“Frustrating…feels like we’ve run out of puff a little bit which is obviously annoying with the start to the season we had,” Knight said. “We just kind of lost momentum…the form dropped off a little and we looked a bit tired. But I still think it’s a season that the girls can be proud of.”
Thunder won just five games across the past two seasons in a fall from grace since lifting the title in WBBL06. But under the new leadership of Knight and coach Lisa Keightley, who led England from 2019-22, Thunder entered the season with an “underdog” mentality that served them well.
“It really helped us,” Knight said. “I think we’ve got some young talented players…Olivia Porter and Anika [Learoyd] in the middle order are developing and learning how to play in different conditions.
“We played a lot in different conditions actually, which has been quite interesting to adapt to and adapt the captaincy, so it’s been quite fun.”
Athapaththu top-scored with 41 before she succumbed to a short-pitched delivery from Courtney Sippel, who along with fellow quick Nicola Hancock ripped through Thunder’s batting order.
“[We need to] make sure that we’re able to execute our skills for a little bit longer,” Knight said. “I feel like we fought really well… [but need to not] get in that position in the first place. We had to claw games back a little bit like [the Heat game].”
As expectations grew, Thunder struggled to cope and they were left to rue a defeat to crosstown rival Sydney Sixers in their final regular season game that cost them second spot and a home final in the Challenger.
“I think we just haven’t been used to being at the top…the mentality changes a little bit,” Knight said. “We probably lost a little bit of freedom, a few people maybe tensed up a little bit and that’s a really good learning I think.
“I think this team should believe that they should be in the top four. I think at the start of the season we definitely would have taken making it to the final stages.”