The Sydney Flames secured their position at the top of the WNBL standings following an 86-69 victory over the Southside Flyers at the Afterpay Sports Stadium on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The Flames overcame a slow start to dominate the second half, using high-pressure defense to overcome a 16-9 early deficit.
The Southside Flyers controlled the opening minutes of the contest, building an initial 16-9 lead. The Flames responded by calling a timeout midway through the first quarter to implement a new defensive strategy.
That tactical shift immediately impacted the Flyers’ ball security. In the final five minutes of the first quarter, the Flyers committed seven turnovers, allowing the Flames to execute a 9-0 run and take a 21-18 lead into the first break.
The momentum carried into the second quarter, where the Flames outscored the Flyers 29-13. This scoring surge, combined with 14 turnovers from the Flyers by halftime, allowed Sydney to establish a 48-28 cushion.
Guard Jaz Shelley led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 6-of-9 from three-point range. Shelley’s perimeter shooting proved decisive in the second half, as she converted all four of her three-point attempts in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Lauren Nicholson contributed 18 points to the Flames’ total, with 16 of those points arriving during the first half. While the Flyers attempted a comeback in the third quarter—narrowing the gap to 58-48 following a three-pointer from Unique Thompson—Shelley responded with three consecutive triples to maintain the lead.
| Player | Team | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Jaz Shelley | Sydney Flames | 22 points, 6 three-pointers |
| Lauren Nicholson | Sydney Flames | 18 points |
| Hannah Hank | Southside Flyers | 21 points, 9 rebounds |
| Tess Heal | Southside Flyers | 16 points |
“Our switching was excellent, and the intensity of our ball pressure was very high,” Sydney Flames head coach Renae Garlepp said regarding the defensive performance. Garlepp noted that the team improved as they increased their pressing, utilizing their height and wingspan to disrupt the opposition.
Southside Flyers head coach Sam Mackinnon attributed the loss to the team’s inability to manage ball security during Sydney’s pressure. “We knew the opponent would increase the full-court press. We played well at the start, but the subsequent turnovers cost us the game,” Mackinnon said.
The Flyers finished the game with a total of 20 turnovers, according to the match reports.
The victory allows the Sydney Flames to further solidify their lead at the top of the WNBL regular-season standings.
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