Melbourne's 40-piece stuns Spirit on eve of finals

• Melbourne's 40-point masterclass secures AIS Arena victory
• Spirit's Veronica Burton scored 29 points, played a lone hand
• Bendigo drops last game of the season, blow before WNBL Finals

WNBA and Australian Opals guard Jade Melbourne was unstoppable as the UC Capitals stunned championship favourites Bendigo Spirit 83-74 at the AIS Arena in the last round of WNBL25 on February 15, 2025.

The 22-year-old point guard lit up Bendigo like a pinball arcade, scoring 40 points in the last game of the Caps season before heading back to the US to play for the Washington Mystics in the 2025 WNBA season.

Key Details

• Result: UC Capitals 83 def. Bendigo Spirit 74
• When: 15th February 2025
• Where: AIS Arena, Canberra
• Standings: UC Capitals (#5) | Bendigo Spirit (#1) (League Ladder)

By the Numbers

• Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals) starred with 40 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one block in 36 minutes.
• Veronica Burton (Bendigo Spirit) scored 29 points, and had three rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in 36 minutes.

What Happened

The UC Capitals and Bendigo Spirit engaged in a tightly contested battle, with neither team able to establish a significant lead throughout the first half. The Capitals held a slim 39-38 advantage at halftime, thanks to Jade Melbourne's 16 first-half points.

The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Melbourne continued her hot shooting, scoring 13 points in the period, while Veronica Burton kept the Spirit in the game with her aggressive drives to the basket. Heading into the final quarter, the Capitals clung to a narrow 60-59 lead.

The game's pivotal moment came with 7:46 remaining in the fourth quarter when Melbourne drained a crucial three-pointer to extend the Capitals' lead to 68-62. This shot seemed to energise the home team and deflate the Spirit's comeback hopes.

From that point on, the Capitals maintained control, never allowing Bendigo to get closer than four points.

Melbourne's phenomenal performance was the driving force behind the Capitals' victory. Her 40 points came on an efficient 14-from-25 shooting from the field, including five three-pointers. She also showcased her all-around game with 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Melbourne was just three assists short of her second triple double of the season.

Charli Collier provided valuable support with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Nicole Munger added 11 points off the bench.

For Bendigo, Veronica Burton dropped 29 points and seven assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome Melbourne's career night.

Kelsey Griffin contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while MVP-in-waiting Sami Whitcomb and Marianna Tolo each chipped in 11 and 10 points respectively.

The Capitals' superior shooting proved to be the difference in the game. They shot 40.3% from the field compared to Bendigo's 38.6%, and crucially, made 17-of-19 free throws (89.5%) while the Spirit struggled at the line, converting only 10-of-15 attempts (66.7%).

Defensively, the Capitals' ability to force turnovers was key, as they recorded seven steals to Bendigo's nine, despite the Spirit having more total turnovers (10 to 9). This allowed the Capitals to score 10 points off turnovers, compared to Bendigo's six.

It was a bitter sweet end of WNBL25 for the Caps, beating the league-leading Bendigo Spirit on the eve of the finals.

For Bendigo, it could prove to the loss they need to sharpen their focus on winning the WNBL championship after a dominant 2024-25 campaign.