Record fourth title for Grand Final-winning Mystics
Showcasing their greater experience, there was no stopping the GoSweetSpot Mystics as they went on to triumph 56-46 in the 2026 Grand Final against a gallant Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in Auckland on Saturday.
After missing out last year, the Mystics made no mistake this time around, in the process securing a record fourth title to become the most successful team in the ANZ Premiership era.
In making their first Grand Final appearance in eight years, the Steel could not put the icing on the cake following a highly successful 2026 season. They remained well in the frame through the first three-quarters but couldn’t apply enough consistent pressure on their rivals to make the decisive breakthrough before fading in the fourth.
The Mystics had an answer for everything thrown their way, their combined experience being a key factor. With more ball in their hands, the Mystics held the edge throughout.
With shooters, Filda Vui (27/29), in the first half, and Maia Wilson (29/31), in the second, providing the accuracy and consistency at the scoring end, and the overall efficiency of the rest of the team, which remained unchanged throughout, the Mystics proved too hard to crack on the day.
The Mystics defused a promising start by the Steel through some big defensive returns from the experienced pairing of Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Phoenix Karaka to help the home side click into gear.
Trailing early on, the defensive gains added the impetus for the Mystics, midcourt general Peta Toeava conducting the flow on attack while the shooter-to-shooter connection between Wilson and Vui paid off handsomely. With the accomplished Vui providing a flawless shooting return the Mystics shot out to a five-goal lead.
Steel defender Carys Stythe got in the act to give her side the opportunity to reduce the gap when the Mystics took a 15-11 lead into the first break.
With the Mystics pushing out to a seven-goal advantage quickly after the resumption, the Steel injected Queensland injury replacement Jessie Laga’aia into the fray in a bid to tame the home side’s midcourt dominance.
With the consistently impressive connection between Toeava and Vui continuing to shine while stretching the Steel’s defensive tactics, the visitors struggled to get maximum value at either end of their court.
The threat of Steel shooters Aliyah Dunn and Georgia Heffernan was well-contained by the constant movement and smothering defensive work of Sokolich-Beatson and Karaka before a late rally gave the visitors a glimmer of hope.
With the Mystics going slightly off the boil, the Steel pounced, closing to with two goals before the home side slid back into control mode and regathering the momentum while building on a handy 29-23 lead at halftime.
After an untidy start by both sides with turnovers going both ways, the Steel made a strong run to break the goal-for-goal impasse. Inspired by a Stythe defensive gain and inaccuracy from the Mystics, the visitors got a rare opportunity to eat into the deficit.
With three goals in a row and closing to within three of the Mystics, the Steel had their moment but the class and experience of the home side showed its value with a strong response while being able to maintain overall control.
With Wilson stepping up to dominate the Mystics shooting circle through slick movement and accurate scoring, combined with crisp transition through court and relentless defence, the women in blue denied their southern rivals any threatening raids and the chance to gain a foothold.
Unable to contain the Mystics dominance, the Steel slipped further behind, a Dunn two-pointer on the stroke of three-quarter time reducing the deficit to six and still within touching distance after drawing the third stanza. However, it was a staunch Mystics who remained in the box seat when leading 44-38 at the last turn.