'Pink Perth' powers to 19-point win in Sydney

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It was all for Tiana Mangakahia. WNBL fans showed out for the fourth Pink Hoops and Perth Lynx guard Alex Ciabattoni ended up with the pink basketball player of the game award after the road team simply had too much for the Sydney Flames 76-57 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sunday on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

Pinks Hoops is an annual event for both the Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames, now in partnership with The McGrath Foundation, in support of cancer research.

Mangakahia passed away aged last September. She played for the Sydney Flames in the WNBL and was integral to Pink Hoops.

basketball.com.au editor Brayden Haslehurst wrote: "She was a fighter until the end and spent her final days doing the only thing she loved more than basketball — enjoying time with her friends and family. Tiana was, I'm sorry, Tiana is and will continue to be an inspiration to so many people for a long time to come — an impact I don't even think she realised the extent of.

"You can see how many lives she has touched by those who have paid tribute to her after her passing. From the greatest to ever do it in Lauren Jackson, to current NBA superstar Josh Giddey, there were no limits to the impact Tiana had. While the slogan to support Tiana during her battle was #Tough4T, the one thing that is certain is those who knew her are tougher BECAUSE of T."

The Lynx were without Chinese star Han Xu, who was in the stadium, with back soreness while head coach Ryan Petrik travelled to Sydney without his coaching staff.

Ciabattoni was outstanding pouring in 16 points, grabbing six boards and handing out five assists.

Key Details

• Result: Perth Lynx 76 def. Sydney Flames 57
• When: 25th of January 2026
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Attendance: 6,447
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Stephanie Gorman (Perth Lynx): 17 points │ 3 steals │ +23 plus/minus in 22 minutes
• Alex Ciabattoni (Perth Lynx): 16 points │ 6 rebounds │ 5 assists │ 1 block │ Efficiency: 23
• Anneli Maley (Perth Lynx): 13 points │ 16 rebounds │ 2 steals │ 1 block
• Shaneice Swain (Sydney Flames): 20 points │ 7 rebounds │ 2 assists
• Unique Thompson (Sydney Flames): 13 points │ 10 rebounds

What Happened

The Sydney Flames started strong, outscoring the Lynx 21-15 in the first quarter behind Swain’s aggressive drives and Thompson’s work in the paint. Sydney’s early nine-point lead midway through the second period was their largest of the contest, fuelled by a six-point scoring run.

Momentum shifted in the second quarter as Perth Lynx’s defence clamped down, holding Sydney to just 12 points. Ciabattoni and Maley began to assert themselves, with Perth matching Sydney’s output for a 30-33 halftime deficit. The Lynx’s ability to clean the glass, especially on the defensive end, set the tone for the rest of the match.

The third quarter proved decisive. Perth came out firing, led by Gorman’s three triples from outside and Ciabattoni’s relentless drives. The Lynx exploded for a dominant 24-8 period, including an 11-point scoring run that flipped the contest. Gorman’s triple at the 6:44 mark extended the lead to double digits, and Maley’s putback pushed the margin to 13 as the Flames struggled to find answers offensively.

Sydney’s shooting woes continued in the second half, connecting on just eight points in the third quarter and finishing the night at a lacklustre 30.2% from the field and a dismal 16.7% from deep (four-from-24). The Flames also struggled to control the ball, committing eight turnovers that led to five Lynx points from turnovers.

Perth’s offensive efficiency was the difference. The Lynx shot a solid 50% from the field (22-from-44) and connected on nine triples at a 25% clip. Their rebounding dominance (60 boards to Sydney’s 53) and second-chance points (10 to Sydney’s 13) reflected their superior effort inside. Maley’s 16 boards and Morris’s 13 were instrumental in limiting Sydney’s second-chance opportunities.

Defensively, Perth’s rotations forced Sydney into tough looks and stifled their perimeter attack. The Lynx also tallied four blocks and six steals, with Gorman’s three swipes setting the tone on the perimeter. The Lynx’s balanced attack saw five players score at least eight points, a testament to their full team effort.