The Townsville Fire’s title defence started in successful vogue, the highly-rated Sydney Flames went down in Perth and Lauren Jackson had her first minutes as the brand new WNBL season acquired underway.
The Melbourne Boomers shook off the departures of reigning MVP Cayla George and Opals captain Tess Madgen and sit atop the ladder after successful their first two video games, together with Wednesday’s season opener.
In the absence of Flames recruit George, talls Penina Davidson and ex-WNBA participant Niz Hillmon mixed for 26 factors within the 68-60 street defeat of the Adelaide Lightning.
Melbourne’s Keely Froling pulled down her five hundredth WNBL rebound within the conflict however Lightning celebrity Steph Talbot didn’t characteristic as she continues to get well from her ACL tear.
Tipped as potential title contenders, the Flames went down 85-71 towards a Perth Lynx aspect guided by star recruit Anneli Maley.
The former WNBL MVP pulled down a staggering 21 rebounds to go together with 15 factors, serving to the Lynx lead all day.
George had a modest six factors however was invaluable for her passing sport into the front-court and completed with a team-high 5 assists.
Last season’s champions Townsville notched their seventeenth consecutive WNBL win of their away conflict with the Bendigo Spirit on Saturday.
The Fire cruising to victory till Bendigo lower a 19-point margin to 9 within the closing two minutes.
But it proved too little too late as captain Sami Whitcomb (18 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) led the champions to a 93-80 win.
The Fire final misplaced a sport in January this 12 months, some two-and-a-half months earlier than the earlier WNBL season ended.
Jackson had 4 factors in 12 minutes off the bench in her first WNBL sport since injuring her achilles tendon in February however her Southside Flyers fell 77-70 to rivals the Boomers.
The three-time WNBA MVP introduced in February she would go round once more with the Flyers this season after making a profitable comeback to basketball in 2022.
In the ultimate sport of the spherical, the Lightning held off a spirited Canberra Capitals outfit for an 82-79 win in Canberra on Sunday.
A late 8-0 run helped the Caps draw stage heading into the ultimate minute however Isabelle Bourne got here up clutch with a three-pointer that finally received the day and improved Adelaide to 1-1.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
