13
Oct
Explainer
Townsville Fire: Five things you need to know
WNBL powerhouse Townsville Fire, with multiple championships, enters WNBL26 as title favourites
- The Townsville Fire have four WNBL championships
- The Fire lost the Grand Final last season
- Townsville are the favourites to win the title after a great offseason
The Fire are one of the most successful WNBL franchises despite their short history and enter WNBL26 with arguably the best roster in the league. They had the talent last year, coming up just short in the grand final and were the number one defense in the league behind reigning DPOY Lauren Cox.
The Northern Queensland team also added both young Aussie and import talent to push themselves even further away into a tier of their own. A title should be expected this year for the Fire.
2024-25 Season Summary
- Record (15-6)
- Finish 3rd (Eliminated in Grand Final)
- All NBL Selections: Courtney Woods (First team)
Townsville doubled down in the offseason, retaining their core while adding depth and versatility. Lauren Cox re-signed and WNBA rookie Lucy Olson joined, giving Townsville a deadly import duo. The rising All-WNBL Miela Sowah returned to the club as well. This combination gives head coach Shannon Seebohm a deep, balanced squad capable of high-pressure defence and fluid offence.
2025-26 Townsville Fire WNBL Roster
Head Coach: Shannon Seebohm
- Lauren Cox
- Abbey Ellis
- Alex Fowler
- Alicia Froling
- Saffron Shiels
- Courtney Woods
- Miela Sowah
- Chloe Forster
- Dakota Crichton
- Lucy Olsen
- Chantel Horvat
- Piper Anderson
- INS: Miela Sowah; Chloe Forster; Dakota Crichton; Lucy Olsen; and Piper Anderson
Townsville Fire History
The Fire made their WNBL debut in 2001, making them one of the newest teams in the WNBL. The Fire’s early years had limited success, but it was clear a foundation was being built in the small market.
The 2008-09 season was a shifting point for Townsville, as it began the start of a long road of continued success that leads to the present day. Opals stars and Indigenous Australian Rohanne Cox was the league MVP this season and almost gave the Fire their first grand final berth.
After a few more competitive seasons, the Fire took the leap to the big stage making the grand final in 2013 but falling to Bendigo. After this defeat, Townsville were able to poach Suzy Batkovic from the Adelaide Lightning, who many consider to be the greatest player in WNBL history. Batkovic had 2 MVPS when she joined the Fire and would finish her stint with an additional 4, making a total of 6 league MVPS, the most in league history.
Townsville won their first two titles in 2015 and 2016 behind Batkovic’s greatness and a loaded supporting cast that included Cayla George, who would later become a WNBA champion.
Batkovic’s third and final title with the team came in 2018, when they rectified a third place regular season finish to take the title again. Batkovic is a beloved figure in Townsville because of her contributions to the team and the city.
The Fire only had a few down years after Batkovic left, making the Grand Final once more in a shortened 2020 season with a duo of Lauren Nickolson and Shyla Heal at the helm. The team was still missing one more piece to win the title and they found that in 2023 with American import Tianna Hawkins who enabled Townsville to get over the hump for their 4th title in one decade.
Five Fast Facts
- After Townsville won in 2015, it meant that every current WNBL franchise has a championship
- Fire coach Shannon Seebohm has a record 5 coach of the year awards
- Abbey Ellis won breakout player of the year last season for the Flames
- James Cook University is the team’s principal partner
- Batkovic was so popular in Northern Queensland, she was elected Townsville City Councillor in 2020
Club Timeline
- 2001: Club made WNBL debut
- 2013: Reach Grand Final for the first time but lose to Bendigo Spirit.
- 2014: Suzy Batkovic joins the Fire from Adelaide Lightning
- 2015: Win first WNBL championship
- 2016: Back-to-back title, Batkovic earns another MVP
- 2018: Batkovic wins third title with the team
- 2020: Reach Grand Final in shortened season
- 2023: Win fourth WNBL championship
With their core intact, a stacked roster, and the league’s top defence, the Townsville Fire enter WNBL26 with championship expectations firmly on their shoulders, ready to avenge last year’s Grand Final loss. With proven leadership in Shannon Seebohm and a history of turning potential into silverware, the Fire are the team to beat once again.
WNBL Team Profiles
- Adelaide Lightning: Five things you need to know
- Bendigo Spirit: Five things you need to know
- Geelong Venom: Five things you need to know
- Perth Lynx: Five things you need to know
- Southside Melbourne Flyers: Five things you need to know
- Sydney Flames: Five things you need to know
- Townsville Fire: Five things you need to know
- Canberra Capitals: Five things you need to know
