'It's always you': Rocci goes at Fire fan over abuse

• ‍Game 1: Townsville Fire's hot start torches Flyers to take series opener‍
• Game 2: 'Keep your mouth shut': George fires back to force decider
• Game 3: Alicia Froling’s 26 sends Fire through to Grand Final

Southside Melbourne Flyers star guard Maddy Rocci has accused a Townsville Fire fan of ‘targeting” her, Cayla George, and Hayley Peters with abuse during the WNBL26 Semi-Finals Series in Townsville.

Rocci, 27, told Code Sports Basketball: “I was going over there because I saw my dad there and obviously I couldn’t go and grab him because there was a barrier,” Rocci said.

“I was like, dad, dad, and obviously he couldn’t hear me because of what was happening.

“Then (the Townsville fan) looked at me and all I did was say, ‘it’s always you’.”

Rocci, playing her 200th WNBL game, dropped 20 points, had eight assists, three rebounds and a steal in a grinding 84-74 Game 3 loss to the Fire. She confronted the fan after the final buzzer. @herwaysports posted the incident to X. The fan in orange and the is not part of the confrontation.

Her father flew to Townsville to celebrate the milestone. The WNBL revealed “the spectators were subsequently asked to leave the venue.”

“The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) is aware of an incident that occurred at the conclusion of the Townsville Fire v Southside Melbourne Flyers game on Sunday 22 February involving two spectators,” the WNBL said.

“The WNBL Match Day Manager immediately referred the matter to venue security, and the spectators were subsequently asked to leave the venue.

“The matter has been referred to Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit and remains under review.”

Broadcast vision showed Rocci standing on a chair at the Flyers' bench, shouting into the stands.

Rocci reacted when she saw her father involved in a confrontation with other spectators.

“The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) is aware of an incident that occurred at the conclusion of the Townsville Fire v Southside Melbourne Flyers game on Sunday 22 February involving two spectators,” the league said in a statement.

“The WNBL Match Day Manager immediately referred the matter to venue security, and the spectators were subsequently asked to leave the venue.

“The matter has been referred to Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit and remains under review.”

Rocci and George led the Flyers to a famous "keep your mouth shut" Game 2 109-89 win in Melbourne and knew Game 3 on the road would be a challenge — even without the abuse.

“It’s tough to come up here and play,” Rocci said.

“We knew it was going to be a game where we probably had to be up by 10 or 12 to make sure we’d get over the line, especially playing here in Townsville.

“Emotions were high. But the main thing for me was making sure we did everything we possibly could to get the win and get over the line.

“We knew coming down here it was going to be tough, and it was going to be a war.

“Credit to Townsville. They were the minor premiers for a reason, and they got the home court advantage.

“To come here and play Game 3 in Townsville with the crowd and have their crowd behind them, it was tough there in the little bit at the end.

“But I think as a playing group we really showed that we can compete with any team.

“That’s something we can be extremely proud of – that we came into this series and we didn’t give up.

“That’s something we wanted to do as a playing group. I’m extremely proud of everybody, especially to come into this arena and play in front of packed Townsville fans and to go down by 10 in a semi-final series where we probably weren’t expected to even win Game 2.

“So yeah, credit to how we played tonight, but also a massive credit to Townsville.”

Rocci is a three-time WNBL champion and one of the league’s most competitive two-way guards.

Born in Melbourne on June 1, 1998, Rocci began her WNBL career in 2015 before progressing through the BA Centre of Excellence and breaking through with the Canberra Capitals, where she won back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2019–20. She earned All-WNBL Second Team honours in 2020 and was named QSL MVP the same year.

Since joining the Southside Flyers in 2021, Rocci has become a primary playmaker and leader, adding a third WNBL title in 2024. At 169cm, she is known for her defensive pressure, toughness and shot-making ability.

“It’s pretty special to play your 200th game,” she said.

“I just play every season, to be honest.

“I’m never somebody who wants the recognition or plays for my stats.

“I play with a lot of pride. Every time I step on the floor, I do everything I possibly can to help the team.

“I knew it was my 200 games, but for me it was about getting to a Grand Final series.

“To just fall short, it’s pretty upsetting and disappointing.

“But to play 200 games in the WNBL is something I’m very proud of.

“To play it in a Game 3 of a semi-final series, I knew it was either going to go one way or the other.

“I’m extremely proud, and it’s a pretty special feeling to play 200 games.”