WNBL24 Semi Final Southside vs Melbourne Preview

Written by Jayden Rosanowski

The upcoming WNBL semi-final promises an exhilarating local derby as the 2nd placed Southside Flyers face off against the 3rd placed Melbourne Boomers. This matchup follows a series of pivotal games that cemented Melbourne’s semi-final berth: their nail-biting victory over the UC Capitals (75-74), coupled with significant wins by Perth and Townsville in Round 15 of the WNBL 23/24 Regular Season.

Leading the charge for the Boomers is WNBL MVP Jordin Canada. She faces a tough opponent in Mercedes Russell of the Southside Flyers, an All WNBL First Team member celebrated for her unparalleled efficiency inside the paint, boasting the league’s highest field-goal percentage at 56.7%. Tera Reed of the Boomers also brings her sharpshooting abilities, holding a 41.5% success rate from the three-point line, the third-highest in the league.

While the Flyers boast superior shooting accuracy, the Boomers have outperformed in rebounds and steals, setting the stage for a closely contested battle. The semi-final game will be hosted at the Melbourne Sports Centre in Parkville, a change from the Flyers’ usual venue due to renovations at the State Basketball Centre.

These teams last met on January 21st, 2024, with the Flyers narrowly edging out the Boomers 84-82. With the season series favouring Melbourne 2-1, this best-of-three semi-final series is highly anticipated. Both Russell and Canada have made significant impacts to their team’s current placings on the ladder, each averaging 15.2 points per game during the regular season.

The clash will be played at 7:00pm (AEDT) at Melbourne Sports Centre – Parkville. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 and 9Now, as well as Live & Free via unbeaten.com or FIBA YouTube for international viewers.

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