Perth Lynx | |
---|---|
Leagues | WNBL |
Founded | 1988 |
History | Perth Breakers 1988–2001 Perth Lynx 2001–2010; 2015–present West Coast Waves 2010–2015 |
Arena | Bendat Basketball Centre |
Capacity | 2,000 |
Location | Perth, Western Australia |
Team colors | Red and black |
Main sponsor | Northern Star Resources |
CEO | Nathan Cave |
General manager | Samantha Macpherson |
Head coach | Ryan Petrik |
Ownership | Basketball Western Australia |
Championships | 1 (1992) |
Website | wnbl.basketball/perth/ |
The Perth Lynx are an Australian professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. The Lynx compete in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and play their home games at Bendat Basketball Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Northern Star Resources Perth Lynx.
The Lynx were established in 1988 as the Perth Breakers. After being owned and operated by Basketball Western Australia from 2001 to 2015, the Perth Wildcats took over ownership and operation of the team for a period of five years. In 2020, the licence was transferred back to Basketball Western Australia. The Lynx have reached six WNBL Grand Finals, winning their only championship in 1992.
In 1986, a Perth women's basketball team known as the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) Rockets entered the Women's Basketball Conference (WBC), a second-tier national league under the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). [1] [2] The state was told the only way they would be admitted to the WNBL was if the WAIS Rockets won the 1987 WBC title. The Rockets played all of their games away from home including finals, beating the Forestville Eagles in overtime to advance to the grand final, where they won the title 56–47 against the Knox Raiders. [3] The team featured Tanya Fisher and Cheryl Kickett-Tucker. [3]
The franchise debuted in the WNBL in 1988 as the Perth Breakers. After withdrawing midway through their second season in 1989, [4] [5] the Breakers returned to action in 1990. [6] The team appeared in the WNBL finals every year between 1991 and 2000 except 1997, making grand final appearances in 1992, 1993 and 1999. [6]
In the 1992 season, the Breakers won the WNBL championship behind captain Michele Timms and coach Tom Maher, along with Tanya Fisher, Natasha Bargeus, Lisa MacLean, Marynne Briggs and Marianna Vlahov. [7]
In 2001, the franchise came under the ownership of Basketball Western Australia. [8] The team name was subsequently changed to Perth Lynx and remained as such until 2010. [8]
After finishing last on the ladder in the 2009–10 WNBL season with a 2–20 record, the team was rebranded as the West Coast Waves for the 2010–11 WNBL season. The change symbolised the reinvigoration of the Basketball WA program under experienced head coach David Herbert and home-grown legend Tully Bevilaqua, and gave a nod to the team's history with the reintroduction of the black, green and gold colours. The Waves also debuted at the newly opened WA Basketball Centre. [9] [10] [11]
In 14 seasons under Basketball WA, the team failed to make a finals appearance. [6]
In April 2015, the team's licence was purchased by the Perth Wildcats and their chairman and owner Jack Bendat. The Wildcats subsequently brought back the Perth Lynx brand name and red colour. [8] [12] [13]
In the 2015–16 season, the Lynx qualified for the finals for the first time since 2000. [14] They went on to reach the grand final, their first since 1999, [15] where they lost 2–0 to the Townsville Fire. [16] [17]
In the 2017–18 season, the Lynx won 14 consecutive games throughout the season and finished on top of the ladder, before losing four matches in a row after enduring seven flights in eight days. They lost to Canberra and Townsville in the final weekend of the regular season and were then swept 2–0 by fourth-placed Melbourne in the semi-finals. [18] [19]
In March 2018, the licence agreement with the Wildcats was extended. [20]
In March 2020, the Perth Lynx's WNBL licence was transferred back to Basketball WA. [21] [22]
In the 2021–22 season, the Lynx finished in second place with an 11–5 record and reached the grand final, [23] [24] [25] [26] where they lost the series 2–1 to the Melbourne Boomers despite winning game one in Melbourne. [27]
In the 2023–24 season, the Lynx finished in fourth place with an 11–10 record and defeated the first-placed Townsville Fire in the semi-finals to reach their second grand final series in three years. [28] [29] [30] The Lynx won 101–79 in game one of the grand final series against the Southside Flyers. They became only the second team to ever score 100 points in a WNBL grand final and finished the game with 22 three-pointers. [31] [32] [33] They went on to finish runners-up after losing game two 97–95 [34] [35] and game three 115–81. [36] [37] [38]
In May 2024, Sports Entertainment Group were revealed as the front runners to take over ownership of the Perth Lynx from Basketball WA. [39]
Season | Standings | Regular season | Finals | Head coach | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | PCT | ||||
Perth Breakers | ||||||
1988 | 9th | 6 | 16 | .273 | Did not qualify | Dave Hancock |
1989 | Withdrew midseason [4] [5] | Dave Hancock | ||||
1990 | 8th | 10 | 14 | .417 | Did not qualify | Don Sheppard |
1991 | 3rd | 15 | 7 | .682 | Won Semi-final (North Adelaide, 82–72) Lost Preliminary Final (Hobart, 74–61) | Don Sheppard |
1992 | 1st | 17 | 3 | .850 | Won Semi-final (Melbourne, 54–52) Won Grand Final (Dandenong, 58–54) | Tom Maher |
1993 | 3rd | 12 | 6 | .667 | Won Semi-final (Dandenong, 83–68) Won Preliminary Final (Adelaide, 68–66) Lost Grand Final (Sydney, 65–64) | Guy Molloy |
1994 | 4th | 12 | 6 | .667 | Won Semi-final (Sydney, 62–58) Lost Preliminary Final (Melbourne, 74–64) | Guy Molloy |
1995 | 4th | 12 | 6 | .667 | Lost Semi-final (Melbourne, 60–39) | Guy Molloy |
1996 | 4th | 11 | 7 | .611 | Won Qualifying Final (Brisbane, 95–62) Won Semi-final (Bulleen, 75–58) Lost Preliminary Final (Adelaide, 87–55) | Guy Molloy |
1997 | 8th | 5 | 13 | .278 | Did not qualify | Murray Treseder |
1998 | 3rd | 8 | 4 | .667 | Lost Semi-final (AIS, 84–70) | Murray Treseder |
1998–99 | 2nd | 14 | 7 | .667 | Lost Semi-final (AIS, 81–62) Won Preliminary Final (Adelaide, 67–46) Lost Grand Final (AIS, 88–79) | Murray Treseder |
1999–00 | 4th | 11 | 10 | .524 | Lost Semi-final (Bulleen, 61–60) | Murray Treseder |
2000–01 | 7th | 4 | 17 | .190 | Did not qualify | James Crawford |
Perth Lynx | ||||||
2001–02 | 7th | 4 | 17 | .190 | Did not qualify | Rick Morcom |
2002–03 | 7th | 6 | 15 | .286 | Did not qualify | Rick Morcom |
2003–04 | 8th | 0 | 21 | .000 | Did not qualify | Murray Treseder |
2004–05 | 8th | 1 | 20 | .048 | Did not qualify | Craig Friday |
2005–06 | 7th | 4 | 17 | .190 | Did not qualify | Paul O'Brien |
2006–07 | 7th | 3 | 18 | .143 | Did not qualify | Paul O'Brien |
2007–08 | 10th | 5 | 19 | .208 | Did not qualify | Joe McKay |
2008–09 | 9th | 4 | 18 | .182 | Did not qualify | Joe McKay |
2009–10 | 9th | 2 | 20 | .091 | Did not qualify | Joe McKay / Vlad Alava |
West Coast Waves | ||||||
2010–11 | 8th | 8 | 14 | .364 | Did not qualify | David Herbert |
2011–12 | 9th | 2 | 20 | .091 | Did not qualify | David Herbert |
2012–13 | 9th | 4 | 20 | .167 | Did not qualify | Kennedy Kereama |
2013–14 | 9th | 1 | 23 | .042 | Did not qualify | Kennedy Kereama |
2014–15 | 8th | 4 | 18 | .182 | Did not qualify | Kennedy Kereama |
Perth Lynx | ||||||
2015–16 | 2nd | 16 | 8 | .667 | Won Semi-final (Townsville, 91–72) Lost Grand Final (Townsville, 0–2) | Andy Stewart |
2016–17 | 3rd | 15 | 9 | .625 | Lost Semi-final (Dandenong, 1–2) | Andy Stewart |
2017–18 | 1st | 15 | 6 | .714 | Lost Semi-final (Melbourne, 0–2) | Andy Stewart |
2018–19 | 4th | 13 | 8 | .619 | Lost Semi-final (Canberra, 0–2) | Andy Stewart |
2019–20 | 5th | 8 | 13 | .381 | Did not qualify | Andy Stewart |
2020 | 7th | 4 | 9 | .308 | Did not qualify | Ryan Petrik |
2021–22 | 2nd | 11 | 5 | .688 | Won Semi-final (Canberra, 91–77) Lost Grand Final (Melbourne, 1–2) | Ryan Petrik |
2022–23 | 4th | 13 | 8 | .619 | Lost Semi-final (Townsville, 0–2) | Ryan Petrik |
2023–24 | 4th | 11 | 10 | .524 | Won Semi-final (Townsville, 2–0) Lost Grand Final (Southside, 1–2) | Ryan Petrik |
Regular season | 281 | 450 | .384 | 2 Minor Premierships | ||
Finals | 16 | 23 | .410 | 1 WNBL Championship |
Source: Year By Year
Perth Lynx roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Updated: 18 February 2024 |
WNBL Championships: | 1 (1992) |
WNBL Finals appearances: | 16 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
WNBL Grand Final appearances: | 6 (1992, 1993, 1999, 2016, 2022, 2024) |
WNBL Grand Final MVPs: | Tanya Fisher (1992) |
All-WNBL First Team: | Michele Timms (1991, 1992, 1994), Gina Stevens (1996, 1999), Deanna Smith (2006, 2009), Carly Wilson (2007), Sami Whitcomb (2016, 2017, 2018, 2023), Courtney Williams (2018), Asia Taylor (2019), Katie-Rae Ebzery (2019–20, 2020), Jackie Young (2022) |
All-WNBL Second Team: | Marina Mabrey (2022), Lauren Scherf (2023), Aari McDonald (2024), Amy Atwell (2024) |
WNBL Coach of the Year: | Tom Maher (1992), Guy Molloy (1995), Andy Stewart (2016, 2018), Ryan Petrik (2022) |
WNBL Defensive Player of the Year: | Robyn Maher (1992), Tully Bevilaqua (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000) |
WNBL Sixth Woman of the Year: | Alison Schwagmeyer (2019–20) |
WNBL Leading Scorer: | Gina Stevens (1996), Deanna Smith (2006), Sami Whitcomb (2017), Asia Taylor (2019), Aari McDonald (2024) |
Retired numbers: | 4 – Tina Christie, 13 – Melissa McClure, 14 – Melissa Marsh, 41 – Tully Bevilaqua |
Source: Perth Lynx Achievements
Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), formerly Pacific Star Network, is an Australian sports media content and entertainment business. SEG is the owner and parent company of Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).
Natalie Burton is an Australian basketball player and coach. She is currently the assistant coach for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She represented the Australian national team and was a regular with the Perry Lakes Hawks of the NBL1 West until 2021.
Mitchell Robert Norton is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Southern Districts Spartans of the NBL1 North. He began his career in 2011 with the Townsville Crocodiles before joining the Illawarra Hawks in 2016 following the collapse of his hometown team. After two seasons with the Hawks, he joined the Perth Wildcats and won two NBL championships in five seasons. He has also played for the Townsville Heat in the Queensland Basketball League and the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL.
Samantha Allison Whitcomb is an American-Australian professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Washington Huskies before making a name for herself in Australia with the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League (SBL) and the Perth Lynx in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She made her debut in the WNBA in 2017 and won championships with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020. She became an Australian citizen in 2018 and made her debut for the Australian Opals.
Antonia "Toni" Farnworth is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Ringwood Hawks of the NBL1 South. She has spent most of her career playing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in Australia and has been a long-time representative and captain of the New Zealand national team, the Tall Ferns.
Anneli Maley is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is also contracted with the Perth Redbacks of the NBL1 West. She made her WNBL debut in 2016 and then spent two seasons in the United States playing college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and TCU Horned Frogs. With the Bendigo Spirit in 2022, she was named the WNBL Most Valuable Player.
Marena Whittle is an Australian professional basketball player.
The Southside Flyers are an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. The Flyers compete in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and play their home games at the State Basketball Centre. For sponsorship purposes, they are known as the Jayco Southside Flyers.
Ryan Petrik is an Australian basketball coach who currently serves as head coach of the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Prior to becoming head coach of the Lynx in 2020, Petrik led the Rockingham Flames women's team in the State Basketball League (SBL) to two championships in 2014 and 2015 and earned SBL Coach of the Year honours in 2012. Between 2015 and 2020, he served as an assistant coach with the Lynx, and between 2019 and 2023, he served as head coach of the Flames men's team. In 2022, he was named the WNBL Coach of the Year and guided the Flames men to the NBL1 West championship and NBL1 National championship.
Alexandra Jane Sharp is an Australian professional basketball player.
Aarion Shawnae McDonald is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in Australia. She was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the 2021 WNBA draft after playing college basketball at the University of Washington and the University of Arizona.
Amy Atwell is an Australian professional basketball player who is a free agent. She played college basketball for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine, where she won the Big West Conference Player of the Year in 2022.
The 2022–23 WNBL season is the 43rd season of the competition since its establishment in 1981. The Melbourne Boomers were the defending champions, but were defeated in the Semi-Finals by Southside. The Townsville Fire won their fourth championship title after sweeping Southside, 2–0 in the Grand Final series.
Miela Elizabeth Goodchild is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is also contracted with the North Gold Coast Seahawks of the NBL1 North. After winning a WNBL championship as a development player with the Townsville Fire in 2018, she played four seasons of college basketball in the United States for the Duke Blue Devils. She returned to the WNBL in 2022, playing a season for the Melbourne Boomers before joining the Perth Lynx.
Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is also contracted with the Southern Districts Spartans of the NBL1 North. She played a season of college basketball for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine before starting her WNBL career as a development player with the Lynx in 2020. In 2022, she became a fully contracted player with the Lynx and won the NBL1 West championship and NBL1 National championship with the Warwick Senators.
The 2023–24 WNBL season is the 44th season of the competition since its establishment in 1981. The Townsville Fire were the defending champions, but were defeated in the Semi-Finals by Perth. The Southside Flyers won their fifth championship title after defeating Perth, 2–1 in the Grand Final series.
Teige Morrell is an American professional basketball player for the Lakeside Lightning of the NBL1 West. She played college basketball for the Nevada Wolf Pack before playing professionally in Australia. She won the NBL1 Central MVP in 2019 with the Woodville Warriors and then spent a season with the Bendigo Spirit in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). In 2021, she helped the Southern Tigers win the NBL1 Central championship behind another MVP season. She joined the Joondalup Wolves in 2022 and earned All-NBL1 West First Team honors in 2022 and 2023. After a season with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL, she joined the Lightning in 2024.
The 2024 WNBL Finals is the postseason tournament of the WNBL's 2023–24 season. The Townsville Fire were the defending champions, but were defeated by Perth in the Semi-Finals. The WNBL Finals schedule was confirmed 25 February 2024, followed by the Grand Finals series schedule announced 6 March 2024.