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The most important game of Round 1 of the 2024-25 WNBL season was the Finals rematch between the reigning champs, the Southside Flyers, and the runner-ups, the Perth Lynx. The Lynx won 94-79, with four players scoring in double figures, two grabbing at least 10 boards and three dishing out at least four dimes. The best player for the Flyers, Aussie Alice Kunek, had 22 points and 11 boards, but the Lynx outshot the Flyers, 52 percent on field goals compared to 40 percent. They also out-rebounded the champs, 40-35. And the Lynx won while missing one of the best players in the country in Amy Atwell, who ended the 2024 WNBA season with the Phoenix Mercury, due to a knee injury.
Taylor, Turner show promise Down Under
Another Mercury was in action Down Under as Celeste Taylor made her debut as a starter for the Sydney Flames. She contributed for her team in almost every statistical category: eight points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. The Flames beat the Capitals in the highest-scoring game of Round 1, 102-85. Talking to Swish Appeal after the game, Celeste was happy with her debut, but thought that her team, herself included, could’ve performed better on defense.
The highest-scoring player on the Capitals was Nicole Munger. The former Michigan Wolverine scored 24 points, going 8-for-11 from the field, including 6-of-9 from 3. But that was not enough to get her team the W. Still, Munger’s third season in Canberra got off to a solid start and the 5-foot-11 guard seems to feel at home in Australia.
The Chicago Sky’s Brianna Turner came out swinging for the Adelaide Lightning in what turned out to be the tightest contest of the round. With five minutes left on the game clock the Bendigo Spirit were up by only four points, however, the referees reversed their decision regarding a 3-pointer made by Adelaide’s Japreece Dean, a former UCLA Bruin. When the replay revealed that it was 2-pointer, the Lightning’s score was reduced to 70 and the Spirit found themselves up by five. In what remained of the game, the Lightning failed to score a single basket and the Spirit won 84-70. The ending and the final score shouldn’t overshadow a stellar performance by Turner.
Round 1 scores:
Townsville Fire 84, Geelong United 58
Bendigo Spirit 84, Adelaide Lightning 70
Perth Lynx 94, Southside Flyers 79
Sydney Flames 102, UC Capitals 85
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