Southside Flyers Crowned WNBL Champions
The Southside Flyers have won the WNBL Championship, after a hard fought three game series against the Perth Lynx. After losing Game 1 at home 101-79, the Flyers used their experience to clutch out a tough Game 2 win in Perth 97-95, and comfortably put aside the Lynx by 22 in Game 3.
The decisive Game 3 was won with Southside’s depth, which was along with their teamwork their biggest strengths going into the season. With seasoned pros with Lauren Jackson, Bec Cole and Leilani Mitchell just to name a couple, with the raw talent of up and comers such as Nyadiew Puoch, their talent was just too much for Perth, who themselves beat expectations with a huge semi finals series win against reigning champions Townsville.
Mercedes Russell won the MVP award for the Final Series, after dominating across the three games with an 18-point, 17 rebound effort in Game 1, 12 points and 8 rebounds in Game 2, and 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The championship is the seventh of Lauren Jackson’s career, which further cements her legacy as one of the best basketball players Australia has ever produced and may be the closing call on the GOAT’s career.