Wise Whittle wins weekly prize

Canberra Capitals centre, Jenny Whittle, has duplicated her outstanding Round 10 effort from last season, to again win the Player of the Week award.

Last season, Whittle was a dominating force for her team, top scoring in almost every match, and showing her opposition and Canberra’s fans that she was still queen of the key.

This season, the 32-year-old has had plenty of support from some very talented teammates. Lauren Jackson’s start to the season saw the Capitals shoot to the top of the table, and then Alana Beard rocked the WNBL in her short time with the Caps. Whittle has been a consistent scorer and hard worker for her team throughout the opening rounds, and this week, she stood tall among her peers.

In two matches across the weekend, 197cm Whittle helped the Capitals to a perfect record and a little bit closer to knocking Bulleen Melbourne from second spot.

She averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block and 1.5 assists.

She had 22 points at 53% from the field, eight rebounds, two steals a blocked shot and two assists in their interrupted 81-71 win over the Adelaide Fellas at the AIS Arena on Saturday night. She hit six of six from the free throw line.

The team then travelled up the Hume Highway to take on Sydney Uni on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon.

Whittle was unstoppable under the basket, with hook shots and drop steps that bewildered her opponents and delighted the Canberra fans. She finished the match with 19 points at 75%, as well as an assist and a blocked shot.

The Capitals won the match in convincing fashion, 90-71.

“Jenny has the best hook shoot in women’s basketball – in the world,” Capitals coach, Carrie Graf said.

“She is playing the best basketball of her career and is a consistent team member every week.”

The 14-season WNBL veteran is an Opals squad member and will trial for the Commonwealth Games team in Melbourne from December 11–14. She has played 241 matches for the Opals in an international career spanning 15 years.

“Jenny is a legitimate Opals contender,” Graf said of her star.

Players of the Week will be announced every Tuesday throughout the season with the 2005/06 League MVP being presented with a trip for two courtesy of Virgin Blue and the Price Attack WNBL at the end of the season.

Other players in contention for the award in Round 10 were Katrina Hibbert (Bulleen Melbourne), Jacinta Hamilton (Dandenong), Tami Willey (Adelaide), Deanna Smith (Perth) and Lauren King (Townsville).