Townsville Blaze Past Capitals in Dominant Road Win

The Townsville Fire are sending a message early in WNBL26 — and it’s loud and clear. The reigning runners-up torched the UC Capitals 105–70 on Saturday night, producing a ruthless road performance at AIS Arena that underlined their championship credentials.

Fresh off their grand final revenge over Bendigo, the Fire backed it up with a 35-point demolition of a star-studded Capitals side in their home opener — the largest winning margin of the young WNBL season.

Townsville’s ball movement and depth were simply overwhelming. Five players finished in double figures as the Fire controlled every facet of the contest, winning the rebound count 45–33 and dominating both paint and perimeter.

Captain Courtney Woods led by example, racking up 16 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds and two steals in a commanding double-double. Her playmaking set the tone as the Fire pushed the tempo and shared the scoring load with precision.

“Canberra looked really sharp last week, so we were definitely wary,” Fire coach Shannon Seebohm said. “We rotated a lot tonight to keep everyone fresh, and I think that really showed. The group’s locked in — and we can still get better.”

The Fire’s relentless pressure suffocated the Capitals from start to finish. Townsville opened a seven-point lead after the first quarter, then exploded in the second — winning the term 26–10 to lead 54–33 at halftime. From there, they cruised.

Canberra’s offence never found rhythm against Townsville’s rotations. French import Kadi Sissoko was the lone bright spot, posting 20 points and eight rebounds, while Opals Jade Melbourne and Sara Blicavs were held to 10 points apiece.

Capitals coach Paul Goriss didn’t hold back post-game. “We didn’t look like a WNBL team tonight,” he said bluntly. “It’s embarrassing — for us, our fans, and our first home game. It’s a reality check, but one we probably needed.”

In the final quarter, Townsville’s bench kept the energy high as Alicia Froling and Lucy Olsen added polish to a near-flawless team performance.

The Fire, now 2–0, returns home next week with growing momentum, while Canberra will look to regroup quickly after a humbling night.

Final score: Townsville Fire 105 defeated UC Capitals 70.