TOWNSVILLE Fire have won the 2025/26 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) championship, after defeating the Perth Lynx by three points in game two of the Grand Final series on Sunday afternoon in a classic contest.

The Fire got the win in game one on Thursday night, and with the series heading to Perth High Performance Centre, Townsville had the chance to lift the trophy if it could get the job done in enemy territory, although the Lynx were certain to provide a strong challenge.

In fitting fashion, the match headed to overtime, with the Fire taking home the ultimate prize after a mesmerising overtime encounter, which will go down in history as one of the most enthralling WNBL finals games the competition has ever seen.

Perth Lynx (105) def. by Townsville Fire (108)

The Lynx started the match in emphatic fashion, playing like a side fighting to keep their season alive, going on an 11-2 run to take control of the match early. However, the home side’s offence dried up in the second frame, so the Fire were able to take full advantage of Perth’s scoring woes to take a five-point buffer into the main change.

The Lynx got back to their first-quarter form with another big scoring run that gave the Perth High Performance Centre plenty of energy in the third frame, looking to send the game to a third and decisive game in the coming days. However, the Fire managed to stay in touch heading into the final minutes of regulation, setting up a blockbuster finish.

Perth was clinging to a three-point lead in the last 10 seconds of the game, and looked in a strong position when Miela Sowah‘s triple was wayward. However, the Fire pulled down the offensive rebound, finding Sowah again and the former Lynx gun knocked down the game-tying triple against her former side to remarkably send the match to overtime.

Foul trouble saw some of the game’s biggest names missing the extra period, but again it was Sowah who proved the hero, knocking down a crucial basket with seven seconds on the clock to give Townsville the lead, and when the home side unable to answer down the other end, the Fire held on for a gutsy win to clinch the championship.

In a game with an astounding 41 lead changes, the Fire’s class in big moments proved the difference. Sowah ended the game with 18 points, but her performance will be remembered for clutch makes down the stretch, which delivered her side a championship.

Fire captain Courtney Woods was deservingly named Championship series MVP following a masterclass in the decider on Sunday afternoon. After winning the title with Townsville in 2023 as a role player, Woods returned to the big stage as a star, and delivered a career-best 28 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists to show that she was built for the bright lights.

Also impressing for the Fire was Alicia Froling, who had 25 points and eight rebounds of her own, while WNBL Sixth Woman of the Year Lucy Olsen played her role to perfection, dropping 15 points off the bench.

Lynx star Anneli Maley did everything she could to get her side over the line, stuffing the stat sheet with 27 points and 19 rebounds in a dominant display, while Han Xu maintained her strong presence in the paint, ending her first season in the WNBL with 18 points, nine boards and four blocks.