Sami Whitcomb delivers historic WNBL triple double

• Bendigo Spirit clinches 72-66 victory against Perth Lynx
• Standout performance by Sami Whitcomb with rare WNBL triple-double
• Bendigo unbeaten in WNBL season 2024-25

Australian Opals and WNBA star Sami Whitcomb was straight-up history-making: 17 points; 13 rebounds; and 10 assists to lead the Bendigo Spirit to a tough, hard fought 72-66 win against Perth Lynx (Game Centre) in Round Six of the 2024-25 WNBL season on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Whitcomb's feat came in just under 37 minutes in the top-of-the-table clash on the road in Perth that kept the Spirit unbeaten. Bendigo is now 8-0 while Perth dropped to 6-2.

Triple doubles are difficult to find in WNBL archives but a deep search of box scores reveal its only the third triple double in more than a dozen years.

UC Capitals and WNBA guard Jade Melbourne had 19 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists in a 78-72 loss to Adelaide Lightning in February 2023, a few months after Australian Opals and WNBA forward Cayla George had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a Round Six clash between the Boomers and Lightning in December 2022 — the league's first in a decade.

Whitcomb told Code Sports Basketball's Rebecca Williams before the clash: "I'm just enjoying playing with the group and really just enjoying playing basketball at the moment and that’s really what it’s about."

Whitcomb is chasing her first WNBL championship after stints with Perth and Townsville.

"I think if we can continue to play together, play well, play at a high level we have a shot like any other team," she added.

"You just want to be playing your best basketball come finals, so we’ll see if that’s what we’re doing."

Whitcomb, 36, jumped at the opportunity to play with fellow Australian Opal Marianna Tolo.

"It’s been really fun since I joined the group and the style that we are playing and hopefully we can continue to have a good season and enjoy it," Whitcomb said.

"I really enjoy playing with Tolo (in Paris). Obviously a really great player but a really great quality person and teammate and somebody you know if they are on the team, the team environment, the atmosphere, the culture and all that is going to be top notch."

Read Sami Whitcomb's full Interview with Code Sports Basketball here.

Game Highlights and Key Performances

The 1st vs 2nd clash delivered. Bendigo led 17-14 after one, by three — 35-32 — after two quarters and by six after three, 53-46. But the Spirit found a way, outscoring Perth 25-13 in the last quarter to reinforce their credentials as the team to beat in season 2024-25.

Bendigo shot 37.3% from the field and 84.6% at the foul line but just 17% from three on 5-for-29. Coincidentally, the Lynx also went 5-for-29 from three but just 5-of-13 from the free throw line — where the game as lost. Perth shot 40% from the field on 28-from-70, making the same number of buckets as Bendigo on five less shots.

Bendigo's Kelsey Griffin had 17 and seven rebounds along with three steals, Tolo added 14 and four boards and Veronica Burton seven points, including a big three down the stretch.

Perth Lynx's Miela Sowah (nee Goodchild) was dominant, dropping 25 points on 73.3% shooting along with six boards and five assists. Laeticia Amihere, who had a solid double-double was the only other Lynx in double figures with 16 points on 15 shots and 11 rebounds.

Looking Ahead

The 8-0 Bendigo Spirit face the 4-3 Townsville Fire (Game Centre) at home on Saturday, December 14, 2024 in Round Seven while Perth goes on the road to Sydney to take on the Flames (Game Centre) on Saturday, December 7, 2024 as part of their Round Six double-header.