Women's Teams of the Week - April 19

Each week the NBL1 will put a spotlight on a women’s and men’s team from each conference for a major performance, a big win or a special occasion for the club.

Vote who you think was the NBL1's Team of the Week here. 

See the women's Teams of the Week below: 

NBL1 North: Darwin Salties 

The Darwin Salties have started off hot at home with a 3-0 start across the first three rounds. 

NBL1 North expert Jon Guarna warned the road will get tougher for the Salties as after a bye in Round 4, they will be on the road for a significant stint.

Their next two games will be on the road against the Cairns Dolphins and the Townville Flames, featuring the dynamic duo of Penina Davidson and Shanceice Swain and the reigning NBL1 North champions. 

But the Team of the Week has been dominant so far, Erin Bollmann had a triple-double while four other players were in double-digit scoring against Rockhampton last weekend to maintain the undefeated streak. 

NBL1 East: Sydney Comets 

The inaugural club has made an impact early this season with a 6-0 start in the women’s division. Recruiting well in the offseason by hiring Opals legend Shelley Gorman as coach and then bringing in Sydney Flames players Vanessa Panousis and Jada Crawshaw -- the team was looking at a Finals position from day one. 

However, the team’s aspirations changed from Finals to Grand Finals when they inked Opals star Shyla Heal for the season. In a 2-0 weekend, Heal averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and eight assists to put the Comets as the team to beat this season. 

NBL1 South: Eltham Wildcats

The Wildcats brought back their hometown hero and WNBL MVP Anneli Maley into the team for a short stint before she head’s off to the WNBA with the Chicago Sky for training camp. 

Related: Maley credits her Opals success to Eltham

In her return, she dropped an insane 24 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four steals in the seven-point win over the Launceston Tornadoes in front of the Eltham faithful. 

If Maley isn’t signed by the Sk for the rest of the season, she will return to the NBL1 for the remainder of the 2023 season. Either way, it represents everything we all love about the NBL1 and that’s why Eltham takes the top spot for South this week. 

NBL1 West: Player of the Week! 

The Danish import Sarah Mortensen had an outstanding game for the Cockburn Cougars over the Lakeside Lightning on Friday. Mortensen led the team with 34 points, 12 rebounds and three assists to get the win. 

The women’s Cougars sit 3-0 to start the season and Mortensen has a lot to do with that, making them the Team of the Week! 

NBL1 Central: Forbes breakout performance 

Holly Forbes had a career-high on Saturday last week, dropping 26 points with eight rebounds against the Central District Lions to give the Panthers their third win of the season. 

On The NBL1 Show, NBL1 Central Expert Tristan Prentice broke down what the Panthers have been doing well below: