Kicking off a round of all Australia-New Zealand clashes in the transtasman league, the Steel got New Zealand off to the best possible start, collecting their first win on Australian soil in 17 attempts.
After securing their first win of the season last weekend in a one-goal thriller against the visiting West Coast Fever, the Steel again held firm in a tense final quarter to pull off an unlikely 61-59 win against the reigning premiers.
Leading by one-goal at three-quarter time, Steel captain Jodi Brown said her side took the court in the final spell resolute in the knowledge that they had what it took to win the game, representing a major mindset shift for the team.
"I think what we're most proud of was our mental ability, we talked coming back out to the fourth quarter that we knew we were going to win this game, and that's where our challenge was. We showed we could do it and now we have to keep doing it," Brown said.
"We got a lot of confidence out of that win last week, and we wanted to keep it going over here."
A week ago the Thunderbirds, who had amassed a record 16-game winning streak dating back to round two last year, looked unstoppable. They have now lost two goals on the trot after the Northern Mystics ended that winning run with a stunning extra time defeat in Auckland last Monday.
The Adelaide side lost key midcourter Leigh Waddington in that match to a season-ending knee injury, and at times their new line-up struggled to adjust to the changes.
The Steel were also without experienced defender Rachel Rasmussen, leaving the young under-21 pairing of Phoenix Karaka and Storm Purvis to battle star shooter Carla Borrego.
The young defensive duo, who were assisted by committed defence outside the circle from nuggety midcourter Phillipa Finch and Wendy Frew, combined for some impressive touches to keep the Steel in steady supply of turnover ball - particularly in the first quarter when the visitors took a surprise 18-13 lead at the first break.
"They really stepped up and made sure they're accountable and really pushed for their positions," Brown said.
Down the other end of the court, the Thunderbirds struggled to contain towering Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler, who netted 50 of the Steel's 61 goals in a dominant shooting display.
