WNBL fans were faced with a sense of déjà vu as we entered the Semi Final phase of the 2023/34 season, with all four teams from the finals series in the previous year returning and proving that yet again they are the best four teams in the competition.
This year, however, there was a new team rising to the top and ready for the occasion - the Perth Lynx stunned the reigning champions and minor premiers, in the Townsville Fire.
In saying that, it was an all too familiar feeling for the Melbourne Boomers, who fell again to the Southside Flyers.
WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE TOWNSVILLE FIRE?
The Townsville Fire were favourites from the get-go this season and rarely did they let another team get the better of them, even going on to win the minor premiership.
It couldn't be the fairy-tale ending they were after though, falling in just two games to the Perth Lynx - a team who only just snuck into the final four. It's no secret that the Fire were a stacked team, no matter who was starting or who was coming off the bench, the production never stopped.
Primarily, this team was an offensive team, with plenty of capable shooters, they used their IQ to either find ways to score as individuals or to set up their teammates.
Their downfall perhaps, was their defence - this was particularly evident in their losses to the Lynx. The only way to defeat the Lynx was to stop their offensive production and if the likes of Aari McDonald and Amy Atwell were in hot shooting form, it was game over.
In Game 1 the Fire were able to keep them under 80 points and despite going down by just a single point, their focus should have been to limit McDonald and Atwell in the next game.
Instead, in Game 2, the Lynx were allowed to score 108 points and it was thanks to more than just two Lynx players laying the points on - the Fire's defence were unable to contain the Lynx's output, and again, the likes of McDonald and Atwell dominated.
NEXT SEASON
If the Townsville Fire retain the core of their team, head coach, Shannon Seebohm may want to employ a heavier emphasis on defence and recruit some players known more for that than their offence. Bar the likes of Steph Reid (who herself is a pesty defender), the team has decent length so should consider using that to their advantage moving forward.
WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE MELBOURNE BOOMERS?
After fighting back from one game down in their best of three Semi Final series against the Southside Flyers, the Melbourne Boomers felt the déjà vu better than anyone as they fell, yet again to the Flyers in Game 3.
There's no doubt they would be disappointed in their performance, particularly after their brilliant Game 2. They may have been thrown some bad luck in the way of injuries, starter Sara Blicavs out for the whole series, but ultimately, they were not up to the task and physicality of their crosstown rivals.
At first, it felt as if they did not know the scout, Lauren Jackson was able to nail two threes from the same spot early in the first, they made silly fouls made under the basket to allow and one plays, thus leaving multiple Boomers players in foul trouble.
Despite having a relatively talented line up, MVP Jordin Canada at the helm, the Boomers didn't always play with high IQ that let them down considering the Flyers were playing in such fine form.
NEXT SEASON
If the Boomers want to avoid the same fate next year, it will be critical for them to put together a fit and healthy line up, so that down the line they are not limited to a small team of eligible players.
The team must also be more disciplined in both their offence and defence to ensure they are making good calls, as too often the wrong decision ended up costing them the game. This not only stems from coaching, but leadership and resilience when fatigue sets in.
Despite bowing out in the Semi Finals, both the Townsville Fire and the Melbourne Boomers should be proud of their efforts. In what was such a tight competition throughout the year, both teams did extremely well to make it this far.
FINAL SCORES -
Townsville Fire defeated by Perth Lynx, 87-88
Perth Lynx defeated Townsville Fire, 108-102
Southside Flyers defeated Melbourne Boomers, 90-86
Melbourne Boomers defeated Southside Flyers, 88-76
Southside Flyers defeated Melbourne Boomers, 93-77