WEEK 3 of the Women's SBL gets underway on Friday night with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Cockburn Cougars looking for their first wins of the season against quality opposition ahead of four matches on Saturday.

Week 3 begins on Friday night with the Lakeside Lightning hosting the Kalamunda Eastern Suns at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Cockburn Cougars also playing the Perry Lakes Hawks at Wally Hagan Stadium.

Week 2 Saturday night Women's SBL results 
Week 2 Friday night Women's SBL results 

The Lightning have opened their season with a win on the road to the South West Slammers and then a loss last week at home to the Mandurah Magic heading into hosting the Eastern Suns.

The Suns have lost their opening two games of 2017 under new coach Tom Knowles. But they did welcome Jennie Rintala into the line-up and will be hoping that Devanny King is cleared in time to play Friday.

Friday's other game sees the Cougars play their first home match of the season up against the Lady Hawks.

Cockburn has put in competitive showings despite losses to the Joondalup Wolves and Willetton Tigers in the opening two rounds. But with Brianna Moyes, Kersten Mitchell, Steph Jones and Talisia Bourne settling in, they will be looking forward a big performance on their home floor.

However, it's going to be a significant challenge up against a Perry Lakes team coached by Deanna Smith and who has been impressive in the opening two weeks recording wins over the Stirling Senators and Kalamunda.

Despite losing the opening two games, Cougars coach John Triscari is excited by what this season holds in his second year in charge.

"I'm super excited about what this season holds for us because the depth that we've got and the fact that players want to be here," Triscari said.

"I think that this club is moving in the right direction as well. Down the track hopefully we are going to be a force in this league and we would have developed our young players to a higher standard. That's my goal."

Then on Saturday night, the South West Slammers play the East Perth Eagles at Eaton Recreation Centre, the Joondalup Wolves take on the Rockingham Flames at Joondalup Basketball Stadium, the Stirling Senators battle the Cockburn Cougars at Warwick Stadium and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns take on the Perth Redbacks at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

The Slammers and Eagles are two teams who look to be big improvers after struggling in 2016 and battling over the wooden spoon leading into a fascinating clash.

South West, under new coach Peter Harper, got its first win last week over the Redbacks while East Perth won first up against the Eastern Suns at home.

For one of the teams to already have two wins on the board after three weeks will show their marked improvement already.

The Lady Wolfpack and Flames were fighting over the minor premiership for all of 2016. Joondalup ended up clinching that on the way to making the Grand Final while Rockingham came up short against Willetton in the semi finals.

Both teams are showing enough to suggest they can be around the mark again in 2017 and will be looking to make an early statement against one another on Saturday night.

The Wolves won their opening game in a tight one against Cockburn while the Flames won impressively over Perth in the opening round before losing to Stirling last week.

Speaking of the Senators, they will be looking to continue that momentum hosting the Cougars who would have taken on the Hawks on Friday night already.

Stirling did well to beat Rockingham last week with Amber Land dominant but receiving good support from Kisha Lee and Jasmine Martin.

Then there is the battle of two teams who promised great improvement in 2017 coming into the season, but are so far winless in the Eastern Suns and Redbacks.

The Suns will be coming off playing the Lightning on Friday while the Redbacks have lost their first two matches against Rockingham and Mandurah and won't want to slip to 0-3 to start off the year with.

WEEK 3 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Lakeside Lightning v Kalamunda Eastern Suns – Lakeside Recreation Centre 6.30pm
Cockburn Cougars v Perry Lakes Hawks – Wally Hagan Stadium 6.30pm

SATURDAY
South West Slammers v East Perth Eagles – Eaton Recreation Centre 6pm
Joondalup Wolves v Rockingham Flames – Joondalup Basketball Stadium 6pm
Stirling Senators v Cockburn Cougars – Warwick Stadium 6pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Perth Redbacks – Ray Owen Sports Centre 6.30pm

Photo by Vikki Hile