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TOWNSVILLE Fire last night became a dual and back-to-back WNBL Champion when it saw off the best Perth Lynx had to offer, winning Game 2 of the Best-of-3 Grand Final Series 80-70.

As the Fire completed a 2-0 sweep of the championship series, a delirious crowd at the sold out Townsville RSL Stadium treated Chris Lucas' hardy regional outfit to a reception befitting a champion.

It took the WNBL 30 years to follow the NBL's lead in 1986 when it first turned the grand final into a best-of championship series and both the Fire and Lynx showcased women's basketball at its best.

Basketball Australia of course let the game down abysmally by not finding a way to have even the championship series on television because they were two terrific games full of ebbs and flows.

Even last night, the game had amazing momentum swings, Perth's 25-12 third quarter including an unbelievable 18-0 run from 36-45 at halftime to 54-45 with 3:20 left before Rachael Sporn Medallist Micaela Cocks finally scored the Fire's first bucket of the half!

Down 57-61 with a period to play, it was Townsville's turn to seize control, igniting the championship-clinching 23-9 final quarter with an initial 17-0 avalanche! It was 74-61 Townsville's way with four minutes to go when Betnijah Laney stroked two free throws to get the Lynx moving again.

WNBL CHAMPION 2015-16: Townsville Fire enjoy the spoils of victory and back-to-back titles.

In many ways, it was probably good for the league Townsville again claimed the silverware because the goalposts most definitely have shifted for the competition.

The moment the NBL's most successful club - the Perth Wildcats - bought the city's WNBL entity and turned it into a fully professional outfit, it upgraded its prospects immeasurably.

Given the other eight clubs are mostly semi-professional, the reimagining of the Perth Lynx represents a quantum shift and means their path to championships will be easier from here on.

That's not an issue in itself. Just because one club can go fully pro and eight cannot, either means that is what BA should be working toward and desire for its WNBL teams, or one club soon will dominate.

The Wildcats already own seven NBL Championship Trophies. In the WNBL, Perth has one from the Tom Maher era in 1992.

The WNBL has been a much tougher competition to win to date, with Canberra Capitals boasting seven titles but far from a mile ahead, the defunct Nunawading Spectres with six, Adelaide Lightning five, Sydney Flames and Dandenong Rangers three apiece.

Townsville last night joined St Kilda Saints and Bendigo Spirit as dual winners.

But the playing field has changed. Of that, there can be no doubt. Perth Lynx had a magnificent season considering last year, as the West Coast Waves, they finished last.

RED ARMY? They're everywhere! Perth (Wildcats & Lynx) and Townsville have their avid fans.

That was a whopping great change of fortunes, last to a grand final. Adelaide 36ers did the same thing when they reached the NBL grand final in 2014 from last the previous season. 

Lynx coach Andy Stewart saw that first hand, working as an assistant for the eventual champion, Perth.

Fans in the west can be proud of what Perth Lynx achieved this season. But there is far greater success on the horizon.

MICAELA Cocks claiming the Rachael Sporn Medal as Mia Murray did last year, was an outstanding achievement and fully deserved for two gutsy performances.

Converted to a point guard in the wake of Rachael McCully's retirement after last year's success, Cocks averaged 14.0ppg at 57 per cent, 4.0apg and 5.5rp in what clearly was the best week of basketball in the NZ international's life.

Four-time league MVP Suzy Batkovic also was big, averaging 20.5ppg and 12.5 rebounds, Perth finding itself depending far more on imports Laney and Sami Whitcomb and, arguably the season's Most Improved Player, Carley Mijovic.

THERE may have been a wry smile or two in Townsville last night too.

A year ago when the city's NBL team went into voluntary administration, there was a lot of advice and very little sympathy or empathy coming out of Perth for where the Crocodiles had gone wrong.

Very sure the country folk won't be calling Perth with any WNBL advice in return though. They'll just enjoy the moment.

Game 1, Best-of-3 Wattle Valley WNBL Grand Final Series: TOWNSVILLE FIRE 73 (Batkovic 25, Cocks 15, Novosel 9; George 12 rebs; Cocks 5 assts) d PERTH LYNX 57 (Whitcomb 20, Laney 19, Lavey 8; Laney 14 rebs; Whitcomb 4 assts) at Bendat Basketball Stadium. Townsville leads 1-0.

Game 2, Best-of-3 Wattle Valley WNBL Grand Final Series: TOWNSVILLE FIRE 80 (Novosel 18, Murray, Batkovic 16, Cocks, George 13: Batkovic 16 rebs; Murray 4 assts) d PERTH LYNX 70 (Mijovic, Laney 16, Whitcomb 15, Lavey 10; Whitcomb 10 rebs; Edmondson, Whitcomb 4 assts) at Townsville RSL Stadium. Townsville wins series 2-0, claims 2015-16 Championship. Rachael Sporn Medallist (MVP): Micaela Cocks (Fire).