Basketball On The Internet.

CALL them pundits, experts, WNBL watchers but the truth is most everyone without a team-based bias had the Han Xu-boosted Perth Lynx playing Townsville Fire for the championship long ago, with only Kelsey Griffin's classy defending champion Bendigo Spirit also in the conversation as the "what if" possibility.

Congratulations definitely are in order for Southside Flyers and especially their coach Kristi Harrower for extending the semi final series to the three-game distance after copping a 28-point belting in Game 1.

After the abject humiliation of trailing 0-17 in Townsville in that series opener, then 6-23 at the first break, 19-43 at halftime and ultimately pummelled 88-60, her adjustments, notably starting Haylee Andrews and insisting on ball movement - the Flyers had 35 assists on 41 made baskets - were solid gold.

Cayla George played her best game in about three years for 32 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and two steals - albeit with the usual five turnovers - and Maddi Rocci produced arguably the best all-around performance of her stellar career.

Her 24 points at 67 per cent, 11 assists, two steals and four rebounds didn't fully tell the story of her poise, tempo control, defence and leadership.

Andrews, Haley Peters, Isabelle Bourne and Tera Reed all came through and the 109-89 Game 2 win most definitely was Southside's high point of the 2026 season.

But despite George's alleged "mic drop moment" in attacking those who were pumping a Perth-Townsville Championship Series, Southside had its chances but could not overcome the Fire in Game 3.

In the other half of the semi final draw, Perth took care of business over the Spirit with a 2-0 sweep, winning at home by 10 and on the road by five to guarantee us the Perth-Townsville finale.

Izzy Borlase and Kelsey Griffin were outstanding as Bendigo fought to the finish, the league's 21-year-old MVP averaging 22.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists across the two matches.

Han Xu, with a 25-point, 14-rebound contribution revealed again she is not merely a star in the WNBL but an international superstar who can raise the level of her game as required.

Her upcoming battles with the Fire's Alicia Froling and Alex Fowler should be something to see, Froling the unsung heroine of Townsville's semi final success.

Showing the class of a league MVP and multiple championship winner, Griffin could not have been more gracious in her post-series praise for Lynx playmaker Alex Ciabattoni.

“If I had a young daughter, that is somebody I want you to emulate after," the five-time WNBL champion and multiple Rachael Sporn Medallist said of her fellow All-WNBL Second Team member.

Griffin also admitted she voted Ciabattoni for First Team selection as well, revealing how much she admires how she handles herself on and off the court.

Now that was a true and epic mic drop moment, acknowledging a player who is largely in the shadow of bigger name teammates Anneli Maley, Alex Wilson, Amy Atwell and, of course, Han Xu.

Let the Grand Finals begin - as predicted.

WNBL SEMI FINALS

Townsville Fire v Southside Flyers (1 v 4)

Game 1: Fire 88 (Ellis 20, Froling 17, Fowler 16, Sowah 12; froling 8 rebs; Olsen 7 assts) d Flyers 60 (Bourne 14, George 12; George 10 rebs; Rocci 4 assts) at Townsville Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 3,675

Game 2: Flyers 109 (George 32, Rocci 24, Peters 17, Bourne 11; George 11 rebs; Rocci 11 assts) d Fire 89 (Sowah 27, Froling 19, Woods 15; Froling 7 rebs; Woods 5 assts) at State Basketball Centre. Crowd: 2,014

Game 3: Fire 84 (Froling 26, Woods 19, Sowah 18, Ellis 13; Fowler, Froling 9 rebs; Olsen 5 assts) d Flyers 74 (George 25, Rocci 20, Bourne 13; Bourne 8 rebs; Rocci 8 assts) at Townsville Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 3,475 Townsville wins series 2-1

Perth Lynx v Bendigo Spirit (2 v 3)

Game 1: Lynx 86 (Maley, Wilson 24, Atwell 17, Xu 12; Maley 13 rebs; Maley, Wilson 5 assts) d Spirit 76 (Borlase 22, Wehrung 14, Pollerd 12, Griffin, McConnell 10; Borlase 16 rebs; Borlase 7 assts) at Perth High Performance Centre. Crowd: 2,178

Game 2: Lynx 81 (Xu 25, Maley 22, Atwell 14; Xu, Maley 14 rebs; Wilson 6 assts) d Spirit 75 (Borlase 23, Griffin 18; Griffin 15 rebs; Borlase 8 assts) at Red Energy Centre. Crowd: 1,355 Perth wins series 2-0