The WNBL Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) award given since the 1990 WNBL season to the best defensive player throughout the regular season. Since 2000, the award has been known as the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year (commonly known as the Maher Medal).Women's National Basketball League. Defensive Player of the Year. Retrieved 2015-02-22. Emily McInerny has won the award nine times, while Tully Bevilaqua has won it on four occasions.McInerny earns ninth WNBL Defensive Player of the Year award (March 5, 2008). BigV Basketball. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
Winners Denotes player whose team won championship that year Denotes player inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame Denotes player who is still active Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player had won at that timeTeam (X)Denotes the number of times a player from this team had won at that time Season Player Position Nationality Team 1990 Karen Dalton Sydney Bruins 1991 Kim Foley Hobart Islanders 1992 Robyn Maher Perth Breakers 1993 Karen Dalton (2) Sydney Flames (2) 1994 Robyn Maher (2) Sydney Flames (3) 1995 Tully Bevilaqua Guard Perth Breakers (2) 1996 Tully Bevilaqua (2) Guard Perth Breakers (3) 1997 Tully Bevilaqua (3) Guard Perth Breakers (4) 1998 Emily McInerny Forward Melbourne Tigers 1998–99 Emily McInerny (2) Forward Melbourne Tigers (2) 1999–00 Tully Bevilaqua (4) Guard Perth Breakers (5) 2000–01 Emily McInerny (3) Forward Dandenong Rangers 2001–02 Emily McInerny (4) Forward Dandenong Rangers (2) 2002–03 Natalie Porter Forward Townsville Fire 2003–04 Emily McInerny (5) Forward Dandenong Rangers (3) 2004–05 Emily McInerny (6) Forward Dandenong Rangers (4) 2005–06 Emily McInerny (7) Forward Dandenong Rangers (5) 2006–07 Emily McInerny (8) Forward Dandenong Rangers (6) 2007–08 Emily McInerny (9) Forward Dandenong Rangers (7) 2008–09 Alicia Poto Guard Sydney Uni Flames (4) 2009–10 Rachael Flanagan Guard Townsville Fire (2) 2010–11 Rachael Flanagan (2) Guard Townsville Fire (3) 2011–12 Alicia Poto (2) Guard Sydney Uni Flames (5) 2012–13 Kristi Harrower Guard Bendigo Spirit 2013–14 Rebecca Allen Forward Melbourne Boomers 2014–15 Kelsey Griffin Forward Bendigo Spirit (2) 2015–16 Stephanie Cumming Guard Dandenong Rangers (8) 2016–17 Marianna Tolo Center Canberra Capitals 2017–18 Kayla Pedersen Forward Dandenong Rangers (9) 2018–19 Lauren Nicholson Guard Adelaide Lightning 2019–20 Mercedes Russell Center Southside Flyers (10) 2020 Stephanie Talbot Guard/forward Adelaide Lightning (2) 2021–22 Brittney Sykes Guard Canberra Capitals (2) 2022–23 Stephanie Talbot (2) Guard/forward Adelaide Lightning (3) 2023–24 Lauren Nicholson (2) Guard Sydney Flames (6) 2024–25 Lauren Cox Forward Townsville Fire (4) 2025–26 Han Xu Center Perth Lynx (6)
Multi-time winners Rank PlayerTeam(s) AwardsYears1Emily McInernyMelbourne Tigers (2) / Dandenong Rangers (7)91998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20082Tully BevilaquaPerth Breakers41999, 2000, 2003, 20043Karen DaltonSydney Flames21990, 1993Robyn MaherPerth Breakers (1) / Sydney Flames (1)1992, 1994Rachael McCullyTownsville Fire2010, 2011Alicia PotoSydney Uni Flames2009, 2012Stephanie TalbotAdelaide Lightning2020, 2023Lauren NicholsonAdelaide Lightning (1) / Sydney Flames (1) 2019, 2024
See also WNBL All-Star Five WNBL Most Valuable Player Award WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award NBL Best Defensive Player Award Australia women's national basketball team
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