Ruef and George star for Flames, Lynx beat WNBL champs

Mikaela Ruef has starred on return to the Sydney Flames, who began their WNBL season with a thumping 102-85 win over the Canberra Capitals.

Ruef put up 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in her first game for the Flames since her 2014/15 debut season, ensuring a tough start to the campaign for the wooden spooners.

The Flames led for the entirety of Sunday's game at Qudos Bank Arena, with captain Cayla George also beginning her season on triple-double watch.

George - who memorably scored the league's first triple-double in 10 years in December 2022 - came up short of equalling that feat with an impressive 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Former WNBA top draft pick Charli Collier had a tough start to life in the WNBL, fouling out midway through the third quarter with her Capitals still 18 points in arrears.

The American missed all four of her attempts at field goal and finished with two assists to go with only two points.

On Saturday, the Southside Flyers' title defence got off to a slow start with a 94-79 loss to Perth Lynx in a grand final series rematch.

A 22-8 fourth quarter wasn't enough to save the Flyers, who trailed by as many as 31 points early in the final term.

Lynx co-captain Anneli Maley was at her destructive best with 22 points and 12 rebounds in the absence of fellow Olympian Amy Atwell, who missed with a knee injury.

Earlier, star recruits Marianna Tolo and Sami Whitcomb hit the ground running at Bendigo Spirit in a 84-70 defeat of Adelaide Lightning.

Opals centre Tolo put up her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds as guard Whitcomb (27 points) led all scorers.

The Lightning had led in the final quarter, only for Abigail Wehrung (13 points) to hit back-to-back three-pointers and ignite an 18-1 run that won Bendigo the game.

Perennial heavyweights Townsville Fire handed new franchise Geelong United a reality check in their first WNBL game - an 84-58 thrashing in Wednesday night's season opener.

The Fire's 23-9 third quarter doused any hopes of a fairytale fightback for United, who acquired the Melbourne Boomers' WNBL licence this season.

Alicia Froling had 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in her first game back with the Fire following a stint in Bendigo.