North Wrap | Women's Round 1

Featured image: P2DK Photography - @p2dk_photography

Last year's NBL1 North Grand Finalists started 2026 strongly with a big Logan Thunder win while Jess and Hayley McDowell-White combined for 46 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists and 9/14 three-point shooting for the Southern Districts Spartans.

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FRIDAY

Sunshine Coast Phoenix (65) lost to Northside Wizards (74)

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter where the Northside Wizards could pull away from the Sunshine Coast Phoenix to open the season with Nes'eya Parker-Williams impressing first up in the 74-65 road win.

It was the first game of the 2026 NBL1 North season with the Phoenix hosting the Wizards at Maroochydore Stadium, and for three quarters precious little separated the two teams.

No more than six points separated them throughout the first three quarters but it was in the last term when the Wizards made their move with 21 points to 15 to open up the only double-digit lead of the game before securing the nine-point victory.

In her first game with not only the Wizards, but also the NBL1 North, Parker-Williams showed what a prized signing she will be for 2026 and delivered a standout performance.

She arrives on the back of growing up in Western Australia and playing with NBL1 West teams the Perth Redbacks and Joondalup Wolves while also having spent time in the WNBL at both her hometown Lynx and Townsville Fire, and more recently playing in Indonesia and Malaysia.

She delivered first up with a team-high 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Kahlaijah Dean also had 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals for Northside, Nadeen Payne 16 points, four boards and two assists, and Grace Ellis eight points, 15 rebounds and two assists with 12 of those boards at the offensive end.

Erin Bollmann was up against her former team and had 18 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists for the Phoenix with Isabel Palmer putting up 13 points and four boards.

Kayla Mathews added eight points, three rebounds and three assists, and Maya Price eight points, four boards and three assists.

SATURDAY

Ipswich Force (75) defeated South West Metro Pirates (59)

Valerie Huerta started the season with 26 points to lead the Ipswich Force to the 75-59 home win against the South West Metro Pirates.

The Force were at home at Ipswich Basketball Stadium against the Pirates with both teams trying to rise up the standings in 2026 after missing the finals in 2025.

No more than seven points separated the teams in the opening half with Ipswich leading by that seven-point edge at the break before 18 points to 12 in the third term, and 19 to 16 in the fourth to win by 16.

Huerta had a big showing for Ipswich with 26 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals with 9/18 shooting from the field, 2/4 from three-point land and 6/6 at the free-throw line.

Olivia West also had 14 points, five assists and three rebounds, and Hannah Young 12 points and nine boards.

Charlotte Whittaker delivered 14 points and four rebounds for South West Metro with Kate Head adding 14 points, seven boards and six assists, and Jenna Kitty 10 points and two rebounds.

North Gold Coast Seahawks (69) lost to Sunshine Coast Phoenix (86)

The Sunshine Coast Phoenix bounced back quickly from their opening night loss to score their first win of the season beating the North Gold Coast Seahawks 86-69.

The Seahawks return to the NBL1 North this season and they were at home first up at Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium with the Phoenix having already played on Friday night in a loss to the Northside Wizards.

Sunshine Coast were in control most of the way opening up a 10-point lead in the first quarter which got out to 15 in the third and finally 19 in the fourth as they secured the 17-point victory away from home.

Isabel Palmer was the star in the win for the Phoenix with 31 points, eight rebounds and four assists with 7/9 three-point shooting.

Erin Bollmann added 19 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, Maya Price 15 points, three boards and three assists, Amy Browne 10 points, four rebounds and two assists with Mia Parsons pulling down 11 boards too and having three assists.

Georgia Wooley did all she could for North Gold Coast with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists with 12/16 free-throw shooting.

Jess Boundy added 10 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, Emma Benjamin seven points and two rebounds, and Tayla Cendamo seven points.

 

Southern Districts Spartans (105) defeated Brisbane Capitals (61)

Jess McDowell-White opened the new season with a huge triple-double with sister Hayley coming up big too as the Southern Districts Spartans were on fire first up beating the Brisbane Capitals 105-61.

After losing last year's Grand Final series to Logan Thunder after winning Game 1, the Spartans come into 2026 on a mission and they signalled their intent first up at Rowland Cowan Stadium.

It was 31 points to 10 in the first quarter for Southern Districts before that lead got out to 35 in the second quarter and they were leading 64-33 by half-time.

The lead was out to 42 in the third period and 46 in the fourth before the Spartans opened the new season after going 13-1 last year with the 44-point thumping win.

Jess McDowell-White opened up with the triple-double consisting of 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to go with five steals and 5/8 three-point shooting.

Sister Hayley wasn’t far behind with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists with 4/6 shooting from downtown.

Kalani Purcell added 17 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, Abby Solway 15 points and four assists, and Majella Carey eight points, four rebounds and two assists.

It's an eighth straight loss for Brisbane who lost the last seven games of 2025 with Keriana Hippolite finishing with 12 points and two rebounds with Emilee Tahata adding nine points, 17 boards and three assists, Rihanna Byrne nine points and six rebounds, and Tyla Stolberg eight points, five boards and three assists.

Cairns Dolphins (105) defeated Townsville Flames (73)

Mia Loyd just missed a triple-double as did Brooke Basham while Summah Evans put up 23 points as the Cairns Dolphins opened the season beating the Townsville Flames 105-73.

Cairns opened the new season hosting their old foes at Trinity Ford Stadium with both teams coming off playing finals in 2025, and trying to build on that.

The Dolphins were in control from the outset, though to be leading by 11 points at quarter-time, by 21 at half-time and then 23 at three quarter-time before securing the eventual 32-point victory.

Evans top-scored in the win for Cairns with 23 points, seven rebounds and two steals with Leichan Williams a powerful force with 18 points and eight boards.

Loyd delivered 16 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds with Basham also having 16 points, 13 boards and nine assists with Taryn Bond contributing 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.

Chailee Ward top-scored for Townsville with 19 points, four steals, three assists and two rebounds with Ella Tofaeono contributing 16 points, seven boards and three assists, Mia Murray 10 points and eight rebounds, and Jasmine Rigoni 12 points with 3/5 three-point shooting.

Mackay Meteorettes (92) defeated Rockhampton Cyclones (71)

The Mackay Meteorettes produced a dominant fourth quarter to turn a four-point lead at three quarter-time into the emphatic 92-71 home win over the Rockhampton Cyclones.

It was a first game of 2026 for both teams on Saturday night at Mackay Basketball Stadium with the Meteorettes coming off reaching the second round of the playoffs last year while the Cyclones just missed out on making it as defending champions.

Not much separated them through the opening three quarters and it was just a four-point lead for the Meteorettes by three quarter-time, but the home team then dominated with 29 points to 12 in the last term.

That secured Mackay the 21-point victory on the back of their 25 offensive rebounds that helped them take an extra eight shots in the game and three more free throws.

Cheyenne Bobongie delivered 21 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals in the win for Mackay with sister Monique adding 11 points, 11 boards and three assists despite 3/19 shooting.

River Baldwin also had 19 points, 14 rebounds and two assists, Charli Kenny 14 points on 6/8 shooting, Alley Simpson 11 points and eight boards, Nikita Muscat 10 points and seven rebounds, and Chelsea Brook six points, six boards, five assists and two blocked shots.

Tai Wakelin-Gray finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and two steals on 7/11 shooting for Rockhampton.

Akaysha Muggeridge added 15 points and three rebounds, Gracie Stugart 13 points, nine assists and seven boards, Aria Dooley 11 points and two assists, and Halle Shipton 11 points and three rebounds.

SUNDAY

Gold Coast Rollers (49) lost to Logan Thunder (94)

It was a 25-4 start to the championship defence from Logan Thunder and they turned that into the season-opening 94-49 hammering of the Gold Coast Rollers on Sunday.

It was the final game of the opening round of the NBL1 North season at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium with Gold Coast trying to start encouragingly after winning the last three games of 2025.

It was a significant test up against the defending champions, though, and that proved the case with Logan on fire from the start with the lead 15-2, 25-4 and 37-8 advantage.

They maintained control the rest of the way to end up winning by 45 points while forcing Gold Coast into 30 turnovers and starting their championship defence on the road in ideal fashion.

Logan shot 14/40 from downtown and 46 overall while having 17 offensive rebounds but they left some points out there with the 8/19 free-throw shooting including Leah Scott's 2/9.

Scott still had 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals despite that with Vahayliah Seumanutafa starring with 24 points on 9/12 shooting from the field and 4/7 from behind the arc.

Kendell Heremaia also had 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, Mikhaela Cann 12 points, eight assists, seven steals and five rebounds, Maddy Allen 11 points and two assists, and Prasayus Notoa 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Emma Petrie finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for Gold Coast with Ariana Moorer contributing 10 points and three boards, Tara Manumaleuga nine points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Nyah Morris seven points and five boards.