Players to Watch in Round 7

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With endless talent on display in WNBL26, check out the must-watch players this weekend below.

Watch every game live and free on 9Now, see the full fixture here.
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With a combined 42 points across Round 6, Olympian Steph Talbot has her footing in WNBL26.

The Captain has led her Lightning through a coaching transition, both on and off the floor. Being more aggressive on offence and maintaining her widely recognised poise and leadership off the court.

With a five-day gap between games, Talbot’s presence and scoring abilities will be essential to Adelaide's maintaining a position in the finals race.

As a three-time Defensive Player of the Year in the NBL1 North and most recently playing in the Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa competition, Erin Bollmann is a proven threat in Oceania.

In her debut against Townsville on Tuesday, Bollmann scored five points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals – translating her reputation as a talent playmaker and lockdown defender to the next level.

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks alum joins the Lightning as a replacement for WNBA guard Serena Sundell, who suffered an ACL rupture in Round 5.
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Chinese superstar Han Xu is set to become one of the biggest box office draws of WNBL26.

As one of China’s most successful players, the two-time Olympian, World Cup silver medallist and multiple-time Asia Cup MVP has proven to be one of the country’s greats at the age of 25. Xu is well-known on the international stage having played three seasons with the WNBA’s New York Liberty. And in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association, Xu is a two-time MVP and back-to-back league Champion in 2023 and 2024.

With Perth establishing themselves as true contenders already, can Xu take Ryan Petrik’s Lynx over the hump?

Young gun Tayli Dimarco will step in to fill the void of Gemma Potter after the guard was ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.

Having excelled as a Victorian junior, representing her state at the past U20’s National Championships, the 18-year-old will step up into a finals contender's side for the remainder of WNBL26.

With four games of experience this season already, Head Coach Chris Lucas trusts the young star to produce at the highest level. With previous experience in the NBA Academy Games and recently committing to Belmont University, Dimarco could be the next best success story from WNBL to the WNBA?

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Coming off a season-high 26 points against Sydney, Opal Isabelle Bourne is entering her prime with the Southside Melbourne Flyers.

Under the mentorship of Cayla George and WNBA forward Haley Peters, Bourne is developing into the Flyers’ go-to option.

Being able to score inside and hit the three, she has become one of the league’s all-around best scorers, averaging 18.5 points per game (fourth in the league).

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