The Firebirds suffered a 78-65 defeat at a sold-out Nissan Arena against the table-topping Swifts who secured this year’s minor premiership with the 13-point win.
World Cup hopeful Donnell Wallam ended the game with 40 goals from 50 attempts including six Suncorp Super Shots, while Emily Moore and Mia Stower provided good support in the goal circle for Wallam.
Moore had nine goals from 12 attempts in her 34 minutes on court, including one Suncorp Super Shot before Stower came off the bench and scored six goals including three two-pointers.
Rookie Leesa Mi Mi continued her strong start to her Suncorp Super Netball career, topping the Nissan Net Points for the Firebirds with 68.5 after a game where she made 34 feeds, 17 goal assists and two deflections.
Coming off the back of their back-to-back wins over Giants Netball and Melbourne Vixens, the Firebirds started well in front of 4,544 fans with scores tied 17-all at the first break.
English import Helen Housby’s three Suncorp Super Shots at the back end of the half however meant the visitors held a five-goal advantage at halftime.
Housby would go on to post eight two-pointers while Firebirds great Romelda Aiken-George shot 43 of 50 goals in her first appearance back in Brisbane since her off-season switch to the Swifts.
The Firebirds wrap up their 2023 campaign next Sunday with a trip up the Bruce Highway to battle for the Queensland Cup against local rivals Sunshine Coast Lightning.
