WNBL 2023-24: Lauren Jackson Returns As Melbourne Boomers Win 77-70 Over Southside Flyers

More than 270 days after her last WNBL game, Lauren Jackson is back. One of the Boomers' MVP hopefuls was the game's most impressive performer.

Exactly 273 days after her initial injury, after undergoing two major operations, and after shedding a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, Lauren Jackson returned to the Australian basketball scene.

There were 3,198 people in attendance at Wantirna's State Basketball Centre on Saturday night to watch the Southside Flyers take on the Melbourne Boomers in the WNBL's season opener. The country's most decorated basketballer came off the bench a little over five minutes into the game.

Despite the return of a legend and the igniting play of new Flyers captain Bec Cole (25 points), the Boomers' newcomers, led by LA Sparks WNBA star Jordin Canada (15 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds) and her Kiwi teammate Tera Reed (18 points), led their side to a 77-70 loss.

LJ stated that she was in better shape now than at any time in the previous five years, despite having had an Achilles rupture on April 4th. This was due to the fact that she had committed herself to a rehabilitation, strength, and conditioning program.

As soon as she put her foot down on the floor, it was immediately obvious.

The Opals' star player was healthy and slim on the court, looking better than she had all season. Her play evoked comparisons to a wild brumby rather than the GOAT, but her reputation precedes her.

Her first basket came quickly after she backed down Boomers' monster Penina Davidson, turned, and rose for a classic LJ turnaround jumper that resulted in nothing but a net.

Even though the legend's four-point night was only four minutes and fifty seconds long, it was more than enough to prove that, at age 42, he still has enough to give.

GRUDGE MATCH

The spectacle was Jackson's homecoming, but the battle that broke out was very remarkable as well.

The Adelaide Lightning blew a 20-6 lead against the Boomers on Wednesday and learned the hard way that you have to finish them off when you get the chance.

The Flyers, however, were not informed. With eight of their first nine points coming from Cole's sizzling shooting, Southside jumped out to an early 12-2 lead.

Canada, however, stood head and shoulders above the rest of the team with her outstanding scoring and passing that helped spark a 24-8 second-quarter dominance that left Southside stunned.

Despite being down 20 points early in the third, the Aqua Girls never gave up and even got within three points late in the game before the Boomers won the free throw battle and pulled away for a seven-point victory.

Cole, the team's captain, put the Flyers on her back and kept them there with five three-pointers, and Russell, who rejoined the team in the middle of the game after sitting out in 2019, scored 15 points and grabbed nine boards.

KIWI CAUSES TERA TO FLYERS

Boomers coach Chris Lucas has relied heavily on Kiwi recruit Reed as a starter in Kristy Wallace's (knee), Aimee Rocci's (concussion), and Mon Conti's (AFLW) absences.

The Tall Ferns wing's deadeye shooting and nose for the board have been game-changing for Melbourne, as she fed off Canada's intensity to score 18 points on 3-for-3 shooting from distance and add to her 10-point, 10-rebound debut against Adelaide.

The Boomers' biggest issue this season was expected to be their lack of height; at 190 centimeters, Davidson is their tallest player, whereas the Flyers fielded combinations that included the 198-centimeter import Mercedes Russell and the 196-centimeter duo of Jackson and Carly Ernst. However, the Boomers beat the Flyers 55-38 on the glass, thanks in large part to the efforts of 188cm frontcourt duo Naz Hillmon (14 points) and captain Keely Froling (11 rebounds).

‘WHY NOT?’: OPALS STARS BACK JACKSON FOR PARIS

—Rebecca Williams

To jumpstart their own Paris campaigns, the Opals' Tess Madgen and Cayla George have signed with the Sydney Flames, while also supporting a possible Olympic role for basketball great and "warrior woman" Lauren Jackson.

Opals captain Madgen and WNBA champion George, both major offseason WNBL movers, swapped the Melbourne Boomers for the Calgary Flames to play under George's previous coach.

After winning the WNBL championship in 2022 with the Boomers and coach Guy Molloy, Madgen and George have decided to reunite with him in Sydney.

Jackson, at age 42, is getting ready to return to the WNBL with the Southside Flyers after an injury that has sidelined her for a significant portion of the season.

Madgen has her sights set on Paris for the 2020 Olympics, but she said she would "definitely" welcome Jackson back for the Opals if the Australian basketball legend opted to try out again.

Madgen added Jackson's leadership and "fierceness" would be crucial, despite the fact that Jackson has stated the Games are not currently in her plans.

"If her body is fit and healthy, then she proved what she could do at the World Cup last year," Madgen remarked.

Having her on the team brings out the best in everyone because of her leadership, knowledge, expertise, tenacity, fierceness, and competitive spirit.

Personally, I think it would be great to have her back in the cockpit since working with someone of her caliber made me a better captain.

What she has been able to accomplish is very remarkable, and I know she has worked very hard to get into the greatest form of her life.

It would be great if we could repeat our 30-point performance from the gold medal game in the Olympics.

Before suffering devastating injuries to her foot and Achilles, Jackson appeared to have rediscovered her old form with a 30-point performance in the Opals' bronze-medal play-off at last year's FIBA women's World Cup in Sydney.

George also gave her pitch for a Jackson Games match shortly after winning the WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces. In addition, she recently participated in the Jackson Games.

"LJ has been working so hard, and if she is good enough to make it, and she is fit enough, and her body is OK, then why not?" George added.

"She is an unbelievable legend, and she would always say that she is playing on borrowed time. Then she got those terrible injuries, and everyone thought she was done. Here she is, though, back competing once more.

She is a fierce female warrior. Having someone like her on the bench to impart her experience and knowledge is invaluable, even if she does not play as prominent a role as she did when she was younger. In our bronze medal game against Canada, she came in and scored 30 points, bringing out some old-school LJ.

That's more than we could have asked for, so long as we get even a few classic scenes.

Last year, Madgen's WNBL season was cut short after only one game due to a knee injury. This year, she will make her debut with the Flames.

She became well in time to help the Opals win bronze at the Asia Cup in Sydney in June and July.

Madgen stated that the opportunity to play under Molloy again was a major factor in her decision to relocate ahead of an Olympic year, as the coach brought out the "best" in her.

To continue developing as a player, I knew I needed to move. Madgen explained her decision by saying, "I wouldn't keep playing if I didn't think I could get better."

I had a great time under Guy's tutelage, so when I heard he was a candidate for the Sydney coaching position, I jumped at the chance. I couldn't really wait to get there and be coached by him.

"He is without a doubt the coach that brings out the best in me, and with the following year being an Olympic year, I want to do everything that I can to put my best foot forward for the purpose of being selected for that."

"I absolutely believed that I would retire as a Boomer, but I just felt like I needed a change, and I believed that the time was right for it." Although I now devote all of my attention to basketball, when I lived in Melbourne, I worked quite a few other jobs to augment my income. But at this point, I want to express my gratitude to the Flames for giving me the opportunity to play basketball professionally full-time.

In addition to wishing to keep her on-court contacts with long-time teammate Madgen before the Games, George added that playing for Molloy again was a big factor in her change. She also said that she wanted to keep her game sharp by playing for Molloy again.

"Guy definitely keeps me accountable and allows me to add things to my game and he pushes me to be a better leader and a better player as well, so that's definitely a huge reason why I wanted to go to Sydney," George said. "I am a young springbok at 34 and I will continue to keep learning."

And Tess, I've played with her for over two decades, ever since we were under-14s together in the Eastern Mavericks in Mount Barker. Simply put, I admire her work ethic, and I believe that I bring out the best in her.

After our success at the World Cup last year, prospects are bright. We've been medal-less in the last two Olympics, but we've been winning medals in the meantime, so I'm optimistic that we'll be back on the podium in Paris.

LIGHTNING’S FATAL MISTAKE AS BOOMERS RIDE PENINA POWER

Michael Randall

Don't squander your opportunity to defeat the Melbourne Boomers.

The Adelaide Lightning found this out the hard way in the 2023–24 WNBL season opener, when they jumped out to a 20–6 lead before being devoured by the depleted visitors 68–60.

Coach Chris Lucas was ecstatic after his team overcame a 14-point deficit and won on the road despite missing key players Opal Kristy Wallace (knee), recruits Aimee Rocci (concussion), and Mon Conti (AFLW). The Boomers fielded a total of nine players (including development player Lilly Rotunno and injury replacement Sherrie Calleia).

"Really pleased with our group, but it wasn't pretty basketball and we know we're a long way off," Lucas said on the ESPN broadcast.

Despite poor beginnings from top newcomers Sara Blicavs and Keely Froling and highly-rated import Jordin Canada (0-6 in the first half) enabled the Lightning had an early advantage. Jocelyn Willoughby (14 points, team high) and Brianna Turner (15 rebounds, 8 assists) of Adelaide's import squad made the most of their opportunity. Captain Lauren Mansfield scored all nine points in the first half.

After falling behind by nine points at halftime, the Boomers turned up the defensive pressure, while Canada and the Blicavs (12 points) found their footing.

However, the Lightning had no answer for Penina Davidson, who scored seven consecutive baskets for the Boomers during a 25-13 third quarter that changed the game's trajectory and gave the visitors a three-point advantage going into the final break.

Tonight, she was amazing. And this is certainly her best," Lucas remarked of his game-winning workhorse, whom he has had for three preseasons.

Blicavs, who had sat most of the fourth quarter with four fouls, splashed a three, then Canada sliced and diced her way to the cup with an athletic finish, and the Boomers were on their way. Rising Lightning star Izzy Borlase had retaken the lead with four minutes left on a tough finish.

Davidson concluded her bench role with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and her good friend and fellow New Zealander Tera Reid did the same in her Boomers debut with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Import Naz Hillmon scored 14 points to lead Melbourne and keep them close in the first half.

Canada, a standout player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, started her career in the WNBL with six points and eight assists. She appeared more at ease as the game progressed, dictating the game's late procedures with her deft handles and precision passing.

The Boomers dominated the Lightning on the offensive glass, outscoring them 21-10, which resulted in 17 second-chance points to just seven for the Lightning. This was the decisive factor in the game.

DEPLETED BOOMERS

After Wallace suffered a knee injury in September while playing in the WNBA, the Boomers will need to figure out how to get through at least the next month without her.

While shooting a free throw during Indiana's game against the Dallas Wings on September 4, Wallace staggered off the court and had to be carried to the locker room.

The Boomers will be extremely careful with Wallace's return despite her being an All WNBL First Teamer after she averaged 15.8 points (seventh) and 5.5 assists (fourth) the previous season. Both of Wallace's ACL tears occurred in the same knee.

To put it another way, "Wally, we're just going to take our time until she's right. It's a big year for her," Lucas said.

Conti, one of the top five contenders for the AFLW's best and fairest award, won't be able to join the Boomers until next week after she finishes her responsibilities with Richmond, which plays Collingwood in the season finale on Sunday.

Rocci had a concussion in a training accident earlier this week and is now participating in league protocols. Her return date is unclear since she will need to pass multiple checks to be fit to play.

NICE PASS FOR THREE

Basketball is a hilarious sport. Isabelle Bourne, a young gun with lightning quickness, missed all three of her 3-point shots in the opening period. Her first make from deep came early in the third quarter, and she wasn't even trying. The 22-year-old player grabbed a pass on the right wing and attempted to lob it to Turner, who was racing for the basket. The ball, however, banked in for a three-pointer. The box score only shows that you obtained them; it doesn't specify how you got them.

COLOUR CLASH

For the first time, the WNBL joined forces with the NBL to celebrate Indigenous people during Round 1. However, a last-minute decision was required regarding the Boomers' Indigenous jersey after it was determined that the colors clashed with the Lightning's uniforms. Even though the game was on Wednesday, the uniforms didn't show up until Tuesday. The Boomers will play Southside on Saturday and again on December 3 while wearing Indigenous-themed uniforms.