| West Coast Waves | |
Logo West Coast Waves |
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| Founded: | 1988 |
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| Home court: | WA Basketball Centre, Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Colours: | Home: Black, Green, Gold and White Away: White, Green and Gold |
| WNBL Championships: | 1992 |
| Playoff appearances: | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| Head coach: | David Herbert |
The West Coast Waves are an Australian women's professional basketball team in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, the Waves are the only team representing WA and one of ten teams competing in the WNBL[1]. As the elite women's basketball team in WA, the Waves provide aspiring and talented basketballers with a high performance pathway as they develop into professional athletes.
Basketball WA own and operate the team. They do this to provide WA's female basketballers with a high performance pathway, allowing them to play at an elite level within their own state [2]. "Alcohol. Think Again" is the current naming rights sponsor.
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Originally formed as the Perth Breakers in 1988, the team was headed by super coach Tom Maher and were successful for many years under that moniker. The Breakers appeared in the WNBL finals from 1991–1996, winning a championship in 1992. Australian basketball legends such as Robyn Maher, Tully Bevilaqua and Michele Timms played for the Breakers during this period.[3] After missing the finals in 1997, the Breakers appeared in three more finals campaigns over the next three years. However, since 2000, Perth has not appeared in the WNBL finals [4].
In 2002, the Breakers were re-branded as the Perth Lynx, and in the years up until 2010, did not see much success. Many years of mediocre performances towards the bottom of the ladder led the team to re-evaluate it's operations. Regardless of the team's lack of on-court success, star players still emerged from the program during this time. Some of these standout players include Carly Wilson, Rohanee Cox and Deanna Smith. At the end of the 2008/2009 season, owners of the team, Basketball WA, decided the program needed a complete overhaul and reinvigoration.
In 2010, David Herbert was appointed to the role of Head Coach. 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 2010/2011 WNBL season. Following the appointment of Herbert, home-grown legend Tully Bevilaqua was signed for the 2010/2011 WNBL season. Bevilaqua is set to be joined by WA's finest basketballers and the upcoming season has been billed a 'season of change'; the initial point of turnaround for the flailing team.[5]
In August 2010, the team was renamed the Waves, a name suggested by fan Helen Theoharakis in the national naming competition.[6]
With a long-term focus on sustainable outcomes, the Waves are a new look team with a concrete and targeted plan for the future.
| West Coast Waves 2010/11 Roster |
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| Head Coach: David Herbert Assistant Coach: Craig Friday Assistant Coach: Melissa Sinfield Assistant Coach: Ben Ettridge |
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| 6 | Rachel Watman | (Caringbah, New South Wales) | ||
| 7 | Cortney Hargreaves | (Adelaide, South Australia) | ||
| 8 | Michelle Joy | (Sutherland, New South Wales) | ||
| 11 | Jasmine Hooper | (Fremantle, Western Australia) | ||
| 12 | Tarsha Fletcher | (Rockingham, Western Australia) | ||
| 14 | Melissa Marsh | (Narrogin, Western Australia) | ||
| 15 | Tully Bevilaqua | (Merredin, Western Australia) | ||
| 20 | Zoe Harper | (Kalgoorlie, Western Australia) | ||
| 21 | Samantha Norwood | (Esperance, Western Australia) | ||
| 22 | Shani Amos | (Midland, Western Australia) | ||
| 23 | Kate Malpass | (Perth, Western Australia) | ||
| 24 | Ebony Antonio | (Perth, Western Australia) | ||
| 42 | Gabriella Clayton | (Sydney, New South Wales) | ||
| 43 | Ainsleigh Sanders | (Glengarry, Western Australia) | ||
| 44 | Rebecca Mercer | (Kalamunda, Western Australia) | ||
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