Bourne for this: Issie ready to make jump

All nine WNBL teams have been busy in the off-season, revamping their squad for the fast-approaching 2026-27 season.

None may have been more active than Renae Garlepp and the Sydney Flames. During the off-season, the Flames have recruited strongly, attracting seven new faces to the Harbour City. Headlining that group is Australian Opals forward Issie Bourne, who joined the Flames in May after stints with Adelaide and Southside Melbourne.

"A major key in recruitment for me was who can develop what I'm looking to develop and what kind of coach can provide that for me," Bourne said on The Loop.

"[During my] first chat with Renae, I felt really good about it and everything that she had planned for me and the team.

"Her professionalism [stood out], while also having an exact list of all the key spots that I also wanted to develop, without even talking to her about it.

"She knew what I wanted to develop and could see that, so it was cool that she'd put in the work separately.

"The [other] big key is the people she recruited as well with that team, which really intrigued me.

"By combining all that, it was hard to say no to Sydney."

The other incoming talent that Bourne alludes to includes Jaz Shelley, Charlise Dunn, Maya Dodson, Darcy Rees, Shuyu Yang and fellow Opal Ally Wilson, who the 25-year-old is keen to team up with.

"I've watched Ally for a long time, and I've always wanted to play with her," she said.

"To be on the receiving end of some of her incredible assists, I'm so looking forward to that.

"I love playing [with] point guards that take control of the game, and she does that really well on the court.

"She's a big-time player who has plenty of energy.

"The idea of her leading us is really exciting to me."

Those recruits, along with the returning Lauren Nicholson, Agnes Emma-Nnopu, Issy Morgan and Shaneice Swain, all have that "killer instinct" that Garlepp wants her players to possess.

As such, Bourne is confident the Flames can return to Finals in WNBL27 and play a brand of hoops synonymous with Sydney.

"We're going to be a really exciting, fun team, with high energy," she said.

"[We're aiming] to play a brand of basketball that Sydney can be really proud of."

Bourne and her Flames tip off their WNBL27 season at the State Basketball Centre against the Southside Melbourne Flyers on October 16.

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