Fire cracking into season
WNBL side determined to go one better in 2021
THE Fire has officially begun its quest to go one better after last year’s grand final finish, but the club will have to face a few early hurdles.
The majority of the Fire’s squad has arrived in Townsville to start pre-season training under returning coach Shannon Seebohm.
But they will have to wait on their two American imports Sug Sutton and Monique Billings.
Sutton is expected to arrive in Australia early next week before undergoing mandatory two-week quarantine before linking up with the squad.
She is expected to report for pre-season around the same time as Opals representatives Zitina Aokuso and Lauren Nicholson, who flew back from Jordan this week.
But Billings could be a much different prospect, with the Atlanta Dream forward undergoing international commitments in Europe before she can head Down Under.
Seebohm said he was not concerned about the lateness of Billings’ arrival in Australia, and backed the front court star to hit the ground running ahead of the WNBL season.
“She will be here by the start of the season but given the time frame and having to source flights, it is proving a little difficult,” Seebohm said.
“It is not as easy as it usually is to get import players into the country. She also has commitments with the Bulgarian national team as part of the European qualifying legs.
“It is not ideal that she will be coming in significantly later but we understand the high level player that she is. She played a full WNBA season and she played a lot of minutes. She started the past eight or 10 games of the year.
“She will also be playing for the Bulgarian team and will be logging heavy minutes as one of their top stars. The only thing will be shaking the rust off after quarantine.”
Sutton and Billings are the only major changes to a Fire squad which took the Southside Flyers to the limit in last year’s grand final.
Former Fire captain Micaela Cocks will also return to the court after missing last season following the birth of daughter Hazel.
Cocks played the NBL1 North season under Seebohm at the Townsville Flames, something which the coach believed helped their pre-season.
“We are back on the floor but it is not quite all systems go just yet,” Seebohm said.
“We are starting into our pre-season work, and we have spent a bit of time on the floor. We’re slowly building into it.
“It is really nice just having a lot of continuity from last season and to hit the ground running. We have to do a bit of reteaching in the early parts but it is good to see everyone on the same page.”
The WNBL season has not had an official start date set but it is understood officials want to get under way by late November or early December.
The WNBL remains hopeful of hosting a proper home and away season with the Fire playing home games out of the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.