The league has drawn criticism for using online platforms rather than an awards evening to announce Canberra Capitals star Kia Nurse had claimed the Suzy Batkovic Medal.

But Basketball Australia's head of the women's game says officials are planning an awards ceremony, as was the case last summer, before the start of the grand final series but conceded she knew only minor details.

The build-up to the event will likely be lacklustre at best given everyone around the league knows who has claimed the highest individual accolade.

Capitals officials had been told the medal had been posted to Basketball Australia's offices at the AIS but it was nowhere to be seen on the day of the announcement.

It is hoped it will arrive in time for the Capitals' semi-final series opener against the Melbourne Boomers at the AIS Arena on Sunday.

Jackson says a match day ceremony will create a "special" moment for Nurse and Canberra fans.

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"I think it's awesome, particularly for Kia, that she gets to celebrate it with all of her fans and then go out and kick some butt," Jackson said.

"I do know how it feels, because in the WNBA when I got my MVP, it was announced right before we played in the semi-finals so it was very similar.

"It's special, so hopefully the fans get to enjoy it as much as she does. Then she gets to go out there and show everyone how great she is."

But that does little to deflect criticism directed at the league's head office.

After all, Postman Pat might have got a shock if you told him the little piece of mail he was carting around on his bike contained a national sporting league's highest individual accolade.

Imagine the NRL's Dally M or AFL's Brownlow medal being shipped around in an envelope - instead they are carried into awards nights by security guards.

It left Capitals co-captain Kelsey Griffin to announce Nurse had followed in her footsteps to win the award in a low-key media conference at the AIS on Friday.

Standing by was the bulk of Canberra's playing squad, who stopped to watch and congratulate Nurse in between a weights session and an optional shoot around.

Opals and Southside Flyers star Jenna O'Hea took to social media to say "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed".

Four-time NBL champion Greg Hire wrote: "I'm sorry but it's downright embarrassing and disrespectful to not appropriately acknowledge the incredible women in the WNBL.

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"There's been so much growth around women's sports, but our female basketball players are being left behind. Come on! Let's be better!"

The highly-criticised MVP announcement is a frustrating subplot to the WNBL's 40^th season.

Especially considering Jackson said "visibility is so important" at the season launch this past September, adding "the sky is the limit in basketball for women's athletes".

WNBL SEMI-FINALS

Semi-final series two (all times in AEDT)

Sunday, February 16: Game one - Canberra Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at AIS Arena, 5.30pm.

Sunday, February 23: Game two - Melbourne Boomers v Canberra Capitals at State Basketball Centre, 6pm.

Game three date to be confirmed if necessary.