Basketball On The Internet.

HAPPY Valentine's Day may have been said a gazillion times today in Australia and across the globe, but for Canberra, if it beats Bendigo tomorrow, it will not only have been a happy day/night for the Capitals but also Melbourne and maybe even Perth, a contender before Aari McDonald was hurt.

Sadly that was long ago and the Lynx, at 9-10 now need to win their last two matches, which IS do-able. They host Canberra this round, then travel to Bendigo in the last round. Then they need other results to fall in their favour.

Melbourne, now 11-8 but down backup big Penina Davidson and 2023-24 "find" in Tera Reed - concussed playing for New Zealand against Puerto Rico - need to beat Adelaide on the road and hope the Spirit (9-9) take a few late lumps.

Bendigo is the only club which owns the season-series (2-1) over the Boomers who have the edge on all the other teams in and around their vicinity - namely Townsville, Southside, Sydney and Perth.

So a Canberra win tomorrow over Bendigo would be well-received by other teams, but unlikely, especially with Opals guard Jade Melbourne virtually straight off the plane home from Brazil.

A new post-Valentine's Day Massacre is a little more on the cards.

Lightning-Boomers in Adelaide on Saturday is huge for the Boomers, Izzy Borlase returning from impressive Opals duty and World Cup All Star Five off guard Steph Talbot even better after resuming last round. 

The evening also launches the "WNBL Trailblazers" initiative conceived by Life Member Tracey Browning, leading to no doubt a big additional crowd for Adelaide's final home game of the season.

Sydney again hosting Southside, with their season-series locked at 1-1, is a monumental clash, made moreso as possibly the last time Flames fans have a chance to see Lauren Jackson in live action.

There's a possibility the Flames and Flyers could meet in the finals, but they just as well may not so this easily could be the very last opportunity to see Australia's greatest ever player - male or female - before she hangs up her boots at season's end.

League leader and defending champion Townsville, regaining Sami Whitcomb and Steph Reid from Opals duty, could be vulnerable to Bendigo which would open the door to losing first place.

The 13-5 Fire after Bendigo have Southside and Sydney to deal with, both those clubs well within range to snatch the highest pedestal.

Big round? You bet.

Oh, and happy Valentine's Day.

ROUND 14 TIPS
Everything points strongly to Bendigo moving to 10 wins at Canberra's expense.
The odds look heavily stacked against Melbourne in Adelaide.
Sydney will welcome LJ for the last time, then spoil the Flyers' celebration.
Townsville at home can put a dent in Bendigo's top-four surge, and should.
Perth has no option. Beat the Caps or 2023-24 is over. A Lynx win looks likely.

WNBL RANKINGS – WEEK 13
This          Last
Week       Week   Club
  1               2        Townsville (13-5) Back where it belongs but with a tough run home.
  2               4        Sydney (11-8) In form at the right end of the season. Look out! 
  3               1        Southside (11-7) Took a burn from Flames last time. Same likely again.
  4               6        Bendigo (9-9) Wind-assisted last round but on a real finals march.
  5               3        Melbourne (11-8) Multiple injuries now threatens to scuttle season.
  6               5        Perth (9-10) It's just about winning, praying and waiting.
  7               7        Adelaide (6-13) Finishing strong and capable of playing spoilers.
  8               8        Canberra (4-14) Elements in place for the future. Just not now.