Steel boost capacity for Sunday’s Mystics clash
May 29, 2026
As the adage goes, there’s no place like home.
And it might be the not-so-secret weapon the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel needs to secure a coveted spot in this year’s ANZ Premiership Finals Series.
With three games remaining in the regular phase of the competition, the Steel’s six-game winning streak bodes well. Scribble down the mathematical scenarios and just one more victory should lock the southerners in for a crack at the silverware.
Looming large this weekend is a Go Sweet Spot Mystics outfit clinging to third spot – two points adrift of second-placed Steel and eager to put some distance between it and the unpredictable Stars.
The Steel had the upper-hand 57-46 when the two sides met in round three and will be aiming for another dominant performance, especially playing for the Georgina Salter Memorial Trophy.
An ominous sign for the visitors who have won just twice at the Steel’s home fortress at ILT Stadium Southland, demand has seen two additional stands brought in for eager fans, boosting capacity to nearly 3100. The last time extra seating was needed the Steel was in similar form, notching up five in a row in 2021.
For head coach Wendy Frew, nothing beats the roar of a rampant Steel crowd.
“It’s incredible to soak up the energy and it spurs you on in those crucial moments. As a player the court can be a lonely place when you’re in a bit of a pit so when that crowd get firing, it certainly lifts you and gives you the will to go another five percent and push your performance even further,” she said.
“With only a home-and-away format, every game in this competition is important so we need to take advantage of every single thing which gives us an edge. At home, that’s definitely our fans and we love it.
“The girls are already fizzing about playing in Invercargill. It was pretty special in Dunedin last week for our sellout crowd and now having that extra stand up is a real boost for the girls.
“It’s exciting to take the court knowing they have so many supporters behind them. There’s a real buzz in Invercargill at the moment with the way the Steel and the Sharks are going so we couldn’t be prouder to give Southlanders the chance to love sport and enjoy the performances we can put out there.”
As the race for the finals heats up, Frew had high expectations of her talented roster.
“I want to see real urgency on attack and defence, good connections throughout the court and that real pride and passion to play in front of our home crowd,” she said.
“We’ve just come off a performance against Magic where we know we could have been better so now we need to raise the bar. We need to ensure we are clinical with ball in hand and we’re hustling every chance we get on defence.”
Shooter Maia Wilson, midcourter Pete Toeava and defender Phoenix Karaka give the Mystics international-calibre firepower across the court, supplemented by several experienced campaigners.
Frew was anticipating an intensely contested clash.
“Mystics are a real threat. They are peaking at the right time and we’re actually really excited to play them. We know we are going to have to bring our A-game. In saying that, we need to concentrate on ourselves and what we can do on the court to stick to our structures and how we want to play the game,” she said.
“Yes, it would be cool to cement that finals spot after round eight and this team is really eager. They are proud to wear the Steel dress and they want to have a big season. We’ve certainly got our team goals in place and we’re tracking well so far but it’s time for another step up for us.
“We are taking it one game at a time, and we know the Mystics are in front of us right now – that’s our focus.”
Tickets are available from ILT Stadium Southland or online at www.southernsteel.co.nz
