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Opinion
The Adelaide Lightning made last season’s semi-finals and took it up to the Flyers, particularly in the first half of Game 1.
There are a number of key departures from that squad. Opal Nicole Seekamp has decided to take some time away from the game, Lauren Nicholson has joined the Townsville Fire, veteran Nat Hurst has retired, and with no imports playing, Brianna Turner – who made the WNBL All Star First team last season – will not return.
The Lightning pulled off a recruitment coup signing Opal Alanna Smith, however she had to withdraw due to an ankle injury.
Steph Talbot is the key player, as the 2013 WNBL Rookie of the Year and a 2020 ALL WNBL Second Team player. She has played with the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA and is now signed with the New York Liberty, as well as in Poland, France and a stint with the Melbourne Boomers.
Talbot is one of the first players picked for the Opals, having played at the World Cup, Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games. Last season, she averaged 13.8 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals.
The Lightning have signed former Perth Lynx guard Marena Whittle, a Nunawading Spectres junior who played college ball with the North Dakota State University Bisons. Last season, Whittle averaged 10.3 points per game and 4.8 rebounds for the Lynx, had a three-point shooting percentage of 43.6 per cent, and received the most-improved player award.
South Australian Alex Wilson returns to the Lightning, where she made her WNBL debut in 2010-2011. Since then, Wilson has won championships with the Townsville Fire and Sydney Uni Flames, and is reuniting with her championship-winning coach from Townsville, Chris Lucas.
Abbey Wehrung joins Adelaide, having averaged 10.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game last season for the Bendigo Spirit. But it is Wehrung’s three-point shooting that will get fans excited, shooting at 44.6 per cent last season.
Experienced centre Louella Tomlinson joins from the Southside Flyers, although she has also played for AIS, Dandenong Rangers, West Coast Waves, Perth Lynx, Melbourne Boomers and Bendigo Spirit. Tomlinson was only a back up for the Flyers last season, but look for her to step up with extended minutes.
This will be Chelsea Brook’s fifth season with the Lightning. She won the Halls Medal for the MVP of the SA Premier League in 2018 as a teenager and averaged Seven points per game and 2.7 rebounds in 2019-20.
Guard Taylor Ortlepp was a development player for the Lightning in 2015-16 at the Norwood Flames and returns to the Lightning after playing for the Boston College Eagles. In 2018-19, as a junior, Ortlepp averaged 10.3 points per game for the Eagles and has played in Italy, China and the Czech Republic.
Brooke Basham grew up in Victor Harbor and plays for the Eastern Mavericks in the SA District Competition, where she averaged 16.7 points per game and 5.1 rebounds in 2019.
Aimee Brett plays for the Forestville Eagles and was a member of the Rachael Sporn Lightning Academy. Brett scored nine points and had seven rebounds and five assists, helping the Eagles win the 2019 SA Premier League grand final.
Morgan Yaeger, like Ortlepp, was a development player for the Lightning in 2015-16, then played college basketball for the University of Oregon Ducks, where she won three straight Pac-12 regular-season championships and a pair of Pac-12 tournament titles.
Carlie Smith will make her WNBL debut this season, having played in the 2018 FIBA women’s 3×3 team with Maddie Garrick, Rebecca Cole and Keely Froling. Smith has also played with the University of Sunshine Coast Rip City, where in 2018 she averaged 13.75 points per game and 8.69 rebounds.
Debutant Ella Batish is signed to replace the injured Smith, having played for the Southern Sabres in NBL1 in 2019, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Prediction
The Lightning have recruited experience, but while the likes of Wilson, Whittle, Tomlinson and Wehrung are quality, they do not cover for the losses of Seekamp, Nicholson and Turner.
With Alanna Smith also pulling out and with so many new faces, Adelaide will struggle to emulate last season’s efforts.
Predicted finish: sixth
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