AIS Guard Tayla Roberts has been named the Women's National Basketball League Rookie of the Year after making a strong impression on the competition in her debut season.

Roberts averaged 9.8 points and six rebounds per game, and led the AIS in rebounding and was the team’s second highest scorer.

The 17-year-old joins impressive list of Rookie of Year recipients including Lauren Jackson, Shelly Hammonds and Abby Bishop.

Since 1995 ten AIS scholarship holders have won the award, while three AIS players claimed the title when it was known as the youth player of the year.

The Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award is determined by a poll of the head coach, assistant coach and team captain from all WNBL clubs, where voters are not allowed to vote for members of their own team.

In 1995 the award became known as the Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award in recognition of Watson’s years of dedication to the Australian women’s national team and for her part in helping found the WNBL.

Youth Player of the Year:

• 1988 — Lucille Hamilton (AIS)
• 1989 — Renae Fegent (AIS)
• 1990 — Trish Fallon (AIS)
• 1991 — Michelle Brogan (Adelaide City Tigers)
• 1992 — Allison Cook (Melbourne Tigers)
• 1993 — Allison Cook (Melbourne Tigers)
• 1994 — Maryanne Difrancesco (Melbourne Tigers)

Betty Watson Rookie of the Year:

• 1995 — Chika Emeagi (AIS)
• 1996 — Jessica Bibby (Dandenong Rangers)
• 1997 — Lauren Jackson (AIS)
• 1998 — Andrea Cartledge (Melbourne Tigers)
• 1998/99 — Caitlin Ryan (Dandenong Rangers)
• 1999/00 — Shelley Hammonds (AIS)
• 2000/01 — Laura Summerton (AIS)
• 2001/02 — Alison Downie (Dandenong) and Kamala Lamshed (Adelaide)*
• 2002/03 — Kelly Wilson (AIS)
• 2003/04 — Kathleen MacLeod (AIS)
• 2004/05 — Renae Camino (AIS)
• 2005/06 — Abby Bishop (AIS)
• 2006/07 — Cayla Francis (AIS)
• 2007/08 — Nicole Hunt (AIS)
• 2008/09 — Sarah Graham (Logan Thunder)
• 2009/10 — Tayla Roberts (AIS)