Basketball On The Internet.

GET ready WNBL fans. Big news is imminent! Yes, you will be able to watch this weekend's semi finals live on television!

Well, that is, if your TV connects to the Internet.

Otherwise you can watch the semis on live streaming either via Dandenong and Townsville's club sites or at the WNBL-TV Youtube channel.

The only thing "imminent" about the WNBL Finals being on free-to-air television is the formal announcement they won't be.

To be honest, that's more than a little disappointing.

Being privvy to what has gone on behind the scenes, I know Basketball Australia has worked on this project but I don't know why, when it looked as if the deal was less and less likely to happen, they didn't jump on the front foot and approach the ABC or SBS.

The ABC was showing the Grand Final of the women's league during the 80s before it ever expanded to the full playoffs and, eventually, its Game-of-the-Week format.

Trying to get the Grand Final(s) on free-to-air TV somewhere other than the Nine Network, where the deal was being worked, should have become a priority.

As its stands, those keen enough will be able to find the games on the Internet.

Minor Semi Final: Dandenong Rangers v SEQ Stars, Saturday, 7pm, Dandenong Stadium.

Major Semi Final: Townsville Fire v Perth Lynx, Sunday, 3pm, Townsville RSL Stadium.

BASKETBALL ON THE INTERNET, PLAYER OF THE WEEK

IT took all season but defending WNBL MVP Abby Bishop turned in a barn-burner to collect the last B.O.T.I. Player of the Week award of the season.

Bish had 20 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, blocked two shots, had three steals and committed just one turnover in 38 minutes as Canberra celebrated the careers of coach Carrie Graf and games-played record-holder Jessica Bibby with a dramatic win over Bendigo Spirit.

Jordan Hooper had a blinder for SEQ too against Dandenong, but it was a two-game round for the Stars and the less said about her team's game with Melbourne, the better.

Abs can collect her PotW prize, a toasted ham-and-cheese croissant which will look much like this, unless Beryl finds it in the fridge:

WNBL PotW
Rd1 Tess Madgen
Rd2 Suzy Batkovic
Rd3 Sami Whitcomb
Rd4 Suzy Batkovic (2)
Rd5 Gabrielle Richards
Rd6 Carley Mijovic
Rd7 Katie-Rae Ebzery
Rd8 Cayla George
Rd9 Leilani Mitchell
Rd10 Suzy Batkovic (3)
Rd11 Sara Blicavs
Rd12 Cayla George (2)
Rd13 Gabrielle Richards (2)
Rd14 Suzy Batkovic (4)
Rd15 Cayla George (3)
Rd16 Jordan Hooper
Rd17 Leilani Mitchell (2)
Rd18 Abby Bishop

BIGGEST WINNERS/LOSERS

CANBERRA closing out its home season sending off Jess Bibby and Carrie Graf by beating Bendigo meant its season of despair at least ended on a high note, making it arguably the last round's biggest winner.

SADLY for Bendigo, the late-season hammy whammy for Kelsey Griffin, stalled its playoff drive but the chance still was there last round if the Spirit claimed both wins. Instead they lost both to close the season as arguably the biggest loser.

WNBL Round 18

SYDNEY UNI FLAMES 90 (Ebzery 21, Tinkle 17, Wilson 14, Tupaea 11, Samuels 10; Tinkle 7 rebs; Tinkle, Ebzery 6 assts) d BENDIGO SPIRIT 83 (Griffin 22, Snell, Wilson 18, Richards 14; Griffin 11 rebs; Wilson 5 assts) at the Study Hub, Brydens Stadium. 
PERTH LYNX 82 (Whitcomb 20, Laney 16, Lavey 13, Mijovic 12; Laney 9 rebs; Tomlinson, Whitcomb 3 assts) d TOWNSVILLE FIRE 69 (Batkovic 19, Novosel 13, George 11; George 16 rebs; Murray 3 assts) at the Blue Light Disco, Bendat Basketball Centre.
MELBOURNE BOOMERS 81 (Kunek 23, Garrick 19, Madgen 15, Oliver 10; Kunek 8 rebs; Madgen 8 assts) d SEQ STARS 67 (Ibekwe 24, Jarry 13, Lewis 9; Ibekwe, Jarry 7 rebs; Jarry 3 assts) at The Outback Ranges, State Basketball Centre.
CANBERRA CAPITALS 78 (Bishop 20, Bibby 16, Stallworth 13, Wilson, Talbot 10; Bishop 15 rebs; Bishop, Talbot 6 assts) d BENDIGO SPIRIT 71 (Wilson 24, Snell 18, Harrington 11; Snell 9 rebs; Snell 5 assts) at The Alphabet Arena, Belconnen Basketball Centre.
TOWNSVILLE FIRE 64 (George 16, Garbin 13, Novosel 12; George 12 rebs; Novosel, Batkovic 3 assts) d ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 57 (Bowen 15, Standish 11, Mitchell, Ruef 10; Ruef 15 rebs; Mitchell 9 assts) at The Outhouse, Wayville Sports Centre.
SEQ STARS 88 (Hooper 33, Allen 15, Ibekwe 12, Lewis 10; Hooper 14 rebs; Jarry 5 assts) d DANDENONG RANGERS 64 (Cumming 20, Pickrel 9, Kennedy 8; Kennedy 5 rebs; Todhunter 4 assts) at The Foothills, Dandenong Basketball Stadium.
 

PS

AIMIE ... with CLYDESDALE