AFTER winning it all last season in the WNBL, the Townsville Fire look fully prepared to defend their title in the upcoming season after signing some big names over the recent free agency period.

The Fire took home the chocolates after a strong finals campaign, but were always going to be facing tougher competition after moving from the hunter to the hunted, as is the case with every championship side.

Things were already looking bright for Townsville after retaining the likes of Steph Reid, Courtney Woods, Mikaela Ruef and Kate Gaze, alongside last season’s WNBL Coach of the Year Shannon Seebohm. All of those names played an important role in claiming the ultimate prize, but opposition sides would have been looking to figure the Fire out over the offseason.

That task has been made much more difficult for the rest of the competition, after the Fire added some notable names to their list, with both players bringing plenty of big game experience. The additions will take some of the pressure off last year’s championship stars, with a more balanced roster set to take on the WNBL in the coming months.

First up is Sami Whitcomb, who will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, having led the Perth Lynx for the past two seasons. The 34-year-old continues to show that age is just a number, proving a valuable contributor for Perth and will now bring those talents to the reigning champions, with leadership that should prove extremely important to the team’s quest to go back to back. She will also produce some handy numbers, given her ability to affect the game on both ends of the court.

The Fire also added Alice Kunek, who is currently in ripping form after representing the Australian Opals at the 2023 FIBA Women’s World Cup. She showed her scoring potential with some big performances on the international stage, and will come into the WNBL season with some momentum. She has also been suiting up for Sopron Basket in the EuroLeague and the Nunawading Spectres in the NBL1, looking comfortable at both levels.

The Fire were the best side in the WNBL last season, and have topped up their list in remarkable fashion. Townsville has now cemented its place as the championship favourites coming into the 2023/24 season, and will take some stopping from claiming consecutive titles.