title: 1997 WNBL season
text: # 1997 WNBL season
  
  The 1997 WNBL season was the 17th season of competition since its establishment in 1981. A total of nine teams contested the league.
  
  ## Regular season
  
  ### Ladder
  
  | | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Won % |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Sydney Flames | 18 | 18 | 0 | 100 |
  | 2 | Adelaide Lightning | 18 | 14 | 4 | 78 |
  | 3 | Melbourne Tigers | 18 | 12 | 6 | 67 |
  | 4 | Dandenong Rangers | 18 | 9 | 9 | 50 |
  | 5 | Australian Institute of Sport | 16 | 5 | 11 | 31 |
  | 6 | Canberra Capitals | 18 | 6 | 12 | 33 |
  | 7 | Brisbane Blazers | 18 | 6 | 12 | 33 |
  | 8 | Perth Breakers | 18 | 5 | 13 | 28 |
  | 9 | Bulleen Boomers | 18 | 5 | 13 | 28 |
  
  ## Finals
  
  | Elimination final | Elimination final | Elimination final | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | | | 1 | Sydney Flames | 54 | | | | Adelaide Lightning | 56 |
  | | | | | Adelaide Lightning | 58 | | | | Sydney Flames | Sydney Flames | 61 |
  | | | | | | | Sydney Flames | Sydney Flames | 57 | | | |
  | | | | | | | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Tigers | 54 | | | |
  | | | | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Tigers | 57 | | | | | | |
  | | | | AIS | AIS | 48 | | | | | | |
  | 4 | Dandenong Rangers | 66 | | | | | | | | | |
  | 5 | AIS | 76 | | | | | | | | | |
  
  ### Season awards
  
  | Award | Winner | Team |
  | - | - | - |
  | Most Valuable Player Award | Rachael Sporn | Adelaide Lightning |
  | Grand Final MVP Award | Trisha Fallon | Sydney Flames |
  | Rookie of the Year Award | Lauren Jackson | AIS |
  | Defensive Player of the Year Award | Tully Bevilaqua | Perth Breakers |
  | Coach of the Year Award | Bill Tomlinson | Sydney Flames |
  | Top Shooter Award | Rachael Sporn | Adelaide Lightning |
  
  ### Statistical leaders
  
  | Category | Player | Team | GP | Totals | Average |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Points Per Game | Rachael Sporn | Adelaide Lightning | 18 | 400 | 22.2 |
  | Rebounds Per Game | Rachael Sporn | Adelaide Lightning | 18 | 185 | 10.3 |
  | Assists Per Game | Robyn Maher | Sydney Flames | 17 | 83 | 4.9 |
  | Steals Per Game | Tully Bevilaqua | Perth Breakers | 18 | 55 | 3.1 |
  | Blocks per game | Jenny Whittle | Brisbane Blazers | 18 | 52 | 2.9 |
  | Field Goal % | Rachael Sporn | Adelaide Lightning | 18 | (176/316) | 55.7% |
  | Three-Point Field Goal % | Trisha Fallon | Sydney Flames | 18 | (19/43) | 44.2% |
  | Free Throw % | Allison Cook | Melbourne Tigers | 18 | (82/91) | 90.1% |
  