Chibba’s laser focus on that elusive championship

Alex Ciabattoni is still coming down off the high of her game winning shot to earn Perth Lynx home court advantage in the WNBL semi finals, but winning a championship and getting married in the same season is her focus now.

It’s already been quite the season for Ciabattoni, her sixth in the WNBL at the Lynx, and the experienced guard is playing as important a role as ever with the team booking in another finals position.

However, going into last Sunday’s final game of the regular season and second position and home court advantage of the semi finals still had to be figured out.

The game ended up in overtime and with time about to expire, Laeticia Amihere found a waiting Ciabattoni waiting out on the wing, she coolly knocked down the three-point shot and it was one of the highlights of her career.

Not only did it win the game for the Lynx, but it secured second position and home court advantage for the semi-final series against that same Townsville Fire team starting with Game 1 this Saturday evening at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Looking back at that moment and it was a mix of relief and excitement for Ciabattoni once she saw that shot fall.

“So much relief and excitement! Obviously, it’s not often you get those opportunities and to have the shot go in and give us the chance to have a home semi was just incredible,” Ciabattoni said.

“When LA got that steal I was just thinking we have a chance here and trying to get into a good position. It is definitely a career highlight and the fact that it was for second place and home court just made it that much better.

“I’m pretty sure the entire team felt the same excitement just knowing that we didn’t have to head back to Townsville in a few days. They are always tough and playing them in Townsville is just that much harder.”

It caps off what has been quite the eventful season once more for Ciabattoni but that’s just what she is used to dealing with.

After all, after giving birth to her son, Eli, in early 2023 she was back playing in limited minutes months later while coaching the South West Slammers in the NBL1 West.

On the back of that, she was right back into the Lynx set up for the 2023/24 season and played another key role with a team that once again got all the way to Game 3 of the Grand Final series only for it to end in heartbreak once more.

Ciabattoni then had perhaps her best ever NBL1 West with Cockburn in 2024 and now is having a tremendous WNBL campaign, but along the way she also got married to long-time partner James Goodlad.

“Haha getting married in season was definitely not part of the plan when I booked the date but it is what it is,” Ciabattoni said.

“It was such a perfect weekend and James and I had the best time and wouldn’t have changed anything. Having already had Eli it’s safe to say not much has changed haha but it would be fun to have a wedding and a championship within a few months.”

Initially when Ciabattoni did give birth to Eli she had no idea if she’d play basketball again even at NBL1 level, let alone in the WNBL.

However, she dipped her toe back in the water while coaching the Slammers just months later in 2032 before joining Cockburn in 2024 and now being back with the Lynx the past two seasons.

She has returned to play some of the best basketball of her career as well and this season alone is producing 6.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists while playing 22.5 minutes as part of a terrific Lynx back court.

“The season has been a lot of fun and I think it shows in how we play,” she said.

“It is not often you find team mates that are as happy for each other’s success as they are for their own but that is the environment Perth lynx have created and it allows me (and the team) to go out and play with confidence.

“I think this shows in the way I’m playing this year and has helped me be prepared for whatever role Ryan has thrown at me.”

While Ciabattoni is enjoying life as a mother and now wife, is happy with what she’s producing for the Lynx on the court and with her work at the Rockingham Flames now, it’s that WNBL championship that’s all she is thinking about right now.

As one of just two players on the team, along with Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard, who played in both losing Grand Final series against the Melbourne Boomers in 2022 and then Southside Flyers in 2024, she hopes that 2025 is the year for the Lynx to breakthrough.

“I think we have all the pieces to win the championship and a team who all play for each other,” Ciabattoni said.

“The way last season finished definitely has provided us with bit of extra motivation and desire to get the job done this year.

“I know personally I made it to two grand finals and have lost the same way which has been heartbreaking and has fuelled my desire to want to not only make another grand final but to finally win one.

“I know Townsville will be thinking the same thing though having lost to us in the semi-final last year they will also be coming for redemption.”