Crunch Time: The key storylines from Round 4

Tuesday’s thriller between Perth and Bendigo wrapped up a huge Round 4 of the WNBL27 Season, a round full of big-time responses, gritty wins and extended streaks.

Courtney Ward looks at the key talking points from the round just gone.

1 – Three title favourites emerge?

We may only be four rounds into the WNBL27 Season, but there’s already a sense that Sydney, Perth and Townsville could be the teams to beat.

The first two (along with Canberra) have suffered just one defeat to date, while the Fire will be stoked to be 4-2, given their road-heavy schedule and the absence of WNBA champion Miela Sowah.

The scary thing is, it feels like all three have another level to reach once their stars become more comfortable with one another, and the likes of Sowah and Sydney’s Ally Wilson return.

2 – Adelaide finding their mojo

Two weeks ago, things were looking dire for the Adelaide Lightning after a 0-3 start to the season.

But after back-to-back wins, including a 32-point demolition of Tasmania on Saturday, Adelaide seem to have found their groove.

Imports Shay Ciezki and Maddy Westbeld have both acclimatised well alongside Opals duo Zitina Aokuso and Steph Talbot.

With that momentum, and young stars like Tayla Brazel and Jess McDowell-White getting better every week, Aja Parham-Ammar’s side is one to watch.

3 – Fighting Spirit

They may have slumped to a fifth straight loss to start WNBL27 on Tuesday, but the undermanned Bendigo outfit never gave up against Perth.

The whole outlook for Kennedy Kereama’s side is about to change, though, with reigning MVP Izzy Borlase and new signing Kate Martin set to add a huge amount of firepower.

It may seem like they’re behind the eight ball, but Bendigo are still only two wins outside the all-important top five. If they play with the same intensity they showed on Tuesday, combined with their star power, I have a sense they’re going to rack up wins in a hurry.

4 – Road struggles

Through the first four rounds, Tasmania (three), Bendigo (two) and Southside Melbourne (two) have lost all of their road fixtures.

The Flyers haven’t scored more than 69 points on the road this season, despite scoring 73 or more in each of their home games.

The Jewels tell a similar story, averaging 72.5 points on the road compared to 98 on home soil.

To make a Finals push, teams need to win on the road. All three have been down on players and experience, though, and I’m sure they’ll grow as the season goes on.

5 – Stars galore

The 2026-27 MVP race is shaping up as one of the closest in recent memory, and so are the All-WNBL Teams.

Somehow the voting panel has to fit Sydney’s Lauren Nicholson, Jaz Shelley and Issie Bourne, Adelaide’s Shay Ciezki, Zitina Aokuso and Steph Talbot, Perth’s Georgia Amoore and Anneli Maley, Townsville’s Courtney Woods and Abbey Ellis, Southside Melbourne’s Hannah Hank and Tess Heal, Bendigo’s Jade Melbourne and Marianna Tolo, Tasmania’s Steph Reid and Darcee Garbin, Canberra’s Nyadiew Puoch and Amy Atwell, and Geelong’s Han Xu into just 10 spots.

That’s before the likes of Sowah, Borlase, Bec Cole, Maddy Rocci, Martin and Wilson have even made their mark this season, which shows just how much star power there is across this amazing League right now.