Canberra Capitals shoot past Lightning to claim WNBL title
All season, Canberra Capitals were the best team and Adelaide Lightning the bravest side.
In game three of the WNBL grand final on Saturday, they played to form as the Capitals claimed their eighth title.
The Capitals' big guns were too good when it mattered most as WNBA import Kia Nurse and league MVP favourite Kelsey Griffin and Opals point guard Leilani Mitchell (19 points) excelled during the decisive third quarter as the Capitals built a double-figure lead.
With a capacity crowd of 5000 cheering them on at AIS Arena, the Capitals extended the lead to 14 points to start the last term before holding off the Lightning to a 93-73 win and a 2-1 series victory.
Griffin won two grand final MVP awards while playing for Bendigo Spirit. She was again immense in game three with 29 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.
Griffin nailed two long threes to end the contest in the final minutes.
The Lightning ignored ownership turmoil mid-season and rode their talents through to the grand final. They just couldn’t match the home side’s firepower and experience as they shot a blazing 12 of 20 from the three-point line.
Former Hume City import Colleen Planeta led the Lightning with 15 points while Aimie Clydesdale offered 13 points off the bench after an ankle injury restricted star point guard Nicole Seekamp in the second half.
Lightning's outgoing owner Grant Kelley told Fox Sports during the TV coverage he was confident a new ownership group would take charge in a few weeks time.