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Swain flames Capitals for 19 in 'needed' win
Shaneice Swain of the Flames drives to the bucket during the round four WNBL match between Sydney Flames and Canberra Capitals at Quay Centre on November 6, 2025 in Sydney. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Highlights
Shaniece Swain scored 19 points on return as Sydney beat Canberra 73–64 to move to 2–3
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Sydney's Shaniece Swain told head coach Guy Molloy she was "right to go" yesterday against UC Capitals after missing Sunday's clash against Bendigo with back soreness.
Swain, who was invited to the Los Angeles Sparks' WNBA training camp this year, was. Swain scored a game high points that included five threes to lead the Flames to 73-64 home win against Caps.
"Nineteen points — she’s capable of that anytime," Molloy said.
"She’s really struggled with the back injury; it’s something that can flare up without much notice. She had a couple of good training runs this week — even though shorter — and told me this morning she was right to go.
"She’ll get a lot better yet, but the nineteen points were really helpful."
The Flames moved to 2-3 after five games while the Caps slipped further to 1-3.
"Credit to the team, because going into the game at one-and-three put a fair bit of pressure on everybody," Molloy said.
"We’ve worked overtime on our defence through the pre-season, and I thought we guarded really well.
"They had forty-five points with five minutes to go in the game, so the defence set the game up. I’m really happy with that — happy for the team that they got that reward. Offensively, fair to say we’re still a work in progress, but pleased with the defensive effort.
"If we’d dropped another game or two then the whole mood gets infected by that pressure all the time.
"So yeah — some good relief to actually get that second win, and great confidence for everyone."
Molloy praised the leadership of Lauren Nicholson, Keely Froling and Mikhaela Cann.
"Getting Lauren back was huge, and bringing Keely back with her league experience was really important," he added.
"Then getting an experienced point guard in Michaela — also important. Those three have been a good settling voice for the group.
"Last year we were so injured — I’ve never seen a program like it. We still made playoffs but were basically playing kids.
"It was hard to get where we wanted to go. So yeah, frustrating, but I feel like the program’s in a good place and moving forward. Just looking for continuity.
He was equally impressed with Unique Thompson and former TCU Horned Frogs star Agnes Emma-Nnopu.
"Really impressed with both," Molly said.
"The energy they bring, their defensive application — I really trust what they can do. It’s their rookie year out of college, so there’ve been nerves. This game’s a great confidence builder for them.
"I go back a long way with Agnes — I had her as a development player at the Boomers before she went to Stanford.
"We always knew she’d be a great player. Her college team played a more FIBA-style game, so I thought she’d transition well. She’s worked hard and earned her spot."
Key Details
- Result: Sydney Flames 73 def. UC Capitals 64
- When: 6th November 2025
- Where: Quaycentre, Sydney
- Standings
By the Numbers
- Unique Thompson (Sydney Flames) starred with 19 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 29 minutes.
- Sara Blicavs (UC Capitals) scored 18 points, and had five rebounds, four assists and one steal in 38 minutes.
What Happened
The Sydney Flames established control early, taking a 17-14 lead after the first quarter behind strong defensive pressure. They extended their advantage to 31-26 by halftime, despite shooting just 38.6 percent from the field.
The third quarter proved decisive as the Flames outscored the Capitals 21-12, pushing their lead to 14 points. Swain caught fire from beyond the arc during this stretch, connecting on three triples to help Sydney build a commanding position.
The Capitals mounted a spirited comeback in the final frame, outscoring Sydney 26-21 behind Melbourne's aggressive drives to the basket. However, the Flames' cushion proved too substantial to overcome as Thompson secured crucial rebounds in the closing minutes.
Thompson and Swain both contributed 19 points each for the Flames, with Thompson adding nine rebounds in a dominant interior performance. Swain's perimeter shooting was outstanding, connecting on five three-pointers from 14 attempts while adding four steals on the defensive end.
The difference maker proved to be ball security, with Sydney forcing 27 Capital turnovers while committing 18 of their own. This nine-turnover differential generated additional scoring opportunities that proved crucial in the nine-point victory. The Flames also showed their shot-blocking ability with seven rejections to just one for Canberra.
For the Capitals, Melbourne delivered a solid all-round performance with 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals, while Morrell added eight points and 10 rebounds. However, their efforts weren't enough to overcome Sydney's balanced attack and defensive intensity.
Sydney's three-point shooting proved superior, hitting 11 triples to Canberra's nine. The Flames dominated throughout, leading for over 38 minutes compared to just one minute and 12 seconds for the Capitals.
