Georgia Gayle knew the game was slipping away. Her frustration was evident in the first quarter as B. Braun Sheffield Hatters struggled to keep pace. They needed a perfect game to match the Oaklands Wolves, but things were already starting to unravel.
Oaklands were in the midst of an 11-0 run, steadily widening the gap. Gayle felt the pressure mounting. With 1:20 left in the quarter, she launched a three—a frustrated heave, a forced attempt to break the run. The shot missed wide of the rim, more of a release valve than a genuine scoring opportunity.
On the next possession, she tried to steady the ship, calling out a play. But the movement ahead of her was static. Gayle’s urgency met a wall of inaction, and her frustration grew. She pressed on, trying to force the ball inside, but the pass wasn’t there. Another turnover, and Oaklands capitalised, drawing free throws at the other end of the floor.
These two possessions marked a turning point. Oaklands had taken control, and Sheffield never led again. Gayle had sensed the danger early on, but sometimes the harder you push, the more the game slips away.
