Sunday, 20 October 2019:

Rebranded Victorian club Southside Flyers are setting a blistering early pace in the WNBL.

Formerly known as Dandenong Rangers, the Flyers are 3-0 after back-to-back wins on Friday and Saturday.

They are a game ahead of local rivals Melbourne Boomers and defending champions Canberra Capitals (both 2-0).

The Caps came from seven points down in the final quarter on Sunday to eke out a 67-65 home win over Townsville, who are 0-3.

Canadian Kia Nurse and reigning league MVP and Opals forward Kelsey Griffin both scored 16 with the latter adding 13 rebounds.

The Flyers won 97-93 away to Perth in overtime on Friday despite a massive 34-point, 12-rebound game from Lynx's American import Alison Schwagmeyer-Belger.

Opals stalwart Jenna O'Hea scored 19 and WNBA player Mercedes Russell produced a 18-point, 15-rebound game for the Flyers.

Russell also double-doubled the following night against Sydney with 15 points and 11 boards and O'Hea again topscored with 22.

It was a successful return to Sydney for Flyers head coach Cheryl Chambers and her assistant Belinda Snell, who were coach and captain respectively of the Flames 2017 title-winning side.

Opals guard Leilani Mitchell, a key member of that Sydney team, tallied 14 points and 10 assists, a night after notching 11 and 10 against Perth.

Melbourne made it back-to-back wins over Bendigo with Opals big Cayla George supplying 24 points 12 rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Boomers.

WNBA forward Brianna Turner bagged 19 points, nine boards and three blocks for Adelaide, who won 86-68 at Townsville, for whom Abby Bishop scored 24 on debut

Perth won 91-79 at Bendigo on Sunday, despite a huge 29-point 16-rebound effort from the Spirit's Carley Ernst.

AAP