristi Harrower,” Graham said.
“It’s pretty tough, I guess the main thing is to learn from them when you’re playing against them.”
After her outstanding season Graham has re-signed with the Thunder on a new two-year contract.
She joins a prestigious list of Australian basketballers who have been awarded the Rookie of the Year including ADF Opals Lauren Jackson and Laura Summerton.
In 1988, the Youth Player of the Year was first awarded to Lucille Hamilton of the AIS, then in 1995 the award became known as the Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award in recognition of Watson’s years of dedication to the Australian women’s national team and for her part in helping found the WNBL.
The Bettie Watson Rookie of the Year Award is determined by a poll of the head coach, assistant coach and team captain from all WNBL clubs, where voters are not allowed to vote for members of their own team.
To receive the award a player must be under the age of 21 and be in either their first or second year in the league (to be eligible in their second year they must have played no more than half the regular season games during their first year).
Youth Player of the Year
1988 - Lucille Hamilton (AIS)
1989 - Renae Fegent (AIS)
1990 – Trish Fallon (AIS)
1991 - Michelle Brogan (Adelaide City Tigers)
1992 - Allison Cook (Melbourne Tigers)
1993 - Allison Cook (Melbourne Tigers)
1994 - Maryanne Difrancesco (Melbourne Tigers)
Bettie Watson Rookie of the Year
1995 - Chika Emeagi (AIS)
1996 - Jessica Bibby (Dandenong Rangers)
1997 - Lauren Jackson (AIS)
1998 - Andrea Cartledge (Melbourne Tigers)
1998/99 - Caitlin Ryan (Dandenong Rangers)
1999/00 - Shelley Hammonds (AIS)
2000/01 - Laura Summerton (AIS)
2001/02 - Alison Downie (Dandenong) and Kamala Lamshed (Adelaide) *
2002/03 - Kelly Wilson (AIS)
2003/04 - Kathleen MacLeod (AIS)
2004/05 - Renae Camino (AIS)
2005/06 - Abby Bishop (AIS)
2006/07 – Cayla Francis (AIS)
2007/08 – Nicole Hunt (AIS)
2008/09 – Sarah Graham (Logan Thunder)
* Joint winners
By Kimberley Lewis for WNBL Media
