Bourne's supremacy gives Flames best start in 15 years

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Australian Opals star Issie Bourne admitted the Sydney Flames “have some clunky parts about our game” despite starting a WNBL season 3-0 for the first time in 15 seasons after a professional 82-70 win against UC Capitals in Round 2 on Friday, October, 2023, 2026 in Sydney.

Bourne scored her 1,000th career point on a lay-up with 4:25 to go in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 24 (11-for-16), nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block to be +13 in 34 minutes.

“Really good,” 25-year-old Bourne said about the feeling inside the Flames camp.

“It’s nice to know we have so many weapons on our team and that anyone can step up on any night.

“I got some fantastic passes, so credit to my teammates for getting me the ball.

“When I’m wide open under the ring, it’s not an easy pass to make. Really, credit to my teammates for getting me the ball.”

She is the 190th player in WNBL history to score 1,000 points.

It’s the first time the Flames have been unbeaten after three games to start a season since 2011-12, when they notched their third win against West Coast 71-55 on October 16, 2011.

Flames head coach Renae Garlepp has rebuilt the WNBL27 version, bringing in Bourne, Jaz Shelley, Ally Wilson, Chinese international Yang Shuyu, and college star Charlise Dunn to support perennial star guard Lauren Nicholson.

“We still have some clunky parts about our game, but I think that’s normal,” Bourne said

“We have quite a few different pieces coming in, and it was Ally’s first game tonight.

“Once we figure each other out a bit more, get a bit more consistent and play 40 minutes, I think there are really exciting things ahead.”

The Flames had an exceptional 27 assists on 29 made field goals (93%), with multiple dimes ending with a Bourne layup.

“Issie had a great game,” Garlepp said.

“She plays with so much composure and is such a great offensive player. We did a really good job finding her today.

“Like Issie just touched on, the continuity and how we play with each other is going to take time.

“For this group to have 27 assists tonight, I felt the guards did a really good job finding Issie, and she did a great job sealing and finishing. She was awesome tonight.”

Caps head coach Paul Goriss conceded Canberra should have done a better job on Bourne.

“I think it’s not a challenge if you pressure somebody when they get the ball,” Goriss said.

“I wasn’t really happy with how we defended her at all.

“Obviously, Bourne is a tremendous player. Can play inside and out, good athlete, post up, put it on the floor a little bit, shoot the three.

“I just wasn’t really happy with how we defended her at all.”

What you need to know

• The Sydney Flames beat the UC Capitals 82-70 at Quaycentre in Round 2 of WNBL27 on Friday, October 23, 2026, in front of 2,072.
• Sydney won all four quarters, 23-19, 21-17, 19-17 and 19-17, despite trailing 12-4 early and seeing an eight-point half-time lead become a 48-45 deficit in the third, before Alex Wilson's three tied it and Isabelle Bourne's layup put them ahead to stay.
• Bourne top-scored with 24 points and nine rebounds on 11-from-16, while Nyadiew Puoch led Canberra with 19 points and nine rebounds on 6-from-14, including 5-from-9 at the line.
• The game was won inside the arc, where Sydney made 22 two-pointers from 38 attempts to Canberra's 12 from 31, a 44-24 split in a 12-point game.
• Canberra made more threes, 10-from-30 to 7-from-26, but turned it over 19 times against 14 Sydney steals, and Sydney assisted on 27 of their 29 baskets.

Sydney Flames

• Isabelle Bourne top-scored with 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals on 11-from-16, and her layup from a Jazmin Shelley steal with 4:32 left in the third put Sydney ahead for good.
• Lauren Nicholson added 20 points and two steals on 8-from-13, including 2-from-5 from three, in 31:44.
• Jazmin Shelley had 10 points, five assists, three steals and two blocks on 2-from-8, including 2-from-7 from three and 4-from-4 at the line.
• Agnes Emma-Nnopu had eight points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench on 2-from-6, with 3-from-4 at the line, and Sydney were plus-13 in her 28 minutes.
• Alex Wilson had eight points and five assists off the bench on 3-from-7 in 17:35, and Sydney were plus-6 in her minutes.
• Maya Dodson had five points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks on 2-from-3 in 20:43.
• Charlise Dunn had three points and six rebounds, three of them offensive, on 0-from-4 with 3-from-4 at the line in 14:49 off the bench.
• Sydney shot 29-from-64 from the field, 7-from-26 from three and 17-from-23 at the line, with 42 rebounds (11 offensive), 27 assists, 14 steals, eight blocks and 15 turnovers.

UC Capitals

• Nyadiew Puoch top-scored with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks on 6-from-14, including 2-from-5 from three and 5-from-9 at the line, with four turnovers.
• Amy Atwell scored 18 on 5-from-14, including 4-from-13 from three and 4-from-5 at the line, in a team-high 35:24.
• Megan McConnell had 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals on 5-from-6, with 3-from-4 at the line, but turned it over four times.
• Manuela Puoch had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists on 3-from-9, with 4-from-4 at the line and four turnovers.
• Nicole Munger scored six off the bench on 2-from-8, both makes from three, and Canberra were minus-16 in her 19:18.
• Sharne Robati started and had three rebounds in 15:52 without scoring, going 0-from-3, and Canberra were plus-7 while she was on the floor.
• Isabel Palmer had two points on 1-from-4 off the bench in 9:54, with three fouls.
• Canberra shot 22-from-61 from the field, 10-from-30 from three and 16-from-22 at the line, with 36 rebounds (10 offensive), 15 assists, six steals, three blocks and 19 turnovers.