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The Townsville Fire will begin their 2026/27 WNBL campaign on the road this Saturday, taking on the Perth Lynx in a season opener that will provide an exciting opportunity for the club's emerging talent.
Fresh off claiming their fifth WNBL Championship, the Fire head west looking to begin their title defence on a winning note, despite a disrupted preseason and several key players unavailable for the opening round.
Injuries to Chloe Forster and Emma Clarke, along with the continued absence of guard Miela Sowah, have opened the door for all three of the Fire's development players to be elevated into the playing roster.
Catelyn Van Es, Bree Stephens and Antoniette Emma Nnopu will all be part of the Fire's opening-round squad, providing the young trio with an early opportunity to experience WNBL basketball and make their mark at the professional level.
The Fire will also be without young talent Cheyenne Bobongie, who has returned from Australian Under-18 Gems duties with an illness and will miss the opening-round clash.
Sowah remains in the United States with the Golden State Valkyries as they compete for the WNBA Championship, while Forster and Clarke continue their respective injury recoveries.
Despite the challenges, the Fire will take plenty of confidence into the opening round, with a strong core of returning championship players complemented by exciting new additions, including German international Marie Gülich and American guard Lauren Jensen.
Captain Courtney Woods will once again lead the side, alongside returning championship players Abbey Ellis, Alicia Froling and Alex Fowler.
Head Coach Shannon Seebohm, entering his eighth season at the helm, said the opening round presents an exciting challenge for the group.
"We've certainly had a disrupted preseason, and we're not going into Round 1 with the full squad we had hoped for, but that's part of professional sport," Seebohm said.
"What it does create is a really good opportunity for some of our younger players. All three development players have worked hard throughout preseason, and now they get the chance to step up and contribute at WNBL level.
"We've got a lot of belief in the group we've assembled. It's going to take some time for everything to come together, but we're excited about what this team can achieve.
"Every team in the competition has strengthened this year, and we know there are no easy games. Perth is always a tough place to play, so it's a great challenge for us to start the season."
Saturday's clash marks the beginning of a demanding opening stretch for the reigning champions, who will play four games across four states in just 10 days.
Following their trip to Perth, the Fire will travel to Adelaide for a Tuesday night clash before returning to Townsville for their highly anticipated first home game against the Sydney Flames on Sunday, 25 October.
The home opener will be a special occasion for the club and its supporters, with the Fire set to unveil their 2025/26 Championship Banner in front of the Fire faithful at The Fire Pit.
For now, however, the focus is firmly on Perth, as the reigning champions look to make a strong start to their title defence and give the next generation of Fire talent an opportunity to shine.
NEXT HOME GAME
Townsville Fire vs Sydney Flames
Sunday, 25 October | 2:00pm
The Fire Pit, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre
Join us for our Championship Banner Reveal as we celebrate our fifth WNBL title and welcome the Fire home for the first time this season.
Get your tickets now at firememberships.com.au
