Coach Janine Southby summed up the Steel's season with just two words after its 71-69 extra-time loss to the Magic in Hamilton at the weekend.
''So close.''
It is hard to disagree with her. After all, not including a loss to the Firebirds and the first of three losses to the Magic, the Steel was fiercely competitive in all of its matches.
However, being competitive is not good enough on its own.
The Steel found that out the hard way through a bunch of fourth- quarter collapses, something that could perhaps be put down to a lack of experience.
In six of its nine losses, the Steel lost the final quarter, while it was either even or ahead at some stage in the final quarter in losses to the Swifts, Mystics and the Magic twice.
Throw in the fact it was within two goals at least once in the final 15 minutes in losses to the Fever, Vixens and Mystics, and it is more obvious the Steel had problems in the fourth quarter than it is Caitlyn Jenner used to be Bruce Jenner.
Maybe it is because it is fresh in the memory bank, but the playoff loss to the Magic at the weekend was the most disappointing.
Leading by six goals into the final quarter, the Steel squandered the lead and went on to lose the match in extra time, ending its season in the process.
Sadly, it was typical of what Steel fans grew accustomed to during the course of the season.
Southby admitted she sounded like a broken record trying to explain the narrow losses on unforced errors stemming from a lack of experience, but she had a point.
Only five players - Katarina Cooper, Wendy Frew, Jane Watson, Shannon Francois and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid - are older than 23.
The Steel also had two players - wing attack Gina Crampton and goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit - who had not started a game at this level before this year, start all 14 matches during the season.
Both showed a great deal of promise and will give the Steel plenty to build on if they are retained next year.
The same goes for defenders Phoenix Karaka and Storm Purvis, who are sure to be near the top of Steel chief executive Lana Winder's wish list.
Captain Wendy Frew had a solid season at wing defence and should be back to provide the team with her veteran leadership.
While the Steel accomplished its goal of making the playoffs, few would have thought three wins and two draws would have been enough to do so.
The fact three wins and one of the draws came against the Mainland Tactix and Central Pulse - the only teams with worse regular-season records -suggests there was was not much to get excited about.
But you can only play what is in front of you, and there is no doubt the Steel has a bright future if it can retain the core of its team which showed so much promise but is perhaps a year away from truly flourishing.
Steel season at a glance
Record
Played 14, won 3, drawn 2, lost 9
Placing: Third in NZ conference (8th overall).
Goals scored: 828.
Goals conceded: 846
Match by match: Swifts L 68-62, Tactix W 68-54, Fever L 67-60, Mystics L 57-52, Tactix W 84-58, Magic L 63-57, Vixens L 63-54, Thunderbirds D 53-53, Pulse W 50-49, Magic L 59-53, Pulse D 55-55, Mystics L 61-63, Firebirds L 50-66, Magic L 69-71 (ET)
Shooting
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid 607/697 (87.08%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit 185/235 (78.72%)
Brooke Leaver 21/29 (72.41%)
Sophia Fenwick 16/26 (61.53%)
Van Royen's awards
MVP: Her shooting percentage was 6% down from her first two years with the Steel, but it still has to be 1.98m shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid. The Jamaican international makes life easy for the midcourters with her incredible ability to snaffle almost anything thrown into the circle. It is hard to comprehend how the Steel would fare without her.
Honourable mention: Phoenix Karaka is emerging as one of the most promising young defenders in the country. The 21-year-old formed a fine combination with Storm Purvis at the defensive end, and finished the season with the fourth-most interceptions (26) in the competition. She also had 34 deflections.
Best performance: The thrilling 50-49 win against the Central Pulse in Dunedin was not just a great match, it ultimately helped the Steel scrape into the playoffs.
Worst performance: The 16-goal loss to the Firebirds in the final regular-season match was a shocker. Particularly the third quarter, in which the Steel was outscored 21-10.
Questions for 2016: Will three wins and a couple of draws be enough for a New Zealand team to make the playoffs in a conference system coming under increasing scrutiny? Can the Steel fend off the vultures and retain its young guns such as Phoenix Karaka, Storm Purvis and Gina Crampton?Will the Steel's decision a year ago to move forward with a youthful team start paying off on the court?
