Who'da thunk it? After the opening round of the ANZ Championship the Magic are the only Kiwi team with a win to their name. This situation hasn't occurred, well, since last year.
This year's opening round match-ups were the same to that of round one in 2013 and despite all the talk of how the off-season reshuffles would impact on their respective teams' fortunes, the results all fell the same way.
In the Magic's case the scoreline was almost identical to last year's 69-46 win over the Tactix, with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty managing one more goal this year without the services of supershooter Irene van Dyk.
Midcourters Grace Rasmussen and Courtney Tairi jointly lead the league in goal assists - although the latter racked up her 19 assists in just three quarters. Rasmussen is also second behind teammate Ellen Halpenny in centre pass receives, while shooter Jo Harten is the most accurate shooter.
Central Pulse
With a combined age of 76, there is no doubt the Pulse boast the most experienced shooting combination in the league in Donna Wilkins and Irene van Dyk.
But combining the styles of the two veterans is proving a problem for the Pulse, given both players' affection for the baseline.
Wilkins and van Dyk found themselves running into the same space, causing several pile-ups in the shooting circle. They weren't helped by a midcourt that lacked spark, with Camilla Lees and Elias Shadrock struggling to make it to the circle edge.
Given they played so poorly, the Pulse in some ways could probably take some heart that they only lost to the defending champions by one goal.
But when you consider the struggles of New Zealand teams on Australian soil, winning their transtasman fixtures at home is crucial to success in the league.
That ugly one-goal loss could come back to haunt them.
Mainland Tactix
Tactix shooter Mwai Kumwenda made history at the weekend becoming the first African player to play in the ANZ Championship. The slightly built Malawi international, known for her quick hands and deceptive movement, had a strong first outing, netting 29 of her 30 attempts.
While she looks comfortable on court, there's apparently a few areas of life at the franchise Kumwenda is struggling to adjust to. The 24-year-old, who grew up in a small village in the Mzimba district of Malawi, doesn't like water and dreads the Tactix recovery sessions in the pool.
After some promising form in the preseason, the Tactix will go back to drawing board this week following their dismal effort against the Magic.
Southern Steel
The Steel are managing a different kind of injury concern in their camp, with star import Jhaniele Fowler-Reid hampered by a heart condition.
The 1.98m Jamaican shooter, who was named the league MVP in her rookie season, was restricted to just two quarters in the Steel's opening round loss to the Queensland Firebirds having battled lethargy and general exhaustion in the lead-up to the match. Fowler-Reid suffered from rheumatic fever as a child and the condition flared up during Jamaica's tour of England in January, in which the Sunshine Girls played the Silver Ferns and England on consecutive days.
Since arriving in Invercargill in late January, Fowler-Reid has been unable to take full part in trainings with the Steel, and coach Janine Southby opted to start with young shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit against the Firebirds. With the Steel lacking confidence and cohesion on attack in their heavy 16-goal loss to the Firebirds, they desperately need their shooting ace back to top speed very soon.
Across the Ditch ...
Talking up a storm
Communication certainly isn't a problem in the NSW Swifts defence end this year. In English import Sonia Mkoloma and former Thunderbirds defender Sharni Layton, the Swifts have two of the most vocal defenders in the league - the pair can be heard clearly in the TV microphones bellowing out instructions to one another.
Good start in new home
It was good to see former Magic midcourter Khao Watts starting for the West Coast Fever at the weekend. The young Australian found a new home with Norma Plummer's side after being unwanted by the Magic and appears to be doing well under the tutelage of the coaching great. It was lucky for the Magic that Watts did pick up a contract elsewhere, as otherwise they would have been stuck with paying out the final year of her contract. The question is, why was Watts signed to the Magic for two seasons before new management came in late 2012?
Ups and downs
The Fever's captain and much-heralded new recruit Natalie Medhurst failed to fire in their opening match against the Swifts, contributing only nine goals. But her replacement at the Queensland Firebirds, Amorette Wild, ran, ah ... wild in her first game, against the Southern Steel on Monday, slotting 26 goals to outshine star import Romelda Aiken.Golden Bib, round 1
Golden Bib, round 1
• Shooter: Ellen Halpenny, Magic - shooting 29/32 (90.6 per cent), 23 centre pass receives.
• Midcourter: Grace Rasmussen, Magic - 19 goal assists, 22 centre pass receives.
• Defender: Geva Mentor (above), Vixens - 8 rebounds, 8 deflections and just 8 penalties.
