Wehrung Returns

The Ballarat Miners are excited to announce that Abbey Wehrung will return to the club for the first time since 2016 agreeing to a two-year deal.

Wehrung is currently playing WNBL for Bendigo Spirit, who sits atop the ladder where she is averaging 29 minutes per game with 8.8 points and 4 assists.

Ballarat Miners Women’s Head Coach Rob Baker is delighted by the signing saying “We are excited to have Abbey back in a Miners uniform. As a Ballarat junior, it’s been great watching Abbey’s journey through Ballarat juniors to becoming an Opal.”

Upon signing with the club Wehrung said, “I am super excited to be back with my junior club, close to home and family especially my new little niece, Bonnie.”

Wehrung added “I am also excited to work with Bakes again and see what we can do. Rob has always instilled so much belief in me and my game since I was a junior, so I know he’ll be wonderful for all the players as a Head Coach and I’m super excited to see him flourish”.

Wehrung played 81 games with Ballarat from 2013-2016 but last played with Ballarat when they were the Ballarat Rush and in the SEABL competitions where she averaged 15.7 points and four assists per game. During her time away, Wehrung has continued her WNBL career across Canberra, Adelaide and Bendigo and has most recently played with Bendigo Braves in the NBL1.  

Ballarat Miners Elite Teams Committee Member Lynly Doherty said “We are thrilled to have Abbey back at the Miners where she played through our Junior pathway”. Doherty added “Having to secure Abbey for the next two NBL1 South seasons gives us great confidence and continuity moving forward with new Head Coach Rob Baker”.

Baker added “The experience and leadership Abbey will bring on and off the court will be great for our younger senior players to learn from and be mentored by. Having international experience at junior and senior level, playing for several WNBL teams and currently starting for the undefeated Spirit, our young players are excited to learn and develop from Abbey”

Wehrung commented “I’m really grateful to sign on for two years, it gives me peace of mind knowing I’m going to be home, and working towards something for the long term with the Ballarat Miners crew.”

Wehrung “added I have grown a lot as a player and a person since I was last playing for Ballarat) so I know I can bring a lot of experience, leadership, hard work and competitiveness to the team. I’m just really excited to work hard and keep getting better.

Wehrung will continue her commitments with the Bendigo Spirit in the WNBL before shifting her focus to Ballarat for the NBL1 South Season.

Abbey is the first announced signing for the 2023 NBL1 season for the Ballarat Miners Women. The Ballarat Miners will look to make more signing announcements over the next few weeks before the NBL1 season kicks off on Saturday, April 1^st.