AFTER missing out on the finals by the barest of margins last season, Emma Clarke and the Sydney Flames are looking to get back amongst the postseason action in the upcoming Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) fixture.

The 2024/25 season begins on Wednesday night, shaping as one of the most even years in competition history, and despite rapidly progressing preparations, Clarke says she is happy with how Sydney is looking when she spoke to Rookie Me Central last week.

“I think we are looking really good,” she said. “With our team, we had our imports come in a little bit later and we’ve had some injuries but it was really good to play some pre-season games. We have four returning from last year and given we have the same coaching staff, there is a bit of familiarity.

“We have added some really good pieces, and we’re just excited to kick our season off with a double-header with the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena. We’re stoked to have a home game and keen to see our fans. Our imports are looking really good, our roadtrips throughout the preseason have been great for bonding off the court. We’re ready to hit the ground running.”

The Flames finished last season with a record of 11 wins and 10 losses, and missed out on the postseason due to percentage in heartbreaking fashion. Although the natural progression would be to consider a finals appearance a success, Clarke says the team has not put a label on it yet.

“Every team talks about championships right?” she said. “We have had our culture meetings and understand that success looks different for everybody, but we all know we are all going to come to training and work really hard, give it all in our games, and we just want to keep building each week.

“The championship is obviously the prize that we all want to get to at the end, but as long as we can execute each day, the rest will take care of itself.”

Clarke also said the final preparations heading into the season opener have been strong, and the team is aware of what they will need to focus on to achieve success against every side they face.

“Definitely executing our offence and running them effectively,” she said, “I feel like spacing will be really important with the inclusion of Yemiyah Morris, who is going to bring some size to the frontcourt. We have a lot of versatile players, so with spacing on our offence and bringing pressure with our defence, we will able to press some teams that way.”

The Flames brought in some crucial pieces over the off-season and will have a talented roster this year, but Clarke said it is one of the returning faces that could be one of the most exciting prospects coming into the first round.

“I definitely think Shaneice Swain has had a good preseason,” Clarke said. “Obviously with her injury last season she was not able to show the league how much she had grown, but I think this year she will be able to show everyone what she can do.

“I also think our imports are going to come with a big smack, and I am obviously excited for myself and the confidence I have built and I am excited to be back at the Flames. I did have an injury interrupted preseason, so I worked on some things that others might not see. I worked on my nutrition, I was constantly in the weight room, working with sports psychologists on the mental side of the game.”

The heartbreak will still be present for the Flames coming into the season, especially for the returning players, but with some impressive imports and developed youngsters, Clarke and her team should be a finals contender once again.

Roster

Bonnie Deas, Caitlyn Martin, Carla Pitman, Cayla George, Celeste Taylor, Emma Clarke, Isabella Brancatisano, Mikaela Ruef, Piper Anderson, Shaneice Swain, Sherrie Calleia, Yemiyah Morris