'Alex the Great': Ciabattoni has Cougars rolling

• Ultimate NBL1 2026 Player and Coach Tracker‍
• How to watch every 2026 NBL1 game LIVE and FREE‍
• What is NBL1 and why its important to Australian hoops

WNBL Perth Lynx star Alexandra Ciabattoni and Cockburn stay unbeaten, with Rockingham building as the 2026 NBL1 West women’s race starts to take shape after Round 4.

Cockburn is 4–0 and hasn’t been pushed off its game yet.

They’re scoring, rebounding, and controlling tempo. Right now, they’re the team everyone else is chasing.

The challengers are forming behind them

Warwick, Rockingham and East Perth all sit at 3–1.

They’re close enough to stay in touch, but none have matched Cockburn’s consistency across four rounds.

Cockburn keeps control

Cockburn stayed unbeaten with a 97–85 win over Lakeside, controlling the game from the first quarter.

Cockburn Cougars 97 def. Lakeside Lightning 85 – Watch the Replay

Cockburn scored 31 in the first quarter and never gave the lead back.

Alexandra Ciabattoni led with 25 points on efficient shooting, while Jessie Edwards added 22 points and 12 rebounds, finishing inside.

The Cougars controlled the glass (51 rebounds) and shot 59.5% inside the arc, getting consistent high-percentage looks.

Jaya Scafidi hit four threes for 16 points, and Alira Fotu added a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds).

Lakeside had scoring through Esmeralda Morales (32 points, six threes), but shot 38% overall and couldn’t string stops together.

Cockburn is controlling games, not just winning them.

Rockingham is building

Rockingham backed up its form with a 104–84 win over Goldfields, putting together one of the most efficient offensive performances of the round.

Rockingham Flames 104 def. Goldfields Giants 84 – Watch the Replay

Rockingham built the lead early and carried it through the game, scoring 25, 29 and 26 across the first three quarters.

Teige Morrell led with 24 points and 11 rebounds, finishing inside and controlling the paint.

She had support across the lineup. Stefanie Berberabe and Tiana Wilson-Palmer both scored 22, combining for efficient shooting and spacing.

Rockingham shot 56.5% from the field and 68.3% inside the arc, consistently getting clean looks.

Goldfields had production from Sierra Moore (25 points, 11 rebounds) and Delaynie Byrne (20 points, 14 rebounds), but couldn’t match the efficiency.

Rockingham is building — and doing it with depth.

The middle is still unsettled

Lakeside (3–2) split its weekend and is still trying to find consistency.

Mandurah (2–2) sits just behind, with results not yet separating the middle group.

Bottom group still wide open

Multiple teams sit at 1–3.

No separation yet — but they need wins soon to stay in touch.

What the round told us

• Cockburn is the clear benchmark
• The chasing group is forming but not settled
• Rockingham is trending up
• The middle and bottom are still open

The structure of the ladder is starting to show.

Round 5 Watchlist – West Women

🔥 Game of the Round: Warwick Senators vs Cockburn Cougars

Two top teams.

Warwick win = opens the race
Cockburn win = strengthens control

Top group pressure game

Rockingham Flames vs East Perth Eagles

Both 3–1. Winner holds top-tier position

Round 5 Questions

• Can Cockburn stay unbeaten?
• Who becomes the clear second team?
• Can Rockingham sustain its scoring?
• Who breaks from the middle group?
• Which lower teams find a win?