As suspected, the 2023/24 WNBL Champions took all three games of the Grand Final Series to be crowned. It was the Southside Flyers who got over the line in emphatic fashion, after losing the first game by 22 points. They won the second game in the closest of circumstances - thanks to a few missed shots by the Perth Lynx and a buzzer beater from Mercedes Russell - evening the score and giving themselves one more chance. Game 3 was the Flyers from the get-go, their team left everything on the floor and was in control for the entire game.
What went right for the Southside Flyers
It is no secret that the Flyers run deep, but it has always been a question of how to best utilise each player and to find a rotation that worked. It may have taken a season and two games to figure out, but it was all worth it in the end. With seven players in double figures, it's clear the hot hand was contagious.
The Flyers were happy to share the ball around, the team having a total of 26 assists in the final game, more than double their opponents. In the end, that was the difference, only three Lynx players managed double figures and the team's field goal percentage dwindled well below the Flyers.
The credit must go to the Flyers, their defence kept them to just 81 points, a statistic we know matters when it comes to the Lynx. Aari McDonald and Amy Atwell may have still put-up big numbers, but their turnovers were high, and the Flyers ensured that second chance points were limited - dominating the rebounds.
What went wrong for the Perth Lynx
When playing at a fast tempo and relying on three-point proficiency, it's high-risk high reward, and unfortunately for the Lynx, this time it didn't pay off. Atwell tore the Flyers apart in the first game of the series, nailing nine three pointers at 64%, but those numbers dropped significantly, and by the final game she had been limited to just three shots from deep. This was an instrumental win for the Flyers, as it is well known that once Atwell gets her eye in, she doesn't stop, and the momentum is often fatal for her opposition.
While Atwell isn't the only person who can put points on the board for her team, they don't have another target that can establish quite the same sort of threat. When the go-to options weren't successful, there needed to be a backup plan and another player that could take things into their own hands.
While Emily Potter played well in the second game of the series, her team needed her to be a bigger threat inside and alleviate some of the pressure off Atwell and McDonald. The bench for the Lynx held their own at times, but as a team, their defence could not contain the Flyers' talented roster.
Flying under the radar
It's not often that a team secures an import only for them to play off the bench, but for the loaded Flyers team, this was the reality for Jasmine Dickey. Where some might take offence, Dickey thrived in her new role and proved to be a key piece to the Flyers success. Whether it was an offensive boost through her speed and athleticism to the basket, or an important defensive match up - Dickey was up to the task.
In Game 2 and 3, Dickey top scored with 19 points. She may have been a solid offensive threat, but defensively she had the important job of defending McDonald and Atwell. By doing this she allowed players like Maddi Rocci and Leilani Mitchell to stay out of foul trouble and focus more on offensive end - running the show.
Locked in for next year
Once the disappointment starts to wear off and the Lynx are ready to start planning for next season, they should look no further than McDonald. Ensuring that she stays at the club is essential; a player with her skillset doesn't come around very often and the Lynx very much need her to be successful. In addition to McDonald, a focus should be made to bring in a couple of defensive weapons to assist in that aspect of their game. Bringing in a centre that's more suited to working in the pick and roll would be highly valuable, as this will allow for better spacing and more high percentage scoring opportunities.