WNBL Grand Final Preview: Bendigo Spirit and Townsville Fire face off for the title

After 89 games, 16 regular rounds and 4 finals, the Cygnett WNBL Grand Final is here.

Townsville Fire, who finished the regular season in third place, were first to advance to the best-of-three finale. After taking a 1-0 lead by defeating Perth Lynx, 92-87, in Game 1, the Fire returned to their home floor and swept the visitors, 106-76, in Game 2.

Minor premier Bendigo Spirit, with an 18-3 regular season record, took care of business at home with a 76-67 victory over Sydney on February 23 then swept Sydney with a 91-74 result on February 27.

The Grand Final series tips off in Bendigo on Wednesday March 5, with Game 2 in Townsville on Sunday March 9 with a third and deciding game, if required, back in Bendigo on Wednesday March 12.

For the third time in league history the teams will contest the title, having made history against each other to win their inaugural championships respectively.

When the Spirit saluted, under then-coach Bernie Harrower, for the first time, in 2012-13, and again in 2013-14 to complete back-to-back titles it was against the Fire. But the tables were turned the following year when Chris Lucas, Suzy Batkovic and the Fire extracted revenge to lift the trophy for the first time.

The Grand Final series will be the first time in #WNBL25 that both teams are at full strength. Kelsey Griffin missed the first match-up between the clubs as did Lauren Mansfield. Townsville have not played Bendigo since adding star import Nia Coffey to their roster in January.

The teams met three times during the home-and-away season with Bendigo taking the series 3-0.

In Round 3, on November 16 in Townsville, eventual-league MVP Sami Whitcomb (30 points) was at the peak of her powers guiding Bendigo to an 84-76 victory on return to north Queensland for the first time since joining the Spirit from the Fire.

Now-departed import Zia Cooke had a team-high 18 points for the Fire with Lauren Cox (13 points, 13 rebounds) registering a double-double.

In Round 7, on December 14, the Spirit prevailed by 6 at home, 86-80, with Whitcomb (35 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals) again in scintillating form. For the Fire, Abbey Ellis and Mansfield led scoring with 17 points apiece.

On New Year’s Eve in Townsville, the Spirit finished 2024 on a high, 76-65 winners, in Round 9.

Veronica Burton teamed an equal-game high 18 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals for the winners with Whitcomb adding 16 points and Marianna Tolo 15.

Ellis (18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) was hot for the Fire and Cox produced a 15-point-12-rebound double-double.