IN THEIR first season in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), Geelong United have finally secured their first win in the competition, stunning the Southside Flyers in a three-point thriller at Geelong Arena on Thursday night.

In an emphatic announcement performance, United held on for a thrilling victory in front of their home fans to get on the board for season 2024/25. It was a gutsy effort that was rewarded with an upset victory over the reigning champions.

Geelong was convincingly bested by the Townsville Fire in the first game of the season, and the signs were worrying as everything indicated the WNBL’s newest team would take some time to find their feet against quality opposition.

However, United squashed those claims with a terrific win over a Southside team that has started the season 0-2 and will need to make some adjustments if they are to stay in the hunt for consecutive championships.

Geelong United (90) def. Southside Flyers (87)

The result was largely set up by Geelong’s defensive pressure, forcing 10 steals and gaining seven more field goal attempts than its opponent. Although United shot less efficiently (46 per cent to 50 per cent), the fact that they had more attempts from the field was a winning factor in the match.

It was instantly recognised as an improved performance from the WNBL’s newest team, with Geelong gaining a six-point buffer by the time the first quarter ended. Although the Flyers managed to put more pressure on United’s shot attempts as the game rolled on, the home side’s confidence did not waver, ensuring it was still a close contest down the stretch.

United guard Elissa Brett was the hero, knocking down a go-ahead shot with just over a minute to play after Southside pinched the lead on the possession prior. The Flyers could not answer, and United knocked down the necessary free throws to secure a historic win.

It was the balance of Geelong’s strong performers that helped the team to victory, with five players pouring in 12 or more points, showcasing the depth of the roster. Haley Jones was the leading scorer with 19 points on 8/14 shooting from the field, while Keely Froling was huge, posting a massive double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds in a second consecutive towering display.

Despite the loss, the brave performances of Southside’s big names nearly did enough to pull off the win. Naz Hillmon led the way with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Alice Kunek (25 points, five rebounds, three assists) and Rebecca Cole (20 points, nine assists) were also huge across all four quarters of the contest.