The East Perth Eagles Women put on a commanding performance in front of their home fans on Friday night, defeating the South West Slammers Women 89–76 in a National Women’s Basketball League1 West clash. The victory strengthens the Eagles’ position in the standings, while the Slammers were left to rue a slow start that proved costly in the end.

Match Overview

Playing at home on 3 July 2026, the East Perth Eagles set the tone early with aggressive defence and crisp ball movement. They built a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back. Despite a spirited fightback from the Slammers in the third period, the Eagles maintained composure down the stretch to seal the 13-point win.

Key Moments

• First quarter dominance: The Eagles exploded out of the gates, outscoring the Slammers 28–16 in the opening period. Their perimeter shooting was particularly effective, hitting five three-pointers in the quarter.
• Slammers rally in the third: South West came out of the halftime break with renewed energy, cutting the deficit to single digits on multiple occasions. Their pressure defence forced several Eagles turnovers, but they could not get closer than seven points.
• Fourth quarter composure: East Perth’s veteran leaders steadied the ship in the final frame. A decisive 10–2 run midway through the fourth period effectively put the game out of reach, with the Eagles showing poise from the free-throw line to ice the result.

Standout Players

For the winners, the backcourt duo of Mackenzie Ward and Jade Chang was instrumental. Ward finished with a game-high 24 points, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, while Chang added 18 points and 8 assists, controlling the tempo throughout. In the paint, centre Olivia Hart contributed a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, providing a strong inside presence at both ends.

On the Slammers’ side, guard Taylor Nguyen led the scoring with 22 points, many coming on difficult drives to the basket. Forward Kelsey Moore added 16 points and 10 rebounds, showing toughness on the glass. However, the team’s 17 turnovers proved too damaging to overcome.

Table and Season Impact

With this result, the East Perth Eagles improve to a strong record in the NBL1 West women’s competition, keeping pace with the league leaders. The victory also extends their winning streak at home, a factor that could prove crucial as the season enters its second half. For the South West Slammers, the loss drops them further down the standings, and they will need to address their slow starts if they hope to climb back into playoff contention.

The rematch between these two sides later in the season is already shaping up to be a must-watch contest, especially if the Slammers can rediscover the form that carried them to a strong finish last year.