Is Lucy Olsen the Championship Series X-factor?

Heading into the Championship Series, the Townsville Fire bring both elite talent and enviable depth and it’s that combination that makes them so dangerous.

Stacked with All-WNBL First Team member Courtney Woods, Second Team member Miela Sowah and 2025 Breakout Player of the Year Abbey Ellis, the Fire boasts one of the strongest guard rotations in the league, capable of impacting the series at every turn. 

However, Townsville Head Coach Shannon Seebobm believes his American recruit, Lucy Olsen, will be the X-factor come Thursday.

“I actually think Lucy Olsen is the X factor for us,” the five-time Coach of the Year said. 

“She's come out and obviously had a quiet offensive series here against Southside, but we know she can definitely score the ball, make big shots, and she's a big game player coming from Iowa and playing in front of massive crowds and all these things in college.” 

While she had a relatively quiet series against the Southside Melbourne Flyers, the WNBA talent has been critical to Townsville’s success. Averaging 8.7 points and 3.3 assists throughout the season, she was awarded the Sixth Woman of the Year honour, leading the league’s best bench. 

Having competed on some of the NCAA’s biggest stages with Iowa Hawkeyes and Villanova Wildcats, Olsen understands what high-stakes basketball demands. She has delivered in hostile arenas, in front of packed crowds and with the season on the line. 

Seebobm believes her experience in those moments will be crucial to winning their second Championship in three years. 

“She's going to be ready for this moment. I think her defence has improved a lot as this season's gone, and she was extremely tough out there for us today and in games one and two. So I think Lucy's going to be an X-factor for us.”

Can the American guard have a season-defining series against the Perth Lynx? The WNBL26 Championship Series starts on Thursday, with the Fire hosting the Lynx from 6:00pm AEST live and free on 9GO! and 9Now. 

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