But making sure your team comes out on top can be a battle of statistics and Steel coach Noeline Taurua likes the way the numbers are adding up.
The southern franchise is the only unbeaten New Zealand team after four rounds. It has three wins and a draw and that represents the Steel's best start to the competition.
Shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit and defender Jane Watson produced strong performances during the comprehensive 67-54 win against the Central Pulse in Invercargill on Sunday.
Towering shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is the leading scorer with 183 goals from 206 attempts, while wing attack Gina Crampton (49 goal assists and 110 centre pass receives) is having an influence with her impressive feeding and work around the court.
It is all going swimmingly well and Taurua is happy with the improvements her side has shown in the opening month.
‘‘I am slowly seeing all the changes we've been working on during training [come to fruition],'' Taurua said.
‘‘We know there is a lot of room for improvement and we are very realistic, because it is only week four of a long competition. Really our intention is only to be better than the previous week and we are doing everything that we can on and off the court to make that happen.''
What gives Taurua the most satisfaction is the incremental gains the Steel is making in the race for turnovers.
In the past, the Steel has struggled to create enough turnovers on defence to be a title contender. But team statistics suggest it may have turned a corner.
Taurua said the Steel needed to average at least 30 turnovers each game in order to match the leading teams. It claimed 31 turnovers against the Pulse but previously has taken from 24 to 26 turnovers.
‘‘The numbers are increasing. It is a huge work-on but we are heading in the right direction.''
The Steel's ball security at the other end is also ‘‘pleasing''.
‘‘If you can keep your losses under 20 for the whole game that is brilliant.''
The Steel gave up 18 turnovers against the Pulse which is under the team average this season, and it achieved that while adopting a more attacking game plan.
The Steel has been guilty of being too one-dimensional on attack but Selby-Rickit is getting more involved. She always looked a little out of position at goal attack but is settling into the role.
She was instrumental during the wins against the Magic and Pulse and the Steel is a more formidable attacking unit with both shooters firing.
‘‘We can't be a one-shooter team, because it becomes too predictable and what usually happens, when you get in the tighter situations, is the opposition put two defenders on Jhaniele and make the goal attack shoot.
‘‘If the goal attack is not used to shooting or putting a high load of shots in, they sort of crack under pressure. One of the things coming into this year was that we needed two shooters who were available and who could put the shots up.
‘‘Te Paea does that with ease but it is about connecting her with the understanding of what she needs to do as a playmaker. I think she is working really hard on that.''
While the Steel has made a wonderful start it hosts the Fever this weekend. The Australian team showed glimpses of its potential last year and has emerged as a title contender this season.
It has a powerful shooting line-up of Natalie Medhurst and Caitlin Bassett and plays the game at a terrific pace.
The Australians will have to endure the long trip from Perth to Invercargill and that journey has proven taxing in the past. That said, the Fever shapes as a very tough opponent.
'‘We are No1 on the New Zealand conference but, as everyone knows, the test is always against the Australian teams.''
