Canberra Caps off the Season with an upset over Bendigo

Game Summary

In the final regular season round of the 2024/25 WNBL season, the University of Canberra Capitals hosted the Bendigo Spirit at the AIS Stadium. Although the Caps were already eliminated from finals contention, they still had plenty of fight left in them, while Bendigo came into the game as the top seed, looking to build momentum heading into the postseason. The game also marked the farewell of WNBL legend Abby Bishop, who was honoured by the Capitals in her last regular season game.

The first quarter was fast-paced, with Canberra taking an early 7-0 lead. However, Bendigo quickly bounced back, tying the game at 17-17 by the end of the period. In the second quarter, both teams traded blows, with Canberra holding a narrow 39-38 lead at halftime. Young gun Jade Melbourne was on fire for the Caps, putting up 17 points, while Veronica Burton led Bendigo with 14 points.

The third quarter saw more of the same, with Jade Melbourne continuing her dominant performance, reaching 29 points, and Burton not far behind with 21 points. At the final break, the Capitals held a slim 60-59 lead.

In the fourth, Canberra pulled away, with Melbourne leading the charge to secure the win. Despite a valiant effort from Bendigo, the Caps were able to close out the game, with Melbourne finishing with a near-massive triple-double: 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Although the Capitals missed out on finals, they were able to enjoy a satisfying win in their final game of the season. Bendigo, on the other hand, will rest up and look forward to their first finals appearance since the 2014/15 season.

Score
Canberra Capitals (83) defeated Bendigo Spirit (74)

Venue

AIS Arena, Canberra

Best photo

Jade Melbourne of the Capitals celebrates with the crowd

Game Stats

Canberra Capitals vs Bendigo Spirit Stats

Game Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIZbdG5nTJM

Game images

Getty  (all WNBL images this season)