PERTH Lynx fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after fending off a fast-finishing Adelaide Lightning outfit to post a Round 1 victory and kick off their 2025/26 WNBL campaign. The Lynx lead by 17 points at one stage, then had to hold firm as the Lightning stormed home to hit the front with less than 90 seconds on the clock before Perth steadied to win by three, 75-72.

Three minutes into the third term, the Lynx lead 50-33 and looked all but home following the most recent pull up jumper from Alex Ciabattoni. After racing to a 26-9 lead at quarter time, the Lynx had been able to maintain that gap of 17 points across the next 13 minutes despites Adelaide continually fighting back and reducing the deficit.

However the last quarter was when the Lightning finally hit the front after Jasmin Fejo delivered one of two from the charity stripe to give her team a one-point lead with 84 seconds on the clock. A response from former Lightning big Brianna Turner regained the advantage for the Lynx, and while she missed the And-One chance, it was Ciabattoni who again stood tall tipping in a long-range shot from Amy Atwell for some breathing space with 20 seconds on the clock.

Steph Talbot and Tegan Graham both only delivered one of two free throws when their opportunities came, handing the ball back to the Lightning with 16 seconds on the clock. The rock was passed to Tayla Brazel for the leveller outside the arc, but it missed with a subsequent rebound from Serena Sundell stolen by Turner in a cruel twist of fate for the home side in the final second of the game.

Turner finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, six assists three steals and two blocks, while the likes of Ciabattoni (23 points) and Atwell (15) found plenty of scoring, and rebound machine Anneli Maley pulled in 15 rebounds, 14 on the defensive end.

Perth coach Ryan Petrik praised Turner’s ability to adapt quickly on the court, post-match.

“Bri landed a week ago, so trying to get her into everything has been fun. Luckily she picks up so well,” he said. “She (Turner) fits like she was someone we’ve chased for years and have never quite been able to get.

“We knew she could play, we knew she could rebound, we knew she could defend, we knew she was smart. Her level of IQ is off the charts. “We had to get out of the blocks really quickly because we’re missing two important players on our side.

“I was more concerned with our legs late, because we’re missing … levels and minutes in Steph (Gorman) and Ally (Wilson).” 

Brazel managed 12 points and three rebounds as one of the local talents in the match, while Sania Feagin top-scored for her side with 16 points and nine rebounds as skipper Talbot picked up a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds as well as eight assists.

Donning new colours, a new list in a new stadium under new management, new coach Kerryn Mitchell said it was always going to be tough trying to gel considering the turnover from last season.

“We’ve only got two players left from last year. Most of the girls haven’t played together before, and we’re a young group, but we’ve gelled pretty well,” Mitchell said.

“The fight that we showed to come back was awesome. So there’s so much to build on. “We came out, and we were a little bit unsure of ourselves in that first quarter, and then we found our rhythm.”