IT WILL be the end of an era when Gabe Richards takes to the court for Bendigo Spirit against Perth Lynx at Bendigo Stadium on Friday night.
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For so long the public face and one of the backbones of regional Victoria's WNBL club, Richards will play her last home game at the stadium she has called home since 2007.
The former Opal will call time on her 13-year WNBL career at the end of the season, which for the Spirit means, after the following weekend's road matches against Sydney University and Townsville.
Her decision to step away ends an on-court association with the Spirit stretching back to the club's foundation season in 2007-08.
Originally from Seymour, Richards, who played a pair of WNBL seasons with the AIS before a three-year stint at Oregon University, was the second player to be signed by the Spirit, after home-grown product Andrea Walsh.
As the club's longest-serving player, the dual championship centre has earned her reputations as a feared opponent and force at both ends of the court, and a fine ambassador for the Spirit and the game of basketball.
Being that public face of the Spirit is something Richards has always embraced.
"I guess it's kind of easy since I have been here since the beginning and I have seen the full journey the club has gone on." she said.
"I've really tried to spread the message of what we are, what we stand for and who we'd like to be and be seen as in the community."
An emotional night for Richards has been made that extra bit special, with close friend Kelly Wilson also celebrating a milestone.
The champion point guard will surpass Jess Bibby as the WNBL's all-time games leader when she plays her 395th match, and Richards could not be more excited.
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"It's incredible how the milestones have lined up for this weekend's games," she said.
"(Kelly) is so deserving of that honour and she doesn't look like slowing down anytime soon.
"It's so fantastic that record is hers and hopefully is stands for a long, long time."
The two-time WNBL All Star is further glad to be back on the court after missing last week's loss to Southside Flyers, while recovering from a concussion sustained in the Spirit's previous match against Perth.
Richards, who won back-to-back WNBL titles with the Spirit in 2012-13 and 2013-14, resisted the urge to nominate those championship wins as the standout memory from her WNBL career, focusing on something more personal.
"I know it sounds corny, but it really is the friendships and the people I have got to play with and meet along the way," she said.
"It's been incredible."
Asked how she would like to be remembered by the Spirit fans and community, Richards replied:
"As someone who embodied what the Spirit and this community was about and as helping put basketball on the map here and developing a pathway for juniors," she said.
"Not just in Braves colours but right through to the WNBL, they can achieve their basketball goals from right here in Bendigo.
"Hopefully that legacy carries on."
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