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Although their present is looking incredible, the WNBL-leading Bendigo Spirit also are looking to their illustrious past and intend to honor team legend. Meanwhile, the Perth Lynx, who were just one defeat behind the Spirit in the standings, have lost two games in a row. The league’s bottom two teams, the Adelaide Lightning and the Canberra Capitals, have their own issues, with the Lightning attempting to solve theirs with a big change.

Here are more details on the latest developments in the WNBL:

Adelaide Lightning part ways with head coach

Natalie Hurst, the head coach for the Adelaide Lightning since last season, has mutually parted ways with the team. It seemed that the Lightning turned things around with the win against the Southside Flyers immediately after Hurst’s departure, but then they lost to league newcomers Geelong United two days later.

The Lightning are underperforming, no doubt, with just two wins in eight games, despite having the talent to play at a higher level. Newly-drafted Golden State Valkyrie Stephanie Talbot is averaging 10.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and over one block and one steal per game. Former UCLA Bruin Japreece Dean is averaging 14 points, 3.9 boards and 3.8 dimes, but she’s also turning the ball over three times per contest. The Chicago Sky’s Brianna Turner is crazy good on defense, averaging 12.1 boards, three steals and three blocks. The talent is there and the numbers look good, but there’s no consistency and the Lightning are losing too many games. It remains to be seen whether a new coach—for now, it’s former assistant coach Matthew Clarke—will come up with ways to change that.

The Spirit to retire first jersey

The Bendigo Spirit are on a roll, remaining unbeaten and dominating the competition behind the play of MVP favorite Sami Whitcomb and another newly-minted Valkyrie, Veronica Burton. This week, they’ve announced that they were retiring their first jersey: the No. 20 that belonged to Gabe Richards.

Richards won two championships with the Spirit, appeared in two WNBL All-Star Games and played for the national team. She never made it to the WNBA; she did, however, play for the University of Oregon. In 2007, she began her pro career with the Spirit, and retired in 2020 when she was back with the Spirit.

Her number will the retired Dec. 14, before the Spirit’s next home game against the Townsville Fire. One of the players who’ll take the court, Kelly Wilson, is next in line to get her jersey retired. Once she decides to retire, that is. Wilson and Richards are the same age and they won championships together for the Spirit in the previous decade, but Wilson is still at it, starting at guard for the best team in the league, averaging four assists and almost two steals per game.

League standings

1. Bendigo Spirit (8-0)

2. Perth Lynx (6-3)

3. Townsville Fire (4-3)

4. Sydney Flames (3-4)

5. Geelong United (3-4)

6. Southside Flyers (3-5)

7. Adelaide Lightning (2-6)

8. Canberra Capitals (2-6)