Geelong United have been given a reality check ahead of their WNBL debut after copping an 85-54 loss to the UC Capitals during the HoopsFest pre-season competition.
All eight WNBL teams played two games apiece during the HoopsFest exhibition, with the Townsville Fire crowned champions after snaring two wins.
As part of the pre-season tournament, teams were awarded three points for a victory and one point for each quarter won.
The Fire's victories over Geelong (78-72) and Bendigo Spirit (84-63) were enough for them to be crowned champions ahead of the Adelaide Lightning and Bendigo Spirit.
Geelong finished last.
But given there was plenty of top-line talent missing from most teams during the pre-season event, the results should be taken with a grain of salt.
Sitaya Fagan starred for the Capitals against Geelong on Saturday night with 18 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four blocks, while Monique Bobongie added 12 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.
Only Dakota Crichton (13 points) and Taneille Knight (11 points) hit double figures for Geelong on a tough night for the WNBL's newest franchise.
Geelong.fared much better two nights earlier during a fighting six-point loss to the Fire.
Crichton again top-scored for Geelong that night with 19 points to go with nine rebounds, while Poppy Stevens contributed 12 points.
Mikayla Pirini led the way for the Fire with 18 points.
Pirini also scored 18 points in her team's win over Bendigo.
Sydney brought across a development squad. They lost 69-63 to the Perth Lynx on Thursday night, before suffering a 102-76 defeat to the Adelaide Lightning on Friday.
Defending WNBL champions Southside Flyers defeated the Lynx 93-71 in a grand final rematch on Friday.
Nikita Young scored 19 points for the Flyers, while Dallas Loughridge (18 points) and Manuala Puoch (11 points, 10 rebounds) also contributed strongly.
Anneli Maley led the way for the Lynx with 16 points and nine rebounds, with Stephanie Gorman scoring 14 points to go with three steals.
The Flyers followed up that win over the Lynx with a 96-90 triumph over Adelaide Lightning on Saturday night.
In other results, the Bendigo Spirit defeated UC Capitals 70-63 on Thursday before going down to the Fire on Friday.
