The Sydney Flames are calling on fans to bring the energy from the opening tip-off when they take on the Southside Flyers at Afterpay Arena this Sunday 8 November.
Tipping off at 12.30pm, the clash opens a huge afternoon of basketball alongside the Sydney Kings, with one ticket giving fans access to both games.
For head coach Renae Garlepp, the double-header is an opportunity to put Sydney basketball on show, with a clear message for fans.
“I want to challenge everyone to get there for the first quarter,” Garlepp said.
“I would love for everyone to get there early so we can have the crowd from quarter one. That’d be amazing.”
Import and Sydney Flames forward, Maya Dodson, echoed that message, with the American embracing the opportunity to play on the big stage in her first season in Australia.
“Come support us. It’s going to be a great game,” Dodson said.
“You’re going to get two really exciting games, so why not come? It’s going to be awesome.”
The Flames head into Sunday determined to put the lessons from their loss to Tasmania into practice, with a valuable training week giving the new-look group time to build its combinations.
Dodson believes there is plenty of improvement still to come.
“We’re still building our identity,” she said.
“Now it’s giving us a hunger to come to practice, work onthose things and be ready for Sunday.”
Garlepp also sees the week as an important opportunity for a team still discovering what it can become.
“I don’t think we’ve discovered our true identity of what we’re about just yet,” she said.
“It actually has been such a short amount of time, and this is probably our first week since we’ve started where we can actually use the training week.
For Dodson, the chance to test herself in the WNBL has beena long-held ambition.
“I wanted to go somewhere that I want to be challenged,” shesaid.
“I feel like the style of play just fits me, and I have alot of great players I get to play with. I feel like I’m still growing. I’m able to compete, and it’s been a great experience.”
Her approach has quickly earned the respect of her head coach.
“The one thing that stood out with her was her work ethicand just wanting to do the best for the team,” Garlepp said.
“She’s just a true pro, how she goes about every single day.
“We’re super happy with her and what she’s delivering, and just her willingness to get better every day.”
For Dodson, making an impact means doing whatever the team needs.
“I think for me, it’s just being that dominant force in the middle,” she said. That can change from game to game. It’s just about being the best team player and the best player I can be.”
Sunday brings a rematch with a Southside side that pushed Sydney all the way in their opening meeting.
Garlepp expects another demanding contest.
“They’re a great team. They’ve got a lot of young players that are really enjoying their opportunities in the WNBL,” she said.
“Our first game went to the wire, so definitely expecting a super tough game that we’re going to have to be really ready for.”
With two Sydney teams sharing the stage, the message to fans is simple: make an afternoon of it, bring the noise and be in your seat for tip-off.
Game details
- Sunday 8 November 2026
- Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park
- Flames tip-off 12.30pm | Kings tip-off 3pm
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