Bradley's MVP double leads Raiders to national title

• The Knox Raiders beat the Cockburn Cougars 93-72 to win the NBL1 National Women's Championship
• It is the second time Knox have beaten an undefeated team in a final after defeating Geelong United in the NBL1 South
• Import point guard Paige Bradley was named Grand Final MVP

Import point guard Paige Bradley has completed the NBL1 South and Nationals Grand Final MVP double after leading the Knox Raiders to a 93-72 over the previously undefeated Cockburn Cougars to take home the national women's title.

The victory is the second time the Raiders have beaten an undefeated team in a grand final, following a win against Geelong United to capture the NBL1 South championship.

Bradley had 15 points, nine assists and five rebounds for Knox who used a 25-13 third quarter to all but put the game to bed after going into the halftime break with a slender 46-42 lead.

But the champions didn't have it all their way after Cockburn jumped out to an early lead through Steph Gorman, who was on fire in the opening period, while former WNBL centre Jessie Edwards and import Sarah Mortensen also helping the Cougars continue the red-hot form, which saw them unbeaten all year until today.

However, Cockburn haven't faced a team with the depth of Knox in 2025 and with players such as new Sydney Flames WNBL signing Agnes Emma-Nnopu and former WNBA guard Kristy Wallace coming off the bench, the Raiders were never done.

Knox coach Craig Simpson, who took over from Al Westover during the NBL1 South season, had all the answers out of the main break as the Raiders came out firing in the third quarter, extending their lead from four points to 15 before a timeout from the NBL1 West champions. From there, the talent across the Knox roster proved too much for Cockburn with seven players scoring in double figures, while everyone but Edwards and Mortensen struggled to make an impact offensively for the Cougars.

Along with MVP Bradley, Rachel Bell had 14 points for Knox, Emma-Nnopu had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds and skipper Keira Glover added 13 points also. Wallace had a complete game with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, Alicia Froling and Katelyn Young both had 10 points and six rebounds.

Edwards was dominant, like she has a been all year for Cockburn, with 28 points and 14 rebounds, Mortensen had 15 points and eight rebounds, Gorman added 16 points and Jewel Williams had 11 points and eight assists.

The Raiders were too good from the field, shooting 46% compared to 37% from Cockburn, they also had 30 assists to their opponent's 19 while Knox smashed the Cougars in bench points with 36-0.