Ellis explodes as Fire avenge Grand Final loss to Bendigo

Townsville Fire opened their WNBL26 campaign with a statement win, taking down the Bendigo Spirit 74–66 in a fiery Grand Final rematch at Red Energy Arena on Sunday.

Guard Abbey Ellis delivered the performance of her career, torching the Spirit for 31 points and 10 rebounds, including six three-pointers, to seal a measure of revenge after last season’s championship defeat.

Townsville looked unstoppable early, leading by as much as 16 points in the second quarter before Bendigo’s fightback — led by debutant Izzy Borlase — turned the game into a tense fourth-quarter battle.

Borlase (17 points, eight rebounds) and veteran centre Marianna Tolo (14 points, two steals) inspired a third-quarter surge that saw the Spirit briefly take a six-point lead early in the final term. But Ellis steadied the Fire with back-to-back triples as the visitors closed the game on an 18–4 run.

“Abbey was ready to make an impact — we probably didn’t expect 31 from her, but we needed every single one of them,” Fire coach Shannon Seebohm said. “Once we got back to moving the ball and improving our spacing, everything clicked again.”

Bendigo coach Kennedy Kereama took positives from the effort, despite the loss. “It was the first time we had everyone together, and they gelled really well,” he said. “We just made a few defensive mistakes late that gave Townsville the window to close it out.”

Townsville’s offensive rhythm early proved the difference. Their ball movement and accuracy built a 10-point halftime lead, and even after Bendigo’s third-quarter push, the Fire’s composure and defensive grit shone through in the closing stretch.

The Spirit swept the Fire 2–0 in last season’s Grand Final series, but this time, Townsville flipped the script — and showed they’ll again be among the contenders in WNBL26.

Final score: Townsville Fire 74 defeated Bendigo Spirit 66.