Fire lock in Championship core

Fresh off delivering the Townsville Fire’s latest WNBL Championship, Head Coach Shannon Seebohm has wasted no time locking in the heart of his title-winning roster.

The Fire have secured a major early win ahead of free agency, re-signing Courtney Woods, Alicia Froling, Abbey Ellis and Alex Fowler for the WNBL27 season.

With Miela Sowah accepting her player option and Chloe Forster already contracted on a two-year deal, the Championship-winning side has retained six players from its title team before the off-season player movement period has even begun.

After a historic 2-0 Championship Series sweep over the Perth Lynx, Seebohm has moved swiftly to retain key pillars of the Fire’s success, including Finals MVP Courtney Woods and overtime hero Miela Sowah, as preparations for a title defence begin.

Woods delivered a career-best season as the conductor of the league’s most potent offence, averaging a personal-high 6.1 assists per game and claiming the Golden Hands award.

But when the Finals arrived, the guard elevated her game even further.

Woods transformed into Townsville’s go-to scorer, averaging 25 points per game across the Championship Series, 10 more than her season average, while also delivering crucial defensive plays in the title-clinching win over Perth.

“I’m so grateful to continue playing with the Fire. This club has provided the skill set, guidance and environment to make dreams I didn’t even consider possible come true,” said Woods.

“I hope to continue playing in this town with my friends for as long as I can.”

Another key piece of Townsville’s Championship story was Miela Sowah, who produced one of the most memorable moments of the season.

The Opals guard averaged a career-high 17.8 points this season and delivered when it mattered most, scoring nine points across the fourth quarter and overtime of Game Two to secure the title on her old home court.

Meanwhile, forward Alex Fowler’s rise continues beyond the WNBL season, with the Fire Champion set to represent Australia in the Opals squad at the upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

The Townsville junior turned WNBL Champion said bringing another title to her hometown made the moment even more special.

“Being able to represent my hometown is something that means so much to me, so I’m incredibly proud to be re-signing with the Townsville Fire for another season,” she said.

“To win a championship here, for our community was such a special moment, and it makes me even more excited about what we can continue to build together. There’s something really special about playing for the place you grew up in, surrounded by people who have supported you throughout your journey.”

The Championship celebrations are set to continue in North Queensland, with thousands of fans expected to line the streets for Sunday’s parade after nearly 4,000 supporters packed out Game One of the Championship Series.

And with the core of the roster already secured, Fire fans have even more reason to celebrate.

Five-time Coach of the Year Shannon Seebohm believes the early retention of his Championship group provides a major advantage heading into next season.

“To already have six players returning from our Championship team is incredibly exciting for our program,” he said.

“Continuity is a major advantage in this league, and having that core group back gives us a strong platform as we look to build on what we achieved last season.”

With their coaching staff locked in and more than half their Championship roster already secured, the Fire have laid an early foundation for a WNBL27 title defence, signalling their intent to remain the team to beat in the league.