NBL1 Awards Wrap: Every star recognised in 2026

The best of NBL1 have been recognised following another incredible season of basketball across Australia.

Throughout NBL1 North, South, East, West and Central, the standout players and coaches from the 2026 season have been celebrated for their performances throughout the year.

From Most Valuable Players and defensive standouts to the competition’s brightest young stars, here is the full list of major award winners from all five NBL1 conferences in 2026.

NBL1 East

Most Valuable Player

Men: Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra Hawks)
Women: Jaz Shelley (Norths Bears)

All Star Fives

Men:

• Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra Hawks)
• Quinn Slazinski (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
• Lachlan Bofinger (Norths Bears)
• Jai Fa'ale (COE)
• Tyler Robertson (Sutherland Sharks)

Women:

• Jaz Shelley (Norths Bears)
• Alex Delaney (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
• Nicole Munger (Newcastle Falcons)
• Shyla Heal (Bankstown Bruins)
• Unique Thompson (Albury Wodonga Bandits)

Defensive Player of the Year

Men: Ajak Nyuon (COE)
Women: Caitlyn Martin (Norths Bears)

Youth Player of the Year

Men: Alex Dickeson (COE)
Women: Zara Russell (COE)

Coach of the Year

Men: Matt Flinn (Illawarra Hawks)
Women: Renae Garlepp (Norths Bears)

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NBL1 North

Most Valuable Player

Men: Kody Stattmann (Cairns Marlins)
Women: Courtney Woods (Townsville Flames)

NBL1 North First Team

Men:

• Kody Stattmann (Cairns Marlins)
• Shaun Bruce (Logan Thunder)
• Preston Le Gassick (Gold Coast Rollers)
• James Whitt (Gold Coast Rollers)
• Jarred Bairstow (Brisbane Capitals)

Women:

• Mia Loyd (Cairns Dolphins)
• Courtney Woods (Townsville Flames)
• Jessica McDowell-White (Southern Districts Spartans)
• Leah Scott (Logan Thunder)
• Emily Kiser (Rockhampton Cyclones)

NBL1 North Second Team

Men:

• Kobe McDowell-White (Cairns Marlins)
• Sam McDaniel (Ipswich Force)
• Luca Yates (Cairns Marlins)
• Callum Dalton (Logan Thunder)
• Jensen Bradtke (Gold Coast Rollers)

Women:

• Brooke Basham (Cairns Dolphins)
• Mikhaela Cann (Logan Thunder)
• Nes'eya Parker-Williams (Northside Wizards)
• River Baldwin (Mackay Meteorettes)
• Grace Ellis (Northside Wizards)

Defensive Player of the Year

Men: James Whitt (Gold Coast Rollers)
Women: Mikhaela Cann (Logan Thunder), Erin Bollmann (Sunshine Coast Phoenix) - tied

Sixth Player of the Year

Men: Luke Anderson (Sunshine Coast Phoenix)
Women: Leichan Williams (Cairns Dolphins)

Youth Player of the Year

Men: Kobe McDowell-White (Cairns Marlins)
Women: Monique Bobongie (Mackay Meteorettes)

Coach of the Year

Men: Joel Khalu (Cairns Marlins)
Women: Marcus Wong (Cairns Dolphins)

NBL1 West

Most Valuable Player

Men: Isaac White (Rockingham Flames)
Women: Jessie Edwards (Cockburn Cougars)

All-NBL1 West First Teams

Men:

• Isaac White (Rockingham Flames)
• Sharif Black (Joondalup Wolves)
• Jack Browder (Perry Lakes Hawks)
• Cameron Huefner (Perry Lakes Hawks)
• Liam Hunt (Geraldton Buccaneers)

Women:

• Jessie Edwards (Cockburn Cougars)
• Sierra Moore (Goldfields Giants)
• Sara Puckett (Rockingham Flames)
• Mikayla Pivec (Mandurah Magic)
• Makenna Marisa (Perry Lakes Hawks)

All-NBL1 West Second Team

Men:

• Marley Sam (Eastern Suns)
• Rowan Mackenzie (Cockburn Cougars)
• Johny Narkle (Cockburn Cougars)
• Taeshon Cherry (Willetton Tigers)
• Josh Keyes (Geraldton Buccaneers)

Women:

• Esmeralda Morales (Lakeside Lightning)
• Stacey Barr (East Perth Eagles)
• Chloe Forster (Warwick Senators)
• Samantha Ashby (Perth Redbacks)
• Sarah Mortensen (East Perth Eagles)

Defensive Player of the Year

Men: Josh Keyes (Geraldton Buccaneers)
Women: Jessie Edwards (Cockburn Cougars)

Sixth Player of the Year

Men: Ryan Godfrey (Rockingham Flames)
Women: Darcee Garbin (Cockburn Cougars)

Youth Player of the Year

Men: Marley Sam (Eastern Suns)
Women: Jayda Clark (Warwick Senators)

Coach of the Year

Men: Dayle Joseph (Geraldton Buccaneers)
Women: Jonelle Morley (East Perth Eagles)

NBL1 Central

Woollacott Medal: Jeremy Smith (South Adelaide Panthers)

Lorraine Eiler Medal: Cali Clark (Norwood Flames)

Frank Angove Award (Highest placed Men's U23): Oskar Jones (North Adelaide Rockets)

Merv Harris Award (Highest placed Women's U23): Tayla Brazel (Sturt Sabres)

All Star Fives

Men:

• Jeremy Smith (South Adelaide Panthers)
• Lloyd McVeigh (South Adelaide Panthers)
• Jordan Forbes (Forestville Eagles)
• Thomas Kurowski (Norwood Flames)
• Daniel Johnson (Forestville Eagles)

Women:

• Cali Clark (Norwood Flames)
• Allysyn Becki (Norwood Flames)
• Morgan Yaeger (West Adelaide Bearcats)
• Tayla Brazel (Sturt Sabres)
• Chloe Hodges (West Adelaide Bearcats)

Defensive Player of the Year

Men: Alex Starling (Forestville Eagles)
Women: Chloe Hodges (West Adelaide Bearcats)

Coach of the Year

Men: Jakob Dorricott (Sturt Sabres)
Women: Matthew Clarke (West Adelaide Bearcats)

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NBL1 South

Most Valuable Player

Men: Jacob Richards (Hobart Chargers)
Women: Dallas Loughridge (Casey Cavaliers)

NBL1 South First Team

Men:

• Jacob Richards (Hobart Chargers
• Christian D'Angelo (Nunawading Spectres)
• Harry Froling (Dandenong Rangers)
• Trazarien White (Knox Raiders)
• Tom Wilson (Melbourne Tigers)

Women:

• Dallas Loughridge (Casey Cavaliers)
• Isabelle Bourne (Keilor Thunder)
• Abbey Ellis (Diamond Valley Eagles
• Steph Reid (Sandringham Sabres)
• Lil Dart (Eltham Wildcats)

NBL1 South Second Team

Men:

• Biwali Bayles (Bendigo Braves)
• George Blagojevic (Melbourne Tigers)
• Malith Machar (Sandringham Sabres)
• Joe Palmer (Dandenong Rangers)
• Jack Purchase (Melbourne Tigers)

Women:

• Alicia Froling (Knox Raiders)
• Keely Froling (Northern Force)
• Maddison Rocci (Keilor Thunder)
• Madison Ryan (Sandringham Sabres)
• Abigail Wehrung (Ballarat Miners)

Defensive Player of the Year

Men: Demarcus Gatlin (Geelong United)
Women: Rebecca Pizzey (Eltham Wildcats)

Youth Player of the Year

Men: Logan Gibson (Northern Force)
Women: Madison Ryan (Sandringham Sabres)

Coach of the Year

Men: Andrew Cutler (Nunawading Spectres)
Women: Matt Bongetti (Keilor Thunder)

With award winners now recognised around the country, attention turns to the biggest stage as the best of NBL1 come together to close out the 2026 campaign.

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