Donnelly eyes next level

JCU Townsville Fire championship winner Mikhaela Donnelly believes her best is still to come ahead of the 2018/19 Chemist Warehouse WNBL season.

The former under-19 Australian captain, who returned to the WNBL last season after a three-year hiatus including the birth of her first child, made an instant impact with the Fire playing behind Kelly Wilson as a point guard.

With Wilson opting to extend her career in the nation’s capital, Donnelly appears locked in a race with New Zealand Olympian Micaela Cocks for the starting role with both players more than capable of stepping up after impressing during the recent QBL season.

While Cocks was named to the QBL All*Star Five, Donnelly was awarded the People’s Choice MVP after averaging a league-high 8.3 assists to go with 16.6 points and 6.8 rebounds.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and making sure that I am pushing myself to be better than last year,” Donnelly said.

“Contribute more and just try and go to the next level this year.

“It’s always a goal (to start) obviously but at the same time you want to do what’s best for the team – contribute the best way that I can at both ends of the floor.”

Having arrived at the weekend after concluding her school commitments, Donnelly will waste little time refamiliarising herself at Townsville Stadium tonight for team training.

For the first time in 2018/19, the Fire have all but Tess Madgen on the floor, with the boom recruit absent with the Australian team for the up-coming World Cup.

Join Mikhaela and become a member of the Fire this season, with the reigning WNBL champions poised to unveil their championship banner in round one.

Click here to become a member of the Fire today.