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Perth Lynx

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Perth Lynx
2015–16 Perth Lynx season
Perth Lynx logo
LeaguesWNBL
Founded1988
HistoryPerth Breakers
1988–2001
Perth Lynx
2001–2010; 2015–present
West Coast Waves
2010–2015
ArenaBendat Basketball Centre
Capacity2,000
LocationPerth, Western Australia
Team colorsBlack and red
   
PresidentAustralia Dr. Jack Bendat
Head coachAustralia Andy Stewert
OwnershipAustralia Dr. Jack Bendat
Championships1 (1992)
WebsitePerthLynx.com

The Perth Lynx are an Australian women's professional basketball team in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Based in Perth, Western Australia, the Lynx are the only team representing Western Australia in the WNBL.[1] The club was owned by Basketball Western Australia from 2001 to 2015 until Perth Wildcats chairman and owner Dr. Jack Bendat purchased the license of the team in April 2015.[2][3]

History

Perth Breakers (1988–2001)

Originally formed as the Perth Breakers in 1988, the club was successful for many years under that moniker. The Breakers appeared in the WNBL finals from 1991 to 1996, winning a championship in 1992 under super coach Tom Maher. Australian basketball legends such as Robyn Maher, Tully Bevilaqua and Michele Timms played for the Breakers during this period. After missing the finals in 1997, the Breakers appeared in three more finals campaigns over the next three years.

Perth Lynx (2001–2010)

After a change of ownership in 2001, the Breakers were re-branded as the Perth Lynx. In the years up until 2010, the team did not see much success. Many years of mediocre performances towards the bottom of the ladder, which included setting a WNBL record for the longest ever losing streak, led the team to re-evaluate its operations. Regardless of the team's lack of on-court success, the Lynx were able to lure some star players to the program including Carly Wilson, Shelley Hammonds, Samantha Richards, Rohanee Cox and Deanna Smith.

West Coast Waves (2010–2015)

In 2010, David Herbert was appointed as head coach of the newly dubbed West Coast Waves. The administration of the program was largely focused on rebranding and developing the program in the off-season and the result was a new team name, uniforms and team colours in time for the 2010–11 WNBL season. Following the appointment of Herbert, home-grown player Tully Bevilaqua was also signed for the 2010–11 season. The 2010–11 season saw the team finish with a win/loss record of 8-14, its most successful season in over a decade.

In February 2012, it was announced that Kennedy Kereama had been appointed the coach of the West Coast Waves for a period of two years.[4] Kereama assembled a new look Waves line-up, bringing in interstate recruits Deanna Smith, Amelia Todhunter and Hayley Moffat as well as New Zealand representatives Lisa Wallbutton and Antonia Edmondson. Locals Natalie Burton and Darcee Garbin were also recruited to the team, joining returning players Melissa Marsh, Shani Amos, Kaye Tucker and Zoe Harper in the West Coast line-up. Despite its strongest recruiting effort in more than a decade, the 2012–13 season saw the Waves win only four games in Kereama's debut season as a WNBL head coach.

New ownership (2015)

On 16 April 2015, Perth Wildcats chairman and owner Dr. Jack Bendat and his family purchased the license of Western Australia's Women's National Basketball League franchise. The team was subsequently re-named the Perth Lynx in order to operate under Perth Wildcats management.[2] Three days later, former Perth Wildcats assistant coach Andy Stewart was named the head coach of the Lynx for the 2015–16 season.[5]

Return of the Lynx (2015–present)

The club made early big name signings in Natalie Burton, Louella Tomlinson and Sami Whitcomb before going really local with two SEABL wing player signings in Izzy Chilcott and Klara Wischer, and 2014 WNBA draft selection Carley Mijovic.[6] The club's seventh signing for the 2015–16 season came in returning college player Stacey Barr, a 172 cm guard from Werribee, Victoria who played four years of college basketball for the University of Idaho.[7] Next came the signing of Opals' guard Tessa Lavey[8] and the second import spot, which was filled by WNBA player Betnijah Laney. Laney played college basketball for Rutgers University and was selected by the Chicago Sky with the 17th overall pick in the 2015 WNBA draft.[9] The team's final roster spot was filled by New Zealander Toni Edmondson, a veteran in the WNBL who played for the WSBL's Joondalup Wolves in 2015.[10]

On 1 October, the day of the Lynx season launch, Tessa Lavey was named the inaugural captain of the new-look franchise.[11]

Current roster

Perth Lynx roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 1 Australia Sowah, Miela 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
G 2 Australia Gorman, Stephanie 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
F/C 3 United States Morrell, Teige 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
G 5 Australia Wilson, Alex 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 8 Australia Ciabattoni, Alex 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
C 9 Australia Waite, Kiara 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 12 Australia Clinch Hoycard, Mackenzie 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 15 United States Amihere, Laeticia (I) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
G 21 Australia Scafidi, Jaya (DP) 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
F 24 Australia Maley, Anneli (C) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 25 Australia Atwell, Amy (VC) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 42 Australia Fotu, Alira (DP) 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 28 October 2024

References

  1. ^ "History of the WNBL". WNBL.com.au. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Perth Wildcats purchase WNBL license". NBL.com.au. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  3. ^ Rynne, Nick (16 April 2015). "Wildcats creating waves with Lynx". Yahoo.com. The West Australian. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  4. ^ "NZ women's coach Kennedy Keream takes charge of West Coast Waves". PerthNow.com.au. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Andy Stewart named Perth Lynx Head Coach". Wildcats.com.au. NBL.com.au. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  6. ^ "PERTH LYNX SIGN THREE NEW PLAYERS". PerthLynx.com. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  7. ^ "PERTH LYNX SIGN AUSTRALIAN GUARD STACEY BARR". PerthLynx.com. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. ^ "PERTH LYNX SIGN AUSTRALIAN OPAL TESSA LAVEY". PerthLynx.com. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  9. ^ "PERTH LYNX SIGN WNBA PLAYER BETNIJAH LANEY". PerthLynx.com. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  10. ^ "PERTH LYNX SIGN TALL FERN TONI EDMONDSON". PerthLynx.com. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  11. ^ "TESSA LAVEY NAMED PERTH LYNX CAPTAIN". PerthLynx.com. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
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