WNBL legend Kelly Wilson returns

WNBL legend Kelly Wilson will make her fabled return to the Bendigo Spirit to finish off the WNBL26 regular season.

After a swan song finish last season, winning her fifth league Championship, the all-time great had seemingly hung up her shoes. 

With young gun Micah Simpson recently being ruled out with an ACL injury, the Spirit needed a guard to carry the burden for the remainder of the regular season. 

Giving birth to her second child last September, Wilson is excited to retake the court and support the team in any way she can as Bendigo chase back-to-back titles.

“With our family still based in Bendigo, it’s been great to still be around and involved with the team where I can,” Wilson said.

“It’s been really impressive to see how the team has continued to evolve, and particularly how the younger players have developed with each and every game. To still be as successful on-court as they have been with [Marianna] Tolo announcing her pregnancy last year, and also losing Casey [Samuels] and Micah at various points due to injury, is testament to everyone involved with the club.”

“While I’m absolutely gutted for Micah, I’m excited to get back on court again, get a taste of that competitive spirit, and contribute where I can to help get the team in the optimum position for finals."

Spirit General Manager Dan Jackson added that Wilson’s addition could be the “one percent” difference in ensuring Bendigo defends its title. 

“We’re all about doing everything we can to put ourselves in the best possible position to defend our Championship,” he said.

“If having Kelly on the team for those three games helps us just one percent, then she’s more than done her job.”

The all-time leader in games played and assists will play the Spirit’s remaining three regular-season games as an injury replacement player, not being eligible for Finals. 

Can the 42-year-old make an impact on this young, talented Spirit squad in their hopes of back-to-back titles? 

Bendigo will take on the Venom in Geelong on Friday night, live from 5:30pm AEDT on ESPN2.

Wilson’s last home game will be on February 1st at Red Energy Arena against Han Xu’s Perth Lynx, get your tickets here. 

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