'So much fun': Ellis on the joy of playing for the Fire

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• Seebohm’s Fire: Depth, defence & two new sparks

Townsville star Abbey Ellis walked the talk in front of almost 3,000 fans as the Fire demolished UC Capitals 101-61 at the Townsville Entertainment Centre in Round 6 of WNBL26 on Saturday, November 22, 2025.

Ellis had 15 points on 6-from-7 from the field, grabbed four boards, dished six assists and two steals in just under 24 minutes for the league leading 6-1 Fire.

"It’s just so much fun to play," Ellis said.

"Being at home gives you that extra bit of energy. We started off as the aggressor on both ends — making sure everyone gets a touch offensively, and then defensively having early talk and being physical. It flowed from there. It was very fun to watch and to be part of.

"It’s what they (fans) deserve. They support us every week, and we’ve been away for so long.

"They deserve to see us show out here. It’s a fun brand of basketball to watch and to play. Kudos to coach Shannon (Seebohm) — we prepare really hard during the week. Practice is hard, and the reward is the game, enjoying the wins, and enjoying how we play.

"We’ll take confidence from this game. The defensive energy was great. Last game against Adelaide a few of their players had high-scoring nights, so we really want to hone in on that.

"But we’ll just focus on our brand of basketball, control what we can, and play hard.

Seebohm praised Ellis as six Townsville players were in double figures: Courtney Woods (18); Ellis (15); Lucy Olsen (15); Miela Sowah (14); Alicia Froling (14); and Alex Fowler (13).

"I have to give credit to Abbey," Seebohm said.

"The way she started defensively set the tone for everybody. Her full-court pick-ups of Jade Melbourne, the pressure, all the things we’ve been talking about for her development… I thought her defence — getting around ball screens, staying in plays — really got everyone else going.

"That allowed us to get off to a pretty quick start, and it just flowed from there.

"We talked last week about being a team with multiple contributors. It’s hard to key in on one person. I don’t see us having someone drop 30+ consistently.

"We’re best when we share the ball, execute, and keep finding where teams are helping from and who they’re helping off.

"I feel like we’ve done that pretty well the last couple of weeks.

"I’m sure Canberra would be disappointed, but I was expecting them to be fired up.

"Earlier in the season we had a similar margin against them, so we knew they’re a proud team with great players — two Opals, Olympian-type players. Anytime you face that sort of team you’ve got to be ready to play at your best, and I felt like we did that today."

The Capitals slipped to 2-5 and a half-game behind the Lightning, who are fifth.

Key Details

• Result: Townsville Fire 101 def. UC Capitals 61
• When: Friday, 22nd November 2025
• Where: Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville
• Attendance: 2,903
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Courtney Woods (Townsville Fire) starred with 18 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two fouls drawn in 27 minutes.
• Jayda Clark (UC Capitals) scored 10 points and had one assist in 20 minutes.

What Happened

The Fire established complete control from the opening tip, building a commanding 26-18 lead after the first quarter and never looking back. They extended their advantage to 57-31 at halftime before cruising through the second half to secure the emphatic 40-point victory. Townsville's balanced offensive attack proved too much for the struggling Capitals, who managed just 61 points on poor shooting throughout the contest.

Courtney Woods led the Fire's offensive charge with an outstanding 18-point performance, shooting an efficient 4-from-6 from beyond the arc and perfect 4-from-4 from the charity stripe. Abbey Ellis and Lucy Olsen each contributed 15 points in stellar supporting roles, with Ellis shooting a perfect 2-from-2 from downtown and Olsen connecting on 3-from-5 triples. Alicia Froling dominated the paint with 14 points and eight boards, while Miela Sowah added 14 points in the comprehensive team effort.

The Fire's shooting ability was the defining factor in this lopsided affair. They shot an impressive 55.81% from the field (24-from-43) compared to the Capitals' dismal 37.25% (19-from-51). From beyond the arc, Townsville connected on 12-from-26 attempts for a solid 46.15%, while UC managed just 3-from-23 for a woeful 13.04%. The Fire also controlled the charity stripe, converting 17-from-21 attempts at an outstanding 80.95% clip.

Defensively, Townsville's pressure forced the Capitals into difficult shots while cleaning the glass effectively. The Fire out-rebounded UC 54-37, with 15 offensive boards leading to crucial second-chance opportunities. Nyadiew Puoch led the Capitals with five steals but couldn't generate enough stops to slow down Townsville's relentless offensive attack.

For the struggling Capitals, Jayda Clark's 10 points led a lacklustre offensive display that saw them score in single digits during the second quarter. Jade Melbourne managed nine points despite shooting struggles, while Sara Blicavs and Kadiatou Sissoko each contributed eight points in the disappointing defeat. The loss highlighted UC's ongoing challenges on both ends of the court.