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MELBOURNE Boomers and Perth Lynx remain the WNBL's only unbeaten teams after just two rounds, emphasising the contention this could finish as one of the closest seasons in the league's 42-year history.

The Lynx have yet to leave the comfort of home though while Melbourne has yet to experience that, suggesting it may have the upper hand slightly.

Both teams boast outstanding imports who have made a huge difference to their current campaigns.

Southside also enjoyed a solid second round with two road wins against teams likely to be at opposite ends of the final ladder.

Canberra was hanging in bravely with Southside but could not sustain its effort when the Flyers' reinforcements came in and, if anything, even raised the tempo.

Mercedes Russell enjoyed a 20-point, 11-rebound double and Maddi Rocci produced 28 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a high-quality performance.

Jade Melbourne worked hard to keep the Caps competitive but missed three layups in the first quarter, Alex Bunton's 10-point, 10-rebound double-double significant.

Ultimately the Caps were simply overwhelmed by the waves of talent coming at them, Southside clear by as many as 32 points.

SOUTHSIDE FLYERS 104 (Rocci 28, Russell 20, Ernst 14, Puoch 10; Russell 11 rebs; Rocci 7 assts) d UNI of CANBERRA CAPITALS 79 (Sharp 14, Munger, Melbourne 11, Fowler, Bunton 10; Bunton 10 rebs; Melbourne 6 assts) at National Convention Centre. Crowd: 1,498

MILDURA played host to Bendigo's home fixture against powerhouse Sydney where this looked done-and-dusted after the Flames seared the Spirit with a 23-8 second quarter.

But with Mehryn Kraker (14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) leading the charge, Bendigo clawed its way back with a 23-13 third period and Sydney had to dig deep to avoid a second unexpected loss in succession.

The continued absence of Bendigo captain and star forward Kelsey Griffin (hamstring) really stung, though she now looks likely to make her Season 2023-24 debut in the next round.

SYDNEY FLAMES 68 (Nicholson 16, Richards, George 12, Clarke 11, Panousis 10; Richards 12 rebs; Bradley 4 assts) d BENDIGO SPIRIT 62 (Kraker 14, A.Wilson 13, Froling 11, Davis 10; Davis, Kraker 7 rebs; A.Wilson, Kraker 4 assts) at Mildura Sporting Precinct. Crowd: 780

IT came down to an absolute cracker of a finish in Townsville where Southside closed the Fire's unbeaten streak at 17 with a nail-biting 75-74 win.

The Fire led by as many as 10 in the last quarter and after containing the high Flyers' offence to 9 third quarter points, looked every bit in the box seat for their streak to continue.

Sami Whitcomb's shooting may not have been at its most deadly but she had 11 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block in a fine all-around performance, Steph Reid with 18 points and seven assists pacing the Fire.

Townsville still led 67-57 with 6:41 to play and by nine (71-62) at 3:36 on Reid's free throws. But inside the game's final three minutes, Flyers forward Nyadiew Puoch scored eight of her 10 points for the night, dominating and tying it up at 74-74.

Fouled with a heartbeat under 10 seconds left, she converted her first free throw for the lead, Whitcomb snatching the rebound off her missed second to advance the ball forward.

Zitina Aokuso had a clean look for the potential match-saving baseline jumpshot but after it caught iron, Mercedes Russell (22 points, 6 rebounds) grabbed the defensive rebound and Southside had the win clinched. 

SOUTHSIDE FLYERS 75 (Russell 22, Rocci 13, Ernst 12, Puoch, Dickey 10; Russell 6 rebs; Rocci 6 assts) d TOWNSVILLE FIRE 74 (Reid 18, Woods 15, Aokuso 14, Whitcomb 11; Whitcomb 11 rebs; Reid 7 assts) at Townsville Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 2,907

BRIANNA Turner produced her best game of the season with a 14-point, 23-rebound double-double but her Lightning hit the wall in the final quarter in Perth where the Lynx finished over the top with a decisive 26-13 period.

Aari McDonald sizzled for the Lynx with 29 points at 54 per cent, with three 3-pointers and an additional game-high 11 assists to steer Perth to a 2-0 season start.

Adelaide steadily took control of the first period and from 10-10, had the lead out to 27-17 at the first break, Izzy Borlase a big factor.

A 25-17 second quarter from Perth put this back onto equal terms before Adelaide again gained the ascendancy to hold a six-point buffer going into the final quarter.

Baskets by Lauren Mansfield and Borlase ensured the lead still was at seven (79-72) with eight minutes left. Perth then uncorked its best few minutes of the contest, blowing out on a 15-0 run that turned the game on its ear.

McDonald and Anneli Maley hit big threes during the run which finally stopped at 87-79 when Borlase knocked down a basket. But Perth had the momentum and win #2 was minutes from completion.

PERTH LYNX 92 (McDonald 29, Atwell, Maley 17, Potter 13; Maley 13 rebs; McDonald 11 assts) d ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 85 (Borlase 20, Turner, Bourne 14, Mansfield 11; Turner 23 rebs; Mansfield, Turner 5 assts) at Bendat Basketball Stadium. Crowd: 842

WINNING every quarter at Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne left no doubt it is a bona fide contender again, brushing aside Sydney 95-80, import combo guard Jordin Canada alight for 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 13 assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Tera Reed's 19 points came at 85 per cent, with 3-of-4 3-pointers, plus eight rebounds and three assists.

Sara Blicavs' 19 points also included three 3-pointers, with five assists, four rebounds, a steal and a block and Keely Froling was the third Boomer with 19 points, plus six defensive rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.

Joining the team from her AFLW season, Monique Conti played 10:37 for 1-of-1 triples and two assists, Melbourne still also awaiting Kristy Wallace and Aimee Rocci into its primary outfit.

Little separated the teams through the first half before Melbourne's 23-13 third period put some distance between them.

Didi Richards (16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals) brought Sydney to 50-56 from the FT line with six minutes left, but Melbourne bumped that lead out to 61-50.

Kiera Rowe (13 points at 63 per cent) had it back under double figures at 57-66 late in the third but an 8-0 Boomers outburst into the last quarter made it 74-57 and the task was looking too challenging.

That said, Sydney clawed its way back to 76-81 at 3:35 left, before Blicavs, Canada, Naz Hillmon and Reed blew the margin back out.

MELBOURNE BOOMERS 95 (Canada 20, Reed, Froling, Blicavs 19; Reed 8 rebs; Canada 13 assts) d SYDNEY FLAMES 80 (Richards 16, Nicholson 15, Rowe 13, Bradley, George 11; George 7 rebs; George, Bradley 5 assts) at Qudos Bank Arena. Crowd: 2,589