Adelaide Lightning didn’t win the 2019 WNBL grand final — but it won the hearts of a state

The Lightning will return to Adelaide without a championship trophy but with the respect and support of the state after losing game three of the WNBL grand final in Canberra.

Adelaide Lightning players after loosing game three of the WNBL grand final series to the UC Capitals. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

• What next for Lightning after grand final heartbreak?

The Lightning will return to Adelaide without a championship trophy but with the respect and more importantly the passion of the state after losing game three of the WNBL grand final in Canberra on Saturday night.

The UC Capitals shot the lights out with 14 three-pointers to Adelaide’s six to win 93-73 and clinch their first title since 2010.

The odds were always stacked against Adelaide that had to stare down a hostile 4200-strong crowd at AIS Arena.

And when even the punter in the crowd hit a shot from halfway for $10,000 at quarter-time, it was pretty clear this was Canberra’s night as Kelsey Giffin won her third grand final MVP award.

Leilani Mitchell of the Canberra Capitals (bottom) scores during game three of the WNBL Grand Final against Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena. Picture: Getty Images

But Adelaide made them earn it. Even without an impact from MVP Nia Coffey who struck early foul trouble and finished with just four points and a rolled ankle in the first quarter to co-captain Nicole Seekamp, the visitors pushed the Capitals for three quarters.

The most noise for Adelaide came from its bench and about 100 Lightning fans sitting in a section just behind them as the players either linked arms or stood with an arm around each other’s shoulders before the tip-off.

They were still united at the finish and Seekamp urged them to stick together.

“We didn’t get off to the best start (this season) but we dug deep and fought together and found ourselves in a grand final and managed to get to game three so thanks for the awesome season and maybe we’ll stick together next year who knows?” she said.

Aimee Clydesdale of the Adelaide Lightning drives against Leilani Mitchell of the Canberra Capitals. Picture: AAP

With Coffey down, Kayla Alexander got going and she had nine points in the first quarter. But three quick-fire threes put Canberra in front by one at the first break.

While Seekamp was off with her ankle injury her co-captain Steph Blicavs stepped up with five points as Adelaide played clever, patient offence.

They repeatedly looked inside either to Alexander or a cutting Nicholson or Colleen Planeta who had 12 points on 5/6 shooting to half-time.

But the shots stopped dropping for the Lightning early in the third and the Capitals made their move, going 11 points clear as Kia Nurse took control in what seemed a game-defining patch.

They got out by as much as 15 points before the courageous Lightning dug deep and a 9-0 run cut the margin to six thanks to Planeta, Clydesdale and Penina Davidson all having an impact off the bench.

Kayla Alexander of Adelaide Lightning during game three of the WNBL Grand Final series. Picture: Getty Images

But Canberra — with assistant coach Bec Goddard who won an AFLW premiership with Adelaide — found another gear late through Leilani Mitchell attacking the basket and they extended the lead back out to 12 at three-quarter-time.

Once they could smell the trophy they were always going to be hard to stop as Marianna Tolo and Griffin scored in the paint and Adelaide struggled to go with them.

Coffey’s night was summed up with her fourth foul and a cruel shot that rolled around the ring and bounced out, denying her any chance of getting going late in the game.

WNBL GRAND FINAL

Game 3

UC CAPITALS 93

(K. Griffin 29, L. Mitchell 19, K. Wilson 16)

ADELAIDE LIGHTNING 73

(C. Planeta 15, A. Clydesdale 14, K. Alexander, N. Seekamp 11)