West Coast Waves
| West Coast Waves | |
 Logo West Coast Waves | |
| Founded: | 1988 |
|---|---|
| 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: | Kennedy Kereama |
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 Western Australia 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.
History
Perth Breakers: 1988 - 2001
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]
Perth Lynx: 2002 - 2009
After a change of ownership following the 2000/01 WNBL season, 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. At the end of the 2008/2009 season, owners of the team, Basketball WA, decided the program needed a complete overhaul and reinvigoration.
West Coast Waves: 2010–present
In 2010, David Herbert was appointed as 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 player 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 West Coast Waves.[6]
The 2010–11 season saw the team finish with a record of 8 wins and 14 losses, 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.[7] 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 (US college) and Darcee Garbin (AIS) 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.
Current roster
| West Coast Waves 2012/13 Roster | ||||
| Head Coach: Kennedy Kereama Assistant Coach: Vlad Alava |
Edit | |||
| 5 |  |
Amelia Todhunter | ||
| 6 | |
Adrienne Jones | ||
| 7 |  |
Antonia Edmondson | ||
| 10 | |
Lisa Wallbutton | ||
| 11 | |
Darcee Garbin | ||
| 12 | |
Kate Fielding | ||
| 14 | |
Melissa Marsh | ||
| 16 | |
Natalie Burton | ||
| 18 | |
Rachel Lisch | ||
| 19 | |
Hayley Moffat | ||
| 20 | |
Zoe Harper | ||
| 22 | |
Shani Amos | ||
| 24 | |
Deanna Smith | ||
| 32 | |
Gabriella Clayton | ||
| 42 | |
Kaye Tucker | ||
References
- ↑ http://www.wnbl.com.au/index.php?id=64
- ↑ http://www.basketballwa.asn.au/index.php?id=10
- ↑ http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=1345
- ↑ "WNBL All-time results". WNBL. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
- ↑ http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/basketball/former-breakers-hero-michele-timms-tips-west-coast-waves-revival/story-e6frg25u-1225902510846
- ↑ http://linky.com.au/b6oh0 West Coast Waves: The New Name of Elite Women’s Basketball in WA
- ↑ http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/basketball/nz-womens-coach-kennedy-keream-takes-charge-of-west-coast-waves/story-e6frg25u-1226284323925 NZ women's coach Kennedy Keream takes charge of West Coast Waves
External links
- Official WNBL website
- West Coast Waves official website
- Basketball Australia official website
- Basketball Western Australia official website
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