West Wrap | Women's Round 2

Featured image: Tyson Lumbaca | @ty.visuales

Bree Chalk, Alex Ciabattoni, Jessie Edwards, Bridgette Rettstatt, Jasmin Fejo, Sydney Wright and Sami Whitcomb were NBL1 West standouts in South West Slammers, Warwick Senators, Cockburn Cougars, Perry Lakes Hawks, East Perth Eagles and Rockingham Flames wins.

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THURSDAY

South West Slammers (82) defeated Perth Redbacks (74)

A career-best performance from Bree Chalk has helped the South West Slammers celebrate their first home game of 2026 with a win after defeating the Perth Redbacks 82-74.

It was an encouraging start to the season despite a loss in Kalgoorlie last Saturday night for the Slammers ahead of them hosting the Redbacks at Eaton Recreation Centre.

They were impressive on their home floor from the outset too with 27 points to 21 in the first quarter on the way to leading 48-34 by half-time.

South West would open up a 21-point lead in the second half and then hold on for the eight-point victory to give them hope of a vastly improved 2026.

Chalk was outstanding in the best performance of her 62-game career and hitting 4/5 from downtown and 9/12 at the foul line for 29 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Bri Bailey also landed 4/9 from deep for 18 points with three steals while Cassidy Lacey-Rameka contributed 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Marshaun Bostic 10 points, seven steals, five assists and four boards.

It's back-to-back losses for the shorthanded Redbacks to start the season with Shenae Hartree finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and four steals, Olivia Berry 14 points and five boards, Laniesha Paddon 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Ella Barmentloo 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Kalamunda Eastern Suns (68) lost to Warwick Senators (92)

Chloe Forster continued her hot start to the NBL1 West season on the back of being part of a WNBL championship and had plenty of help in the Warwick Senators' 92-68 road win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

The Senators arrived at Ray Owen Sports Centre after a dominant first up win over the Perry Lakes Hawks so the Eastern Suns were always going to have their work cut out after they lost first up to Lakeside also at home.

It was a tight battle for the first three quarters but the Senators controlled the last 10 minutes with 31 points to 16 on the way to the eventual 24-point victory to improve to 2-0.

Forster delivered another 20 points, four assists and three steals for Warwick while hitting 3/6 from behind the three-point arc with Kiara Waite into the line-up and having 18 points and seven rebounds.

Nat Burton came off the bench but still played over 24 minutes for 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals with Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard providing 15 points, five boards and three assists, and Jayda Clark 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Gaby Bronson was impressive again for the Suns despite the loss with 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals on 6/9 shooting from the floor and 7/8 at the free-throw line.

Emma Strelein added 13 points, three assists and two steals, Alyssa Bowen 11 points, four rebounds and two assists, and Ella Averill eight points and nine boards.

Cockburn Cougars (96) defeated Willetton Tigers (76)

The guard-centre WNBL combination of Alex Ciabattoni and Jessie Edwards dominated as the Cockburn Cougars celebrated their 2025 championship with a 25th straight win beating the Willetton Tigers 96-76.

There was some added spice to Thursday night with Ruby Porter on hand at Wally Hagan Stadium to celebrate the 2025 championship where she was Grand Final MVP – only she is now playing with Willetton.

The Cougars would celebrate raising their championship banner following the game and before the men's match started. They wanted to ensure that was on the back of another win and ensured that happened with a 33-point third quarter.

That set the stage for Cockburn's eventual 20-point victory to mean they have now won 25 straight matches having gone through all of 2025 undefeated.

Alex Ciabattoni was again a star in the win for Cockburn with 22 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists while fresh off a WNBL championship at the Townsville Fire, Jessie Edwards delivered 17 points, 11 boards, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots on 8/10 shooting.

Alira Fotu is also thriving already with the Cougars with 14 points and five assists. Jewel Williams contributed 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Hannah Summers 13 points on 4/6 shooting with 2/4 from downtown.

Ruby Porter had 12 points in the first quarter on her former home court and finished with 21 for Willetton with four assists, three rebounds and three steals on 9/21 shooting but not getting to the free-throw line once.

Emma Gandini added 18 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists, Courtney Stothard 11 points and seven boards, and Ella Murdoch 10 points and eight rebounds.

 

Perry Lakes Hawks (88) defeated Joondalup Wolves (62)

Bridgette Rettstatt dominated with 23 points and 18 rebounds with the Perry Lakes Hawks capitalising for their first win of a new era with the 88-62 home win against the Joondalup Wolves.

With captain, and the recently married, Mia Bailey (nee Satie) celebrating her 150th NBL1 West game, the Hawks were not short on motivation to hit back from their first loss against the Warwick Senators under new coach Marcus Embury.

They hosted the Wolfpack at Bendat Basketball Centre who also had a first up loss under their new coach Mitch Langford, and the home team wasted no time taking charge with 25 points to 15 in the first period.

It was another 26 to 10 in the second to see Perry Lakes on top 51-25 going into half-time, and converting that into the eventual 26-point victory.

Rettstatt played her second game with the Hawks and was a dominant force with 23 points, 18 rebounds, three steals, three blocks and two assists on 10/15 shooting from the field with 3/5 from behind the arc.

Mila Wawszkowicz added 15 points, three rebounds and two steals, Maddi Zugna 14 points, six boards and two blocks, Ellie Newman 15 points and three rebounds, and in her 150th game, Mia Bailey four points, six assists, five boards and three steals.

Coming off her WNBL season at the Perth Lynx, Yemiyah Morris had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Wolves with Kuir Gayo adding 12 points and six boards, and Ella Thornton-Elliott nine points, three rebounds and two assists.

SATURDAY

East Perth Eagles (111) defeated Mandurah Magic (80)

With new faces Jasmin Fejo and Sydney Wright combining for 48 points and nine threes and Stacey Barr threatening a triple-double, the East Perth Eagles impressed again under new coach Jonelle Morley beating the Mandurah Magic 111-80.

It's a totally new look for the Eagles under 2022 championship coach Morley and after a first up win against the Willetton Tigers, they kept the momentum going in their home opener against the Magic at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Claire Jacobs' foul trouble didn’t help the cause of Mandurah but East Perth has a clear game style to play a high tempo, high three-point volume style of game and they set the pace with 31 points to 25 in the first quarter.

The Eagles had another 29 points in the second frame to lead 60-60 by half-time before 27 to 21 in the third, and 24 to 10 in the fourth to complete the 31-point win while hitting 13/30 from downtown along with pulling down 21 offensive rebounds.

Fejo hit 6/8 from long-range for 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals with fellow NBL1 Central recruit Wright going 3/4 from deep and 9/10 at the stripe for 24 points and four assists.

Two-time MVP Barr also had 21 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and three steals with Brooke Malone adding 15 points, five rebounds and two assists, and Jade Williams eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Despite being limited to just under 26 minutes with fouls, Claire Jacobs had another 20 points and three assists for Mandurah with sister Mia adding 19 points, five boards and five assists.

Georgia Adams also had 14 points, three rebounds and three steals, and Sharn Hayward 12 points and five assists.

Rockingham Flames (107) defeated Lakeside Lightning (79)

The Rockingham Flames didn't have Amy Atwell, but added MVP's Teige Morrell and Sami Whitcomb with the latter putting in a dazzling display for 42 points and 16 rebounds in the 107-79 home opening win against the Lakeside Lightning.

Whitcomb won two MVP awards and helped Rockingham to two championships as a kickstart to her WNBL, WNBA, Australian Opals and European career since, but Perth is home for her and wife Kate Malpass and their young family, and she's back at the Flames to open the 2026 season.

While Atwell was unavailable this weekend for the home opener while on Australian Gangurrus 3x3 duties, not only did Rockingham bring in Whitcomb, but also the reigning MVP Morrell who has made the move to the Flames in 2026 alongside coach David Morrell.

Whitcomb then already had 15 points in the first quarter on Saturday night and the Flames would hold a double-figure lead most of the way against Lakeside before then putting up 29 points to 13 in the last quarter to score the eventual 28-point win.

Whitcomb finished with 42 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and two steals on 15/24 field goal shooting while going 3/9 from downtown and 9/11 at the foul line with Rockingham +31 in her 34 minutes.

Morrell also had 16 points and eight rebounds on debut for Rockingham against her former team while captain Shani Amos was +34 in 31 minutes with her eight points, six assists and four rebounds.

Stefanie Berberabe also had 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, Paris Duffield 11 points on 3/3 three-point shooting, and Paris Spencer 11 points on 4/6 shooting from the floor.

Sarah Allen made 5/11 three-point territory for 17 points with Regan Turnour-McCarty having nine points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Sam Lubcke top-scored with 20 points and nine rebounds on 9/12 shooting with Sam Roscoe delivering 12 points, two rebounds and two assists, and Esmeralda Morales 12 points and six assists.