Claudia Doman
9 November 2015: University of Canberra Capitals' champion Jess Bibby is set to break the record for most basketball games played in the WNBL on Saturday night.
Last Friday the veteran guard equalled the all-time record for most games (377), jointly held by former Canberra Capitals captain and championship player Lucille Bailie (nee Hamilton) and three-time Olympian Rachel Sporn.
The 36-year-old, who once was told it was likely she would not play basketball again after a back injury, will break the record in front of a home crowd when facing Adelaide at the AIS Arena this weekend.
"To know that I will be the first female basketball player that has played the most games in the history of the sport in Australia is an amazing feeling," Bibby said. "Particularly when in the company of legends such as Lucille [Bailie] and Rachel [Sporn].
"I hope that we get up this Saturday and we celebrate the milestone as a team."
Bailie, who also played with the Dandenong Rangers and captained the UC Capitals, said she was proud of Bibby's achievement.
"It's fantastic to see such a great athlete continue to perform at a very high level for such a long time. I'm very happy for her," Bailie said.
Bibby made her debut in the WNBL in 1996. In her first season with the league, she was named the WNBL's Betty Watson Rookie of the Year. The Melbourne-born sharpshooter was drafted by the WNBA's New York Liberty in 2000, but played limited games due to back pain.
This season is Bibby's tenth with the University of Canberra Capitals, having joined the Canberra franchise in 2006.
Bibby has five WNBL championships to her name (Dandenong 2004, 2005, Canberra 2007, 2009, 2010) and was also part of the Opals side that competed in the 2012 London Olympic Games qualifying tournament.
University of Canberra Capitals head coach Carrie Graf said she was delighted to be able to witness Bibby's momentous occasion.
"Jess Bibby is still one of the best shooters in the WNBL and continues to set the standard with her work ethic and passion for the game," Graf said. "The whole team will get behind her on Saturday to mark her 378th court appearance and hopefully, we'll come up with a win."
Bibby, who captained the University of Canberra Capitals for four years, could become the first Australian female basketball player to play 400 games.
