More than 280 members of the South Australian basketball community gathered at the National Wine Centre on Saturday night to celebrate another outstanding season at the 2026 Basketball SA Awards.
Bringing together players, coaches, referees, officials, volunteers, partners and supporters from across the state, the evening recognised the people whose performances and contributions have shaped the 2026 season. From breakout campaigns and defensive standouts to those leading from the sidelines and behind the whistle, the awards celebrated excellence across every part of the game.
District League MVPs
District League Reserves were the first to be recognised, with Chelsea Portus (Sturt Sabres) named the Women’s Reserves MVP and Stefan Gould (Forestville Eagles) taking home the Men’s Reserves MVP after impressive seasons for their respective clubs.
Photo of the Year
The innaugural Photo of the Year award was presented to Siddharth Srinivasan, whose winning image perfectly captured the emotion, intensity and passion that defines basketball in NBL1 Central.
Phil Yuill Referee of the Year
Basketball SA also recognised the officials who continue to uphold the standard of the game each week. Bailey Dyer was named the Phil Yuill Referee of the Year for the Women’s Division, while James Griguol received the Men’s Division honour.
Coach of The Year
Moving onto the coaching accolades, Matthew Clarke (West Adelaide Bearcats) was recognised as Women’s League Coach of the Year after guiding his side through another impressive campaign, with Jakob Dorricott (Sturt Sabres) taking out the Men’s League award.
Defensive Player of the Year
The Defensive Player of the Year awards recognised two players whose impact extended well beyond the scoresheet. Chloe Hodges (West Adelaide Bearcats) claimed the Women’s League honour, while Alexander Starling (Forestville Eagles) was recognised in the Men’s League. Alex was unable to attend the event.
The 2026 All Star Fives showcased the depth of talent across both competitions, recognising the players who consistently performed at the highest level throughout the season.
Coaches’ MVP
The Coaches’ MVP awards, voted on by the league’s coaches, recognised the respect each player earned from those they competed against throughout the season. Tayla Brazel (Sturt Sabres) was named Women’s Coaches’ MVP, while Jeremy Smith (South Adelaide Panthers) received the Men’s honour.
Merv Harris & Frank Angove Awards
It was a memorable evening for Brazel, who also claimed the Merv Harris Award, capping off a remarkable individual season after also earning selection in the Women’s All Star Five and recognition from league coaching staff.
The Frank Angove Award was presented to Oskar Jones (North Adelaide Rockets), recognising one of the competition’s brightest emerging talents. Unfortunately Oskar was unable to attend the event.
The evening then built to the presentation of Basketball SA’s most prestigious individual honours.
Lorraine Eiler Medal
Awarded to the Women’s League’s fairest and most outstanding player, the Lorraine Eiler Medal was presented to Cali Clark (Norwood Flames) following a season defined by consistency, composure and influence. A key figure throughout the year, Clark’s performances earned widespread respect across the competition and capped off an exceptional campaign that also saw her selected in the Women’s All Star Five.
Woollacott Medal
The night’s final presentation saw Jeremy Smith (South Adelaide Panthers) receive the Woollacott Medal, awarded annually to the Men’s League’s fairest and most outstanding player. Smith’s exceptional season saw him leave the awards with three major honours, adding the Woollacott Medal to his Coaches’ MVP award and Men’s All Star Five selection. His consistency, leadership and ability to deliver when it mattered most made him a deserving recipient of the competition’s highest individual accolade.
Together, the Lorraine Eiler Medal and Woollacott Medal represent the pinnacle of individual achievement in Basketball SA’s senior competitions, recognising not only elite performance but the respect earned across an entire season.
Congratulations to every award recipient, finalist and nominee recognised throughout the evening. Your commitment, sportsmanship and passion continue to raise the standard of basketball across South Australia.
Special thanks to Dan Cowley, for photographing the entire event!
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Cindy Halkias
Brand & Communications Manager
Basketball SA
chalkias@basketballsa.com.au
About Basketball SA
Basketball South Australia (Basketball SA) is the peak body responsible for the governance, growth, and strategic direction of basketball across South Australia.
We exist to lead, support, and connect our basketball community, from grassroots to elite, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and thriving environment for all participants. Our role spans across governance, competitions, officiating, coaching, high-performance pathways, education, inclusive pathways, infrastructure advocacy, and community engagement. Basketball SA works collaboratively with associations, clubs, government, schools, and industry partners to deliver programs and services that enable basketball to be accessible and impactful in every corner of our state.
We are committed to driving positive change and upholding the integrity of the sport, guided by our core values: Respect, Accountability, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Excellence.