What happened: Championship-winning captain Courtney Woods says her team will hold onto its "underdog" mentality as attention turns to Townsville ahead of the WNBL27 season. The remarks arrive with the North Queensland region preparing to take a central role in the league's pre-season buildup.

Why it matters: Clinging to an underdog identity after winning a title is a familiar way for a locker room to guard against complacency and reset expectations for the year ahead. With Townsville drawing nine WNBL clubs for the September pre-season tip-off, the mindset carries added weight as the region's profile rises.

What to watch: Watch how Woods' side backs up the talk once WNBL27 play begins and whether the underdog framing holds after a championship campaign.