Southside Melbourne Flyers: Five things you need to know

• The Southside Flyers have won five WNBL titles
• The Flyers made it to 4 grand finals between 2019 - 2024
• Southside Melbourne was the worst team in the league last season

Once the WNBL’s powerhouse, the Southside Melbourne Flyers enter the 2025-26 season determined to rediscover their winning edge. After making 4 grand finals in 5 seasons, the Flyers crashed to the bottom of the ladder last season. Now under coach Kristi Harrower, Southside Melbourne are looking to rebuild a culture built on pride, discipline, and the roots of their dynasty.

2024-25 Season Summary

• Record (6-15)
• Finish 8th (Missed postseason)
• All NBL Selections: Naz Hillmon (First team)

Determined to ascend to the finals again quickly, the Flyers turned to experience and leadership. Former Opals star Cayla George returns to anchor the frontcourt, while Isabelle Bourne and Haylee Andrews represent the next generation of Australian talent. Tera Reed, a versatile Kiwi guard, adds much-needed scoring punch and defensive grit.

2025-26 Southside Melbourne Flyers Roster

Head Coach: Kristi Harrower

• Maddi Rocci
• Manuela Puoch
• Isabelle Bourne
• Cayla George
• Haylee Andrews
• Carley Ernst
• Tera Reed
• Makenna Marisa
• Izzy Wightman
• Nikita Young

• INS: Isabelle Bourne; Cayla George; Haylee Andrews; and Tera Reed

• ‍OUTS: Dallas Loughridge; and Rebecca Cole

Southside Melbourne Flyers History

The roots of the Southside Melbourne Flyers trace back to 1992, when they entered the WNBL as the Dandenong Rangers. The club quickly became a staple of Victorian basketball, making the grand final in their inaugural campaign. 

Their rise peaked in the mid-2000s, when the Rangers claimed back-to-back WNBL titles in 2004 and 2005 behind Jacinta Hamilton and a squad full of depth and team orientated play. The Flyers did fall short in the 2006 grand final despite winning the minor premiership. 

But it wouldn’t take long for the next Southside Melbourne dynasty to begin. A third championship in 2012 led by Jenna O’Hea and Kathleen Mcleod further cemented their legacy, showcasing the club’s ability to sustain success across eras.

In 2019, long-time supporter and businessman Gerry Ryan purchased the franchise and rebranded it as the Southside Flyers, marking the beginning of a new era. The aim was to represent a broader part of Melbourne’s southeast and modernise the club’s image while maintaining its heritage of excellence. The results were immediate as the team won the title in 2020 with team legend Jenna O’Hea leading the team to one last championship. 

But her departure didn't spell the end of the Flyers reign as imports Kayla Thornton and Mercedes Russell led a fast-paced, fierce playing style to the Grand Final in 2023 and then one step further in 2024, capturing the cities 5th banner.

Five Fast Facts

1. In the third and deciding game of the 2024 grand final series, the Flyers won 115-81 over the Perth Lynx, breaking the record for both the biggest winning margin in a grand final and the highest score
2. Emily McInerny of the Dandenong Rangers a record won 9 DPOYs 
3. Penny Taylor averaged 28.5 points for the Rangers in 2002, the most ever in a season
4. Current Flyer Leilani Mitchell won the WNBA most improved player twice, the only player to do so
5. The Flyers have the most finals appearances out of any team in the 21st century

Club Timeline

• 1992: Dandenong Rangers join the WNBL and reach the grand final in their debut season.
• 2004: Rangers win their first WNBL championship 
• 2005: Go back-to-back, establishing themselves as a league powerhouse.
• 2012: Claim a third championship, marking a new golden era.
• 2019: Rebranded as the Southside Flyers
• 2020: Flyers win their third title and first under the new name
• 2023: Return to the grand final led by imports Kayla Thornton and Mercedes Russell, finishing runners-up.
• 2024: Capture their fifth overall WNBL championship 

After a humbling season, the Southside Melbourne Flyers enter WNBL26 with renewed hunger to restore their championship pedigree. Armed with fresh leadership under Kristi Harrower and a balance of veteran experience and youthful talent, the Flyers are determined to rebuild the winning culture that once defined them. With stars like Cayla George setting the tone and emerging Opals prospects ready to step up, Southside Melbourne is evolving in a new era. 

WNBL Team Profiles

• Adelaide Lightning: Five things you need to know
• Bendigo Spirit: Five things you need to know
• Geelong Venom: Five things you need to know
• Perth Lynx: Five things you need to know
• Southside Melbourne Flyers: Five things you need to know
• Sydney Flames: Five things you need to know
• Townsville Fire: Five things you need to know
• Canberra Capitals: Five things you need to know