Guard Shaneice Swain admits her WNBL season of promise has been a rollercoaster, on which she's had to ride more lows than highs.
Last season Swain was third in the competition for scoring and the Sydney Flames' most prolific shooter, averaging 17 points a game.
But this campaign, the 22-year-old has been a shadow of her offensive self, contributing an average of 10.33 points a game.
It comes as Sydney has struggled to find baskets, converting about two in five of their field goal attempts, the lowest in the league.
After 15 points in 19 minutes in her second game of the season, Swain looked on track to keep her swagger from last season.
But after returning from a back niggle in early November, her scoring grinded to a halt and confidence tumbled, as she registered just one 20-plus point game in 14 matches.
"I feel I've definitely been on a very high and low roller coaster, mostly low," Swain said.
"It's been a rough season for me ... but the game's coming a bit more freely to me, and I'm just taking whatever's in front of me."
Against the Perth Lynx on Sunday, the 2025 Los Angeles Sparks recruit was instrumental, sinking 20 points for the Flames in their 76-57 loss.
It was her second 20-point performance in three games, and the guard credits her team's support during a difficult campaign for her end-of-season rise.
"Renae (coach) has been giving me a lot of confidence. My team's been giving me a lot of confidence," Swain said.
"I've just been sticking through it, riding the waves, and just knowing that I'll see the other side.
"That (performance) has definitely helped boost my confidence today. But for me, it doesn't matter unless we win."
The Flames play the Geelong Venom on Sunday, when both sides will be looking to bounce back from losses and avoid the wooden spoon.
