Round 10 tips off on Friday night as the Lightning and Spirit meet for the third time this season. Their previous encounters in Rounds 5 and 7 both went the way of Bendigo, giving the Spirit a 2–0 edge in the season series.
Since their overtime win at the Townsville Tip-Off, the Lightning have proven they can stay competitive against the league’s best, pushing the reigning champions hard in both matchups and falling short by just eight and six pointsrespectively.
The Lightning have been stacking days and building habits since Aja Parham-Ammar took the reins as interim head coach less than three weeks ago, and they carry renewed confidence after returning to the win column in Round 9.
South Australian Spirit player Kelsey Rees has been thriving in an expanded role in the absence of Mariana Tolo (pregnancy), while Izzy Borlase continues to develop her all-around game, showing the WNBA draftee is ready to take the next step in her career.
Adelaide captain Steph Talbot leads from the front, supported by Sania Feagin and Dallas Loughridge, but the Lightning’s true strength lies in their depth and self-belief.
In a contest that promises to be decided by grit and execution, both sides must bring their absolute best to secure a season-defining result.
WHEN: Friday, 19 December, 2025
TIME: 5.00PM ACDT
WHERE: Red Energy Arena, Bendigo VIC
WATCH: 9NOW, ESPN on Disney+ & ESPN2
The Lightning return to their home court this Sunday, where they will take on Han Xu and the Perth Lynx, with a capacity crowd expected for their first home game of the month. Limited tickets are available here .
