Semi Finals Preview – Lynx v Fire Game 1
They are two teams with a great rivalry and understanding of one another and now the Perth Lynx and Townsville Fire begin their fight over a WNBL Grand Final spot with Game 1 of the semi finals on Saturday.
Having played one another in each of the last two semi finals as well and then closing the regular season with an overtime classic last Sunday that determined second spot, the Lynx and Fire now resume hostilities in a best-of-three series.
Game 1 of the semi-final match up takes place this Saturday at Bendat Basketball Centre with tip-off at 5pm. Game 2 will be in Townsville on Wednesday night before Game 3 will be back in Perth, if required, next Saturday.
You only have to go back to that last game of the regular season last Sunday for a glimpse just how hotly contested this semi-final series is going to be with a spot in the Grand Final against either the Bendigo Spirit or Sydney Flames on the line.
That game was to determine second position and which team would have home court advantage. It went to overtime and the Lynx pulled off a stunning heist with Alex Ciabattoni hitting the go-ahead three-pointer just before the buzzer.
That gave Perth the 87-86 win to finish the regular season with a 16-5 record to be in second position a game ahead of Townsville who finished at 15-6.
Highlighting the quality in both teams, they were each recognised at the WNBL Awards on Monday night with Laeticia Amihere and Ally Wilson from the Lynx named to the All-First Team while Anneli Maley and Miela Sowah made the All-Second Team.
Townsville also had Courtney Woods in the All-First Team while Shannon Seebohm was named Coach of the Year for a fifth time, Abbey Ellis was named Breakout Player of the Year, and Lauren Cox was Defensive Player of the Year.
Saturday’s Game 1 of the semi finals will be the fourth time the two teams have met this season with the first meeting back in Round 2 seeing Townsville win 84-80 at Bendat Basketball Centre.
It was also at Bendat on November 27 with the Lynx winning big 106-80 on that occasion before that overtime cracking contest in Townsville last Sunday.
It’s also the third straight time that the teams have met in the semi finals with Townsville winning back in 2023 on the way to winning the championship while the Lynx won in two games in 2024 on the way to reaching a second Grand Final series in the past three years.
While it was a big deal for the Lynx to win that game on Sunday to secure home court advantage and avoid heading back to Townsville immediately this week, Sowah is fully aware they just can’t expect being at home to win the game on Saturday for them.
“We’re so excited not to be taking the long trip out to Townsville this week,” Sowah said.
“Unfortunately for them they have to do that, but we did get them last year in two games so I’m sure they’ll have a lot of fire behind them to make sure that doesn’t happen to them again.
“They’ll be coming out and giving it their all, and even that game on Sunday showed what this series is going to be like.
“It’s going to be tight and it’s going to be who wants it by making all those one percent plays. Literally we have to be locked in from the get go and we’re sure they’ll be coming out even harder after we got that win on Sunday.”
Ciabattoni was the hero with that game winning shot on Sunday but she is fully aware that for the Lynx to get to a third Grand Final in four seasons, Townsville will make them earn it fully.
“Townsville are always tough! Shannon has done a great job up there building an incredible team who all play hard,” Ciabattoni said.
“We know this series will be close and as the last game showed there won’t be much in it. I think our ability to focus on one game at a time and not get a head of ourselves will be so important.”
CYGNETT WNBL FINALS 2025
Semi Finals Game 1 – Perth Lynx v Townsville Fire
Venue – Bendat Basketball Centre
Tip-off – Saturday February 22, 5pm AWST
Tickets – Available by clicking here
How to watch – Live, free and on demand on 9Now and ESPN