ADL boss on Mitchell exit: 'It’s been a tough 24 hours'

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Adelaide Lightning CEO Melanie MacGillivray fronted up — alongside captain Steph Talbot — and said the club was "committed to driving a culture of high performance, respect and integrity" after parting ways with head coach Kerryn Mitchell just 24 hours before brutal 26-point WNBL26 home loss to league leaders Townsville Fire in Adelaide on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

"It’s been a tough 24 hours," MacGillivray said.

"No one’s denying that. What I will say is the matter that has been undertaken was done with sincere consideration and supported by our leadership team, which includes our board and owners. We remain committed to driving a culture of high performance, respect and integrity.

"That underpins everything we do.

"I just want to reassure you and our supporters that our leadership — including the board and ownership — is united in providing the best environment for our players, club staff and supporters."

Mitchell was let go on Monday after the Lightning started the season 3-4 and MacGillivray deflected a question about whether she had spoken to the former head coach since the decision.

"As I’ve said, it’s been a tough 24 hours for all of us," MacGillivray added.

"The matter has been handled with real consideration, and it’s about staying committed to driving a culture of high performance, respect and integrity."

Talbot added: "As Mel said, it’s been tough on everyone. As leaders, our role has been to keep the group together and focused on how we want to play and what we’re working toward."

MacGillivray couldn't and wouldn't be drawn further into why Mitchell was removed. Georgia Booth was named interim head coach and ran the game for the Lightning last night, supported by former Australian Opals captain, South Australian Tess Madgen.

"We made a public statement as part of the club’s rebirth that Tess Madgen would be our special advisor, and she continues in that role," MacGillivray said.

"She sat on the bench as an assistant coach tonight, but that doesn’t change her role within the club. We’ll share more information when appropriate."

The Lightning played its fourth game in 10 days and the timing of getting the Fire couldn't have been worse. Townsville are now 7-1 after dismantling Adelaide 90-64 at SA State Basketball Centre.

"Townsville are playing really well at the moment," Talbot said.

"They’re the standard and the team to beat — they have very good players and are well coached.

"We’ve had a big week — four games in 10 days. Maybe we came in a little tired; I definitely felt heavy in the legs.

"But that’s not an excuse — it’s our job to perform. We wanted to show what we can do, bring energy, fight to the end and stick together. I think we did that. We can hold our heads high, regroup and get ready for Sunday.

"Tonight their defence really pushed us out of what we wanted to run, which let them get easy transition buckets. Offensively, they execute the pick-and-roll really well.

"They move you to create an advantage, then use it. The way they’re playing together is really impressive."

The Lightning are now in a state of flux, determining who it's next coach will be. It will be their fourth head coach in 12 months.

"As to who continues in the role, we’ll let you know at the appropriate time," MacGillivray said.

"Georgia Crouch is a really special story for us. We spoke about it at training this morning.

"Yes, it’s been a tough 24 hours, but we also wanted to celebrate things — and one of those is Georgia.

"Her grandfather, Peter Sexton, was assistant coach to Jan Sterling in 1994 when the team won the championship.

"That’s special for her family and for the club.

"We also had a record Tuesday-night crowd of 1,440. We’re so grateful for the South Australian community who continues to support this team.

"We also celebrated bringing Erin Bollman in tonight as our injury replacement for Serena Sundell, and we’re excited to see how she performs.

"We’re thankful for what I hope becomes a sister-club relationship in New Zealand — the Kahurangi leadership group supporting us at a time of need.

"It shows the basketball community coming together, just like the South Australian community does."

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 90 def. Adelaide Lightning 64
• When: Monday, 25th November 2025, 7:00 pm
• Where: SA State Basketball Centre, Adelaide
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Alicia Froling (Townsville Fire) dominated with 22 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in 34 minutes.
• Sania Feagin (Adelaide Lightning) top-scored with 18 points and three rebounds in 26 minutes.

What Happened

The Fire established early control and never looked back, leading at every change and dominating the Lightning from start to finish. Townsville outscored Adelaide 26-19 in the opening period before extending their advantage to 47-36 at half-time. The third quarter proved decisive as the Fire outscored the Lightning 22-nine to build an insurmountable 69-45 lead heading into the final period.

Alicia Froling was simply outstanding for Townsville, shooting a perfect 7-from-7 from the field while adding eight successful free throws from 11 attempts. The Fire captain's dominant interior presence was complemented by Miela Sowah's 21-point contribution, which included three triples from nine attempts. Alexandra Fowler added 14 points with perfect 8-from-8 shooting from the charity stripe, while Courtney Woods chipped in with 12 points and seven assists.

For Adelaide, Sania Feagin provided the lone bright spot with an efficient 18-point performance on 8-from-12 shooting from two-point range. Captain Steph Talbot contributed 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, but also turned the ball over five times. The Lightning struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm throughout the contest, with only three players reaching double figures.

The Fire's superior shooting was the difference-maker on the night. Townsville shot an impressive 65.79% from the field compared to Adelaide's 48.08%, while also dominating the boards 41-27. The visitors controlled the paint with their size advantage, outscoring the Lightning 50-36 in points from two-point range. Townsville's 89.29% free-throw shooting also proved crucial, converting 25-from-28 attempts at the foul line.

Defensively, the Fire applied consistent pressure throughout, forcing 17 turnovers while committing just 19 themselves. Their ability to limit Adelaide's three-point shooting to a poor 12.5% (two-from-16) effectively neutralised any chance of a Lightning comeback.