SAVOURING THE MOMENT: Gabe Richards with Kelly Wilson.
THIS week is one Kelly Wilson will remember for the rest of her life.
On Sunday she won her first WNBL championship with the Bendigo Spirit and this Saturday she’ll marry her fiancee, Michael.
“I haven’t had much time to think about the wedding, but now that I do, and we’ve got that game over and we got the win that we planned on, I’m very excited about Saturday,’’ Wilson said.
The 28-year-old played in two losing grand finals with Sydney Uni in 2004 and 2005 before having a three-year stint with Townsville.
She signed with the Bendigo Spirit in 2008 and quickly established herself as a fan favourite.
“I’ve been playing in the WNBL for a very long time and had never won a championship,’’ she said.
“I’d played in a couple of grand finals and lost and this is such an amazing feeling.
“Winning with the group we’ve got this year makes it even better.”
Wilson, who is a school teacher in Bendigo, is keen to back-up the win with another title next year. “Bendigo is my home now and I can’t see myself playing with any other WNBL club,’’ she said.
“This is where I want to be. I’m so thankful that we’ve stayed here this long.
“We’ve got that core group of girls that are loyal to the club and Bernie (Harrower) has always been loyal to me.
“It makes it all worthwhile.”
Wilson’s wedding comes at a good time for the Bendigo Lady Braves.
Wilson is playing for Knox in the South East Australian Basketball League this season and the Raiders are drawn to play the Lady Braves in Bendigo in the season-opener this Friday night.
Playing a game of basketball will be the last thing on Wilson’s mind on the eve of her wedding.
“It’s the only time I’d get to play in Bendigo all season, so that’s disappointing,’’ Wilson said.
“The wedding is far more important.”