Townsville Fire legend Murray has more to give for Flames

Murray’s 16-season WNBL career wrapped in 2023 and she’s excited to return to action in Townsville and play in front of family and friends, including husband and former Townsville Heat guard Max Murray, and their young children Syd and Giann.

The chance to give back to the Townsville basketball community is also a motivator for Murray, who reflected on her own time as a junior coming up through the ranks in the South Australian state league.  

“As a 16, 17-year-old I played state league in Adelaide with WNBL players in my team and that was so much fun to be able to learn from them, so now I’m trying to do the same with our group.

“Some of these girls in the Flames team with me now were only very little when I first arrived in Townsville and it’s nice to see that they’ve stuck in there to represent the Flames at a senior level.

“I'm out here doing a bit of coaching as well, with the under-14 Flames, assisting Aneka Davis, which has been really fun so it’s great to be back involved with the community.”

Murray joins a Flames roster that includes reigning NBL1 North champion and American import Samatha Bowman and locals Ainslie Minogue, Shaylee Browning and Chailee Ward.

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.

WNBL legend Mia Murray is coming out of retirement and re-joining the Townsville Flames for the 2025 NBL1 North season.

Murray’s stellar career has included three WNBL championships with the Townsville Fire (2015, 2016, 2018), including the 2015 Grand Final MVP award, and she also steered the Flames to the 2022 NBL1 North championship.

A deadly outside shooter and fierce competitor, the 184cm veteran was happy to answer the call from Townsville Flames head coach Claudia Brassard to help guide a youthful Townsville team this season.

“I always enjoyed playing at this level and I love playing for the Flames so when I found out Claudia was coaching it all sort of came together,” Murray said.

 “The beauty of the NBL1 North season is that it’s only three months so that’s ideal for me.

“I was sort of unsure how I was going to but once you start competing again in training you know that feeling comes back fast.

“That’s the sort of thing that you miss in retirement, being around a team and having those competitive juices flowing, so that’s what makes it fun for me.”