Coaching great Jan Stirling says minds will decide who wins WNBL grand final

She is one of Australia’s most successful coaches and Jan Stirling has some straight advice for the Adelaide Lightning’s players ahead of the WNBL grand final series.

World championship-winning Opals coach Jan Stirling. Picture: John Grainger

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Former Australia and Lightning coach Jan Stirling has urged Adelaide to embrace the expectation to perform as the Lightning prepares for a best-of-three grand final series against UC Capitals.

Stirling should know: her record in the game is peerless.

After retiring from playing she took the Lightning to four premierships and 12 straight years of finals basketball and coached the national team to a world championship, Commonwealth Games gold and Olympic silver.

Stirling knows winning.

And she has singled out the players’ mental approach to the game as a key factor as the WNBL playoff series between the Lightning and the Caps begin in Melbourne next weekend.

“All the scouting’s done,” Stirling said. “The coaches will work hard during the week and they’ll scout each other but nothing’s new; no one has any secrets any more.

“I think it’s more about making sure that the mentality of your athletes doesn’t get too overanxious or overawed by the situation.

Adelaide Lightning defeats Melbourne Boomers at Titanium Security Arena to lock in a grand final place. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“And making sure that they understand that what got them there is exactly what will get them the wins.

“You don’t have to change too much.”

The players and coaches still needed to be on their toes.

Many finals have taken a twist with an unexpected match-up or some surprise plays.

But it’s more likely to come down to who handles the series better mentally.

“You have to be flexible,” Stirling said. “Someone might come out and do something different.

“That’s pretty rare these days but it was interesting — I was talking to a coach the other week and he talked about ‘the pressure’.

“Pressure is what you put in your mind as a perception, not a fact.

“Pressure is a perception of the fact that there is some expectation on the result for the team.

“Why? Because they’ve played well.

“So to me, the Lightning played well enough to put themselves into a three-game final series.

“So there has to be expectation on them because they’ve done well.

“That’s a positive. But that can change your whole psyche.

“Is there pressure on the Lightning to win the first game on the road? No, there’s expectation and if they play well enough they’ll win.

“It (expectation) should elevate the confidence of the athletes going into this campaign — on both sides.

“But the key to it will be coaches being able to read their players a little bit.”

Stirling, who has been helping out behind the scenes in trying to save the Lightning from shutting its doors next season, also said she had heard positive comments from a meeting between key stakeholders on Friday night.

But she also said the club needed to connect better with the local basketball clubs to get better support.

“I think it was all positive; I think everybody is trying to find a solution for a long-term, sustainable program.”

WNBL GRAND FINAL SERIES

Game 1

University of Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning

Saturday, February 9 at 5.00pm

AIS Arena

Live on FOX SPORTS Australia channel 503.

Game 2

Adelaide Lightning vs. University of Canberra Capitals

Wednesday, February 13 at 6.30pm

Titanium Security Arena

Live on FOX SPORTS Australia. Channel TBA

Game 3 (if necessary)

University of Canberra Capitals vs. Adelaide Lightning

Saturday, February 16 at 4.30pm

AIS Arena

Live on FOX SPORTS Australia.