West Wrap | Women's Round 1

Featured image: @hyperfocusimages | Michael Bailey

Claire and Mia Jacobs dominated first up in the NBL1 West for the Mandurah Magic while Chloe Forster starred for Warwick Senators, Alex Ciabbatoni for Cockburn Cougars, Stacey Barr and Jasmin Fejo for East Perth Eagles, and Sierra Moore for Goldfields Giants.

>> WEST SPOTLIGHT | HOT SHOOTING LIGHTNING BEAT WOLVES

>> WEST SPOTLIGHT | CHIBBA HELPS COUGARS TO FLYING START

>> WEST SPOTLIGHT | FORSTER SHINES FOR SENATORS IN OPENER

THURSDAY

Warwick Senators (80) defeated Perry Lakes Hawks (67)

Chloe Forster put up 21 first half points on the way to 31 in the NBL1 West season opener as the Warwick Senators beat the Perry Lakes Hawks 80-67.

It was the first game of the NBL1 West season for 2026 at Warwick Stadium on Thursday night with the Senators and Hawks both coming off being top four teams by the end of 2025.

The Hawks lost in the preliminary final to the Cockburn Cougars who then also went on to beat the Senators in the grand final.

The Senators blew the game open in the second quarter outscoring the Hawks 29-16 with Forster

Warwick ended up taking 22 extra shots in the game than Perry Lakes with not much between how they shot while both struggled from downtown with the Senators going 4/25 and the Hawks 3/17.

Fresh off being part of Townsville Fire's WNBL championship and her brilliant NBL1 West season at the Senators, Forster was outstanding with 31 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 14/26 shooting from the floor.

Kyana Weir is also coming off a WNBL season at the Perth Lynx and made the most of the spot opened up from the departing Stacey Barr. She ended up with 13 points, three steals and two assists.

Jayda Clark was back to her original club and had 10 points, five assists and three steals for Warwick with evergreen veteran Nat Burton holding her own down low with 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Emilie Biggs was trusted with the point guard duties for Perry Lakes and despite the turnovers, did plenty of good things with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists on 6/7 field goal shooting while going 5/8 from the foul line.

Bridgette Rettstatt delivered 14 points, nine rebounds and six steals in her first game with Perry Lakes with fellow new arrival Mila Wawszkowicz having seven points and two assists, Emma Clark seven points, and Maddison Zugna nine points, three rebounds and two assists.

FRIDAY

Perth Redbacks (71) lost to Cockburn Cougars (98)

Alex Ciabattoni continued her career-best Perth Lynx WNBL form to lead the Cockburn Cougars to a dominant start to their championship defence with five teammates also in double-figures in 98-71 win over the Perth Redbacks.

The Cougars were on fire from the outset with 60 points to 33 in the first half on the way to the eventual 27-point win to make quite the statement as they attempt to win a third championship in the past four years.

Ciabattoni was superb on Friday night with 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals on 8/13 shooting to be a +27 in her 35 minutes.

It was far from a one woman show too with another five Cockburn players scoring in double-figures including Lily Gammidge producing 18 points and four rebounds on 4/6 shooting with 9/10 at the foul line.

Alira Fotu also ended up with 16 points and four rebounds, Jaya Scafidi 13 points and eight boards, WNBL championship winner Jessie Edwards 12 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks, and Jewel Williams 11 points and four assists with 3/8 three-point shooting.

Shenae Hartree was called upon to carry a lot more of the load than usual for the Redbacks and stood up for 15 points, six rebounds and two steals in just over 30 minutes of court time.

Olivia Berry has made the move to the Redbacks in 2026 having previously played with the Goldfields Giants and Eastern Suns. In her first Perth appearance, she had 11 points despite 3/12 shooting.

Mandurah Magic (97) defeated Rockingham Flames (77)

Claire and Mia Jacobs were unstoppable with 56 points, 22 rebounds, 15 assists and five steals as the Mandurah Magic started the season in style with a 97-77 home win over Amy Atwell and the Rockingham Flames.

Claire Jacobs was outstanding in her first season at the Magic last year and now has been joined by Mia in 2026 fresh off her college career at the University of Oregon, and they formed a mighty duo on Friday at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

Both local rivals of high hopes of what they will produce in 2026 and there's no room for concern for Rockingham despite the first up loss with former MVP's Teige Morrell and Sami Whitcomb still to come.

But the Magic couldn’t have been more impressive after half-time especially outscoring the Flames 61 points to 44 on the way to the eventual 20-point triumph.

Claire Jacobs finished with 34 points, seven assists and four rebounds with 11/20 shooting from the field and 10/13 from the foul line while fresh off the plane, Mia had 22 points, 18 rebounds and three steals with 6/11 three-point shooting.

Sydney Meares also had 11 points and seven assists for Mandurah, Erin Antosh 10 points and three rebounds, and Sharn Hayward seven points, eight assists, three boards and three steals.

Amy Atwell shot 4/11 from deep in her Rockingham debut for 24 points with Paris Spencer adding 16 points and five rebounds, and Tiana Wilson-Palmer 14 points, five boards and three steals.

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (63) lost to Lakeside Lightning (90)

The Lakeside Lightning with returning coach Craig Mansfield are going to be a high tempo, big volume three-point shooting team in 2026 and that worked first up with the 90-63 road win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

Championship winning coach Mansfield has returned to Lakeside in 2026 and was back on his former home floor at Ray Owen Sports Centre first up against a Suns team he has also taken to a grand final.

The Eastern Suns had the better of the start too but Lakeside took control with 33 points to 12 in the second quarter and then dominated the second half for the eventual 27-point win.

The Lightning ended up going 16/39 for the game from three-point territory with Esmeralda Morales making 5/7 for 19 points, six rebounds and three assists on debut.

Sam Lubcke added 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists with Sam Roscoe delivering 13 points and six boards, and Regan Turnour-McCarty nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

The Eastern Suns are trying to improve on their 3-17 2025 season with Gaby Bronson finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Ella Averill also had 12 points and five rebounds, and Emma Strelein eight points, two boards, two assists and two steals.

SATURDAY

Willetton Tigers (70) lost to East Perth Eagles (86)

It took the East Perth Eagles some time to get used to the pressure defence of the Willetton Tigers led by Emma Gandini, but once they settled their gun recruits were able to lead them to the 86-70 road win.

Both teams have new coaches coming into 2026 with Sue Williams taking over at Willetton with Jonelle Morley in charge at East Perth, and there are decidedly new-look groups to go with it.

Gandini has returned home to Willetton this year and she led their pressure defence on East Perth which was especially effective in the first half, but the Eagles were able to work on top the longer the game went.

East Perth ended up outscoring Willetton 47 points to 31 in the second half to score the 16-point win to make a winning start with a host of new faces and the new coach.

Two-time MVP Stacey Barr who enjoyed championship success alongside Morley at the Warwick Senators shone on her return to the Eagles with 24 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Jasmin Fejo added 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks, Brooke Malone 13 points and six rebounds, and Zaya Black 13 points, two boards, two assists and two steals.

Eva Cooke finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals for Willetton with reigning Grand Final MVP Ruby Porter putting up 16 points and three assists with Carla Drennan adding 13 points and seven rebounds.

Goldfields Giants (90) defeated South West Slammers (79)

The Goldfields Giants overcame a slow start to take charge from there for the first up home win over the South West Slammers with the 90-79 victory.

The Slammers made a flying start at Kalgoorlie's Evolution Mining Stadium with 28 points to 16 in the first quarter but the Giants took control from there.

Both teams only combined for seven wins in 2025 so are trying to greatly improve in 2026 and it was Goldfields who took charge with 30 points to 12 in the second quarter on the way to setting up the eventual 11-point victory.

Sierra Moore dominated in the win for the Giants with 33 points, 19 rebounds and three assists on 14/21 shooting with Rachel Pettit adding 17 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Jemma Gatti also had 12 points and three steals, Lexi Pana 10 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, and Chloe Zorzi 10 points, four boards and three assists.

Marshaun Bostic debuted for the Slammers and produced a triple-double consisting of 22 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals.

Bri Bailey knocked down 5/13 from three-point range with Cassidy Lacey-Rameka delivering 14 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Bree Chalk 12 points and seven boards.

Lakeside Lightning (85) defeated Joondalup Wolves (74)

Regan Turnour-McCarty and Kiriana Hawaikirangi came to the Lakeside Lightning for more opportunities and combined for 40 points and 13 threes to lead them to the 85-74 home win over the Joondalup Wolves.

The Lightning got going from behind the arc in the second quarter to open up an eight-point first half lead.

That lead then grew to as much as 17 points in the third quarter before the Wolves hit back to grab the lead only for Lakeside to shoot their way to the win led by Turnour-McCarty who ended up hitting 7/10 from downtown in the game for the eventual 11-point victory.

The Lightning ended up going 21/49 from long distance at 43 per cent and including Turnour-McCarty's 7/10, Hawaikirangi was a perfect 6/6, Sam Roscoe 4/7 and new face Esmeralda Morales 4/7.

Turnour-McCarty ended up with 21 points and five rebounds while Hawaikirangi delivered 20 points in 24 minutes.

Morales also had 19 points and six assists with Roscoe also delivering 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

It was a different focus from Joondalup with just the 18 three-point attempts and they scored 40 of their 74 points in the paint with Kim Pierre-Louis delivering 32 points, 10 rebounds and four assists with 12/19 shooting and 7/12 at the foul line.

Awatea Leach has made the move from the East Perth Eagles and had 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals while Yemiyah Morris contributed eight points and five boards.