The Perth Lynx have faced a significant setback in their pursuit of the WNBL season's top spot, falling to the Townsville Fire in a tense 82-76 defeat at the Perth High Performance Centre on Tuesday. This loss comes just days after a morale-boosting victory over championship contenders Bendigo, which could have propelled the Lynx to the ladder's summit with a win here.
Ladder Implications and Team Standings
With this result, Townsville Fire have solidified their position, now standing at an impressive 16-4 record with the league's best percentage. They head back to Queensland for their final three games, fully in control of their destiny. Meanwhile, the Perth Lynx drop to 14-5, facing a challenging run of three interstate matches before concluding their regular season with a home game on February 7.
Controversial Incident Involving Han Xu
The match was marred by a concerning incident involving Chinese star Han Xu, who was struck in the face by an elbow during the third quarter. She was forced to leave the court for medical attention, visibly furious and later seen slamming an ice pack to the ground upon her return in the fourth period. Her family, watching from courtside seats, expressed clear distress during the episode.
Lynx coach Ryan Petrik had previously highlighted the physical treatment Xu has been enduring, and he strongly disagreed with Townsville coach Shannon Seebohm's assessment that the elbow was merely "a basketball play." Petrik remarked, "I think you saw it when she slammed the ice pack onto the ground early in the fourth when she got subbed back in. It was let me go and hit somebody." He added, after reviewing footage on Kayo, "I didn't think it was play on. But if the league thinks it's okay and Shannon thinks it's okay, then it is okay."
Game Highlights and Turning Points
The Lynx started sluggishly, trailing by 11 points midway through the first quarter before Ally Wilson sparked a resurgence, narrowing the gap to just three points by quarter time. However, Townsville dominated the second quarter, scoring the first 14 points to build a commanding 17-point lead, leaving Perth looking rattled.
A defensive resurgence in the third period saw the Lynx restrict the Fire to only three points in the first five minutes, eventually taking the lead by the three-quarter time buzzer. Despite this comeback, Townsville held firm in the crucial late stages to secure a vital victory.
This match not only impacts the WNBL ladder but also raises ongoing questions about player safety and physicality in the league, particularly concerning key international talents like Han Xu.
