The Sydney Flames have sent a statement of intent to their WNBL rivals, continuing their off-season rebuild by signing Opal star Isabelle Bourne.
Coach Renae Garlepp secured the signature of the 25-year-old former Southside Melbourne Flyers star on Friday, continuing the transformation of her team, which finished bottom of the ladder last season.
She will join WNBA draftee Charlise Dunn, Geelong Venom’s Jaz Shelley and Opal Ally Wilson in the Flames’ new-look squad after they lost several of their starters, including last campaign’s club MVP, Unique Thompson.
Bourne was part of the Opals side that claimed gold at last year’s Asian Cup, and is one of the league’s rising stars, having averaged 16 points per game last season.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to play under Renae and her staff and think this is the right environment for me to continue to grow as a player,” Bourne said.
“The Flames have put together a really amazing group of players, and I can’t wait to get after it.”
Bourne is part of an exodus of players from the Flyers, including starters Nya Lok and Maddy Rocci, after coach Kristi Harrower left the club in March.
Elsewhere, last season’s coach of the year Kennedy Kereama inked a two-year contract extension with the Bendigo Spirit.
Fresh off winning the 2024/2025 championship, Kereama was tasked with leading a virtually brand-new side, missing many of the stars who had guided them to the title in their previous campaign.
But the Spirit shook off their losses to finish the regular season third.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built – the players, the staff, the environment, the community,” Kereama said.
“We’ve achieved a lot, but we’re hungry for more, and I’m excited for what the next chapter holds.”
The Venom also added another name to their star-studded list, signing emerging talent Dakota Crichton from the Townsville Fire.
