MATCH INFORMATION
Who: Sunshine Coast Lightning v Melbourne Mavericks
When: Saturday 31 May
Where: UniSC Arena, Sunshine Coast
Time: 5pm AEST
Broadcast: Kayo / Foxtel / Binge
The Melbourne Mavericks are heading north to face the Sunshine Coast Lightning this Saturday 31 May, in what will be the Mavs' first rematch of the 2025 season.
In Round 1, the Lightning secured a 69-58 win over the Mavs in Melbourne. However, the Mavs have previously had the upper hand in 2024, claiming two, one-point victories over the Lightning.
Since the Round 1 clash, the Mavs have made significant growth. We saw both Sasha Glasgow and Uneeq Palavi make their club debuts in Round 1, with the pair now emerging to be a formidable Super Shot duo. The two have been brought on together as a unit in the Power Five and we have seen the pair grow in confidence out on court each week.
The Lightning are coming off a 70-62 loss to the NSW Swifts in Round 7. So far this season, they have bounced back claiming a win after each loss. The Mavs will need to step out clinically from the start as once Lightning have momentum, they are difficult to beat.
The Mavericks are also looking to comeback after a 66-59 defeat to the Adelaide Thunderbirds last round. It was a disappointing loss, with the Mavs being pushed down to sixth on the ladder. With finals hopes on the line for the Mavs, they will need to use this motivation to get back on top.
Mavs midcourter, Tayla Fraser, said she was excited to match up against the Lightning once again.
“We are really excited, I think we match up well against them,” Fraser said. “In our Round 1 performance, we let ourselves down, but I think we do have the skill and the personal to get on top of them,” she added.
Mavs head coach, Tracey Neville, also reflected on her side's Round 1 outing against the Lightning.
“We went on a little bit scared and weren’t able to release the ball,” Neville said. “It’s about driving that confidence through the team.”
“For me, it’s about the unity of the team. There are patches of our game that are becoming quite elite – we just need to be able to string it all together,” she continued.
This match will come down to who remains composed and clinical throughout the full 60 minutes. Both teams are threats in the Power Five, but consistency will be key.
Tune in to Foxtel, Binge or Kayo to catch the Mavs aim to claim another victory against the Sunshine Coast Lightning this Saturday from 5pm!
