PREVIEW | WNBL Grand Final Series: Game Two
THE Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Grand Final series resumes on Thursday night, with the potential for a 2023/24 title winner on the cards given proceedings currently sit at 1-0.
The Perth Lynx will be eager to wrap up the season with a win on their home deck at Bendat Basketball Centre, while the Southside Flyers have their season on the line after conceding the first match.
Given game one was a bit of a blowout, there will need to be significant changes made from a Southside point of view if this contest is to be more competitive.
Perth Lynx (4th) vs. Southside Flyers (2nd)
Thursday, March 14 @9:30pm AEDT
Bendat Basketball Centre
The Lynx took a one-game lead in the best of three series after an emphatic display on the road in the opening clash, furthering their claims as title favourites and placing themselves in a strong position to claim the win.
Perth crossed the Nullabor in one of the longest road trips in the WNBL to take on the Flyers at Melbourne Sports Centre in Parkville in a game it was not expected to win. However, the Lynx produced one of their best showings of the season, keeping their momentum rolling with another strong team outing.
The Flyers were convincingly outclassed, and with tonight being an elimination clash, will need to get more production on both ends.
A big part of slowing down Perth will be shutting down the duo of Amy Atwell and Aari McDonald, who have been dominant throughout the postseason. Atwell exploded offensively to score 30 points on 9/14 shooting from three-point land, while McDonald had a double-double of 15 points and 10 assists, so Southside will need to be putting plenty of attention into this duo.
Offensively, the Flyers will be needing more from the likes of Rebecca Cole (eight points), Leilani Mitchell (three points) and Mercedes Russell (12 points) if they are to match Perth’s output. Lauren Jackson played a lone hand on offence last week, but will need more help from the supporting cast.
For the Lynx, maintaining their current level of play will be a key to victory, given how well the blitzing style of play is proving to be. Getting the ball in the hands of Atwell and McDonald has worked so far, and should be a point of emphasis again.
Prediction – Perth Lynx by 8.
Dell’Orso destined for big college campaign
VICTORIAN-BORN guard Anthony Dell’Orso spent the first two seasons of his college career at Campbell University, where he had an impressive freshman campaign averaging 12.5 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game. The 6’6 Melbourne product shot 32 per cent from three and established himself as a key component of the Fighting Camels squad. […]
Rapp rips through Long Beach as Portland pips win
HAVING started his freshman campaign with the Portland Pilots with some solid performances, Austin Rapp produced his best showing at college level in the win over Long Beach State Beach on Sunday. Having worked on his game as a development player for the SEM Phoenix in the National Basketball League (NBL), the stretch forward made […]
NBL25 Next Star Watch – Round 9
IN A drama-filled round of the National Basketball League (NBL), the Next Stars were as solid as ever across the span of the weekend. The next generation of basketballers are making a name for themselves at NBL level, and as the season has progressed, a more even spread of young guns are producing consistent performances. […]
Wessel wonderful as Gaels get the win
ONE OF many Aussies catching the eye in the NCAAM for the 2024/25 season is Harry Wessels, and he helped his Saint Mary’s Gaels to an 87-68 win over the Akron Zips last week. The Gaels are well-renowned for bringing Australian players onto their roster, with the likes of Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills forging […]
WNBL Wrapped – Round 3
THERE were some big scores posted across Round 3 of the 2024/25 season in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) over the weekend, with teams starting to find some cohesion on the offensive end. The round delivered no shortage of entertainment, from huge individual efforts to game-winners on the buzzer, there were a lot of […]
Wildcats break even in ninth round
THE PERTH Wildcats entered Round 9 with a battle against a rolling SEM Phoenix side, but welcomed back star guard Bryce Cotton who wasted absolutely no time getting back into his rhythm dropping 33 points, five rebounds and four assists. They overcame a relatively slow start by posting 40 second quarter points and didn’t look […]
NBL25 Wrapped – Round 9
THE NINTH round of the National Basketball League (NBL)’s 2024/25 season had it all, leaving plenty to unpack as the competition enters a week off for the FIBA qualifying window. Although there were only six games that took place over the weekend, there was plenty of action throughout the span of Friday and Sunday, with […]
Wildcats and Lynx looking for crucial wins
REIGNING MVP Bryce Cotton is set to return on Friday night as the Perth Wildcats tackle the SEM Phoenix at RAC Arena. Perth’s superstar has missed the last five games after suffering a fractured rib in the Round 5 loss to New Zealand. Cotton said that the injury changed the way he was living day-to-day, […]
Whitcomb continues winning start to WNBL season
THE FIRST two and a half rounds of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season has seen the Bendigo Spirit emerge as the form team of the competition, largely on the back of some MVP-level performances from Sami Whitcomb. Coming into Round 3, the Spirit held an unbeaten record of three wins from three matches, […]
