ABA 2025-26: David Arthur, Danielle Carne take season MVP honours; Kaylee Arthur wins Nicole Weeden award

Danielle Carne, of Denmark Magpies, and David Arthur, of Sonics, were named the season MVPs for 2025-26 by the Albany Basketball Association. Carne, the mainstay of grand final runners-up Magpies, and Arthur, who shimmied his way to a third premiership in a row with Sonics, took the top gongs at the ABA awards presentation night on Saturday. Both were also named in their respective All-Star fives, Carne selected alongside Sonics’ Kaylee Arthur, Terraley Penny, of Tigers and the Barking Owls’ duo Rebecca Benson and Maddy Graham. Arthur was picked with clubmate Mark Elentorio, Magpies’ Ryan Hick, Tigers’ Drew Willcocks and Owls’ Evan Delbene. Kaylee Arthur had a good night as she was named the under-18 A-grade player of the year and received the Nicole Weeden Trophy. She was also runner-up in the women’s A-grade MVP to Carne. Hick and Willcocks shared the men’s A-grade MVP runners-up slot while Thomas Philipps, of Sonics, was named best under-18 player and took home the Gus Benson Trophy. David Arthur, the coach of A-grade flag winners Sonics, was also recognised on two fronts. The senior referee of the year, he was also the recipient of the reside award which honoured him for his dedication to coaching both domestic and Raiders teams, as well as his ongoing support to referees and the wider ABA community. Ava Marmion received the Morris Robertson Raiders coaches award recognising her outstanding commitment, leadership and dedication to the Raiders program. Players of the year were also named for the association’s lower grades. Best of the B-grade division one competitions were Matthew Jerrard, of Inferno Soles, who took the men’s award, and women’s winner Katie Wignall of Barking Owls. Division two awards went to Clay Harrington, of Kinjarling, and Owls’ Laine Teti. Owls’ Hayden Burling was MVP in the men’s B-grade division three while Brontee Joy, of Royals, won the women’s gong. In the vets’ sections, Infernos’ Todd Knuiman shared the season’s best award with Jason Bell, of Griffins, while Jasmin Abrahams was given the nod as the best woman.