Ward finds her way back to Flames

Local talent Chailee Ward will return to her hometown Townsville Flames for the 2025 NBL1 North season. 

The 20-year-old point guard rejoins her hometown club after a successful stint at North Gold Coast Seahawks, bouncing back from an ACL injury that cost her two seasons in to help the team to make a semi-final run last season.

A talented shooter and playmaker, Ward said she is excited to put on the Townsville singlet and share the floor with several players she grew up playing with.

“I really wanted to come back home and just be confident again and be comfortable in an environment where I know the coach and I know most of the players. So that's what really got me over the line,” she said.

“It’s going to be great to play with some of the girls like Shaylee Browning, Bree Stephens and Ainslie Minogue that I went through the junior system in Townsville.  

 “I was super nervous coming back here to play against Townsville last season and I ended up injuring my ankle in the game, which put me out for eight weeks. But I was able to come back and finish the season strong.

“It will be great to be on the home side this time around and have friends and family in the crowd cheering me on.”

Ward averaged around seven points and three assists last season and played some of her bast basketball of the year late in the season and through the NBL1 North finals.

She joins fellow local product Shaylee Browning and American star Samatha Bowman on the Flames roster, and head coach Claudia Brassard said she was delighted to have Chailee back in the fold

“Chailee is a smart point guard that will be able to get the ball to the right people’s hands and we expect a big season from her,” Brassard said.

“She’s also an excellent three-point shooter and will help space the floor for our bigs to operate inside. 

“I’ve coached Chailee before and I was super excited when she agreed to return to The Ville. She’s a great teammate and hard worker that fits our culture and contributes to it.”

Ward will join in pre-season training when she returns to Townsville in the coming weeks as the Flames and Heat prepare to make more player announcements.

The A.Gabrielli Constructions Townsville Flames and Aligned Townsville Heat will tip-off their NBL1 North campaigns on Saturday, May 3, when they host fierce rivals the

Cairns Marlins and Dolphins at Carmichael Ford Stadium.