Basketball On The Internet.

MAC Adelaide Lightning's returning star guard/forward Stephanie Talbot today rocked the WNBA with a career game for Minnesota Lynx in a rout of Atlanta Dream.

Talbot simply sparkled for the Lynx, sticking 24 points and five 3-pointers, both the 25-year-old's career highs.

The Lynx broke open an eventual 85-68 win during the third quarter on a 16-5 run which took their 38-34 halftime buffer out to 64-39.

It was 66-50 by the last break and when Talbot struck her fifth triple, the lead had swollen to 77-56.

Starting for only the second time this season, Talbot led all scorers, her 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting, with 5-of-9 threes and 5-of-6 from the free throw line in 32:45 of court time.

She also collated five rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Lynx teammate and former Perth and Sydney WNBL import Asia Taylor saw 2:50 of action and missed her only shot attempt.

Former Lightning WNBL import and 2019 All Star Five selection Nia Coffey had five points at 40 percent, three rebounds, a steal and a block in 12:04 for Atlanta.

Talbot's previous WNBA career high was the 18 points she scored for Phoenix Mercury last season in a match against New York Liberty.

"It's great to see Steph playing so well at that level," Lightning coach Chris Lucas said.

"I watched the game and she was playing some pretty solid lockdown 'D' as well."

LYNX NOT MISSING: Steph Talbot on her way to a career-high 24 points today.

Talbot, who spent the last WNBL season at Melbourne Boomers and previously also played with Canberra Capitals, is returning to her home Adelaide Lightning team for 2019-20 after winning the 2013 Betty Watson Rookie of the Year award at the club.

She also was an Opals Olympian at the Rio Games in 2016, won a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal for Australia in 2018 and backed that up with a Silver Medal at last year's FIBA World Cup.

IN Townsville, the Fire have secured former Adelaide Lightning captain Abby Bishop to fill the breach left by Suzy Batkovic's retirement, Kate Gaze and 185cm Canadian Bridget Carleton of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun in a great recruiting week. 

IN Dandenong, as we predicted here, the Rangers have been saved and by basketball stalwart Gerry Ryan.

The founder and owner of South Dandenong-based Jayco Australia, Ryan has a long association with women's basketball, Dandenong, the Opals and has been a great supporter of women’s sport in Australia in general.

As we also told you on March 27, and again on June 13, Cheryl Chambers is the new coach at the Rangers.

Trust this too, as we told you on June 13, Olympians Jenna O'Hea and Leilani Mitchell are bound for Dandenong, as are Anneli Maley and Aimie Clydesdale ahead of what looks a very exciting season for the Rangers.

Bec Cole and Sara Blicavs return and there's spots for imports too!

COMING BACK: Jenna O'Hea, left, and Leilani Mitchell are heading back to Dandenong.