Adelaide Lightning

Last updated

Adelaide Lightning
Leagues WNBL
Founded1993
HistoryAdelaide Lightning
1993–2005 & 2006–Present
Adelaide Fellas
2005–2006
Arena Titanium Security Arena
Findon, South Australia
Australia
Capacity7,800
Team colors  Dark blue
  Red
  Yellow
Head coachNat Hurst
Championships5 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2008)
Website Official website

The Adelaide Lightning is an Australian professional women's basketball team competing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). [1] The club is based in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. The club was formed in 1993 and they play in the 8,000-seat Titanium Security Arena.

Contents

History

The Adelaide Lightning were formed in 1993 and started playing out of the Clipsal Powerhouse. Since the early 2000s the team has tended to alternate between their current home at the Adelaide Arena (formerly the Powerhouse) and the Wayville Sports Centre located within the Adelaide Showgrounds.

The Lightning have won the WNBL Championship five times (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2008). The club's captain during its glory years of the 1990s was three time Olympian, twice WNBL MVP and club games record holder (304) Rachael Sporn. Sporn is also the only Lightning player to have her number (14) retired by the club. Other Opals to have played with the Lightning include Jenny Whittle, Carla Boyd, Jo Hill, Kristi Harrower, Erin Phillips, Jae Kingi-Cross, Marina Moffa, Tracey Beatty and Suzy Batkovic-Brown.

As of the 2013–14 WNBL season, the Lightning and Adelaide's men's NBL team the Adelaide 36ers entered into a merger which saw the two teams share the same management team. This also saw the Lightning move their home games exclusively played at the Adelaide Arena where they would play a number of double headers with the 36ers, ensuring larger home attendances for the Lightning and raising the profile of the team. The return to the 8,000 seat Adelaide Arena gives the Lightning easily the largest current venue in the WNBL (the Arena seats some 2,800 more than the AIS Arena in Canberra, while most other WNBL venues can seat around 2,000 – 2,500).

On 5 March 2019, Mr Bruce Spangler, Chairman of Arena Stadium Management announced that he and another business person had negotiated with the WNBL to take over the licence from Adelaide Basketball who were going to hand in the WNBL Club licence at the end of the 2018–19 season. A new sustainable model has now been released for the public to be involved in.

In September 2023, the Lightning and Rachael Sporn agreed to un-retired her number 14 jersey, which was originally retired in 2007. [2]

Season-by-season records

SeasonStandingsRegular seasonFinalsHead coach
WLPCT
Adelaide Lightning
1993 2nd16288.8Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 59–64)
Lost Preliminary Final (Perth, 66–68)
Jan Stirling
1994 1st16288.8Won Semi Final (Melbourne, 84–82)
Won Grand Final (Melbourne, 84–77)
Jan Stirling
1995 1st16288.8Won Semi Final (Sydney, 73–63)
Won Grand Final (Melbourne, 50–43)
Jan Stirling
1996 2nd16288.8Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 54–57)
Won Preliminary Final (Perth, 87–55)
Won Grand Final (Sydney, 80–65)
Jan Stirling
1997 2nd14477.7Won Semi Final (Sydney, 58–54)
Lost Grand Final (Sydney, 56–61)
Jan Stirling
1998 2st9375.0Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 42–61)
Won Preliminary Final (AIS, 81–54)
Won Grand Final (Sydney, 67–57)
Jan Stirling
1998–99 3rd12957.1Won Semi Final (Melbourne, 63–54)
Lost Preliminary Final (Perth, 46–67)
Jan Stirling
1999–00 2nd13861.9Won Semi Final (Canberra, 91–84)
Lost Grand Final (Canberra, 50–67)
Jan Stirling
2000–01 3rd15671.4Lost Semi Final (Dandenong, 71–83) Jan Stirling
2001–02 1st17480.9Lost Semi Final (Canberra, 62–66)
Lost Preliminary Final (Sydney, 64–66)
Jan Stirling
2002–03 4th12957.1Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 70–72) Jan Stirling
2003–04 3rd13861.9Won Semi Final (Canberra, 72–63)
Lost Preliminary Final (Sydney, 61–65)
Jan Stirling
2004–05 4th13861.9Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 93–94) Chris Lucas
Adelaide Fellas
2005–06 2nd14766.6Lost Semi Final (Dandenong, 70–75)
Lost Preliminary Final (Canberra, 81–83)
Chris Lucas
Adelaide Lightning
2006–07 3rd15671.4Won Semi Final (Dandenong, 66–61)
Lost Preliminary Final (Canberra, 74–82)
Chris Lucas
2007–08 1st21387.5Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 71–90)
Won Preliminary Final (Dandenong, 74–64)
Won Grand Final (Sydney, 92–82)
Vicki Valk
2008–09 4th15768.1Won Elimination Final (Bendigo, 81–73)
Lost Semi Final (Townsville, 78–91)
Vicki Valk
2009–10 6th13959.0Did not qualify Vicki Valk
2010–11 9th31913.6Did not qualifyStephen Breheny
2011–12 1st18481.8Lost Semi Final (Bulleen, 70–73)
Lost Preliminary Final (Dandenong, 78–91)
Peter Buckle
2012–13 3rd18675.0Lost Semi Final (Townsville, 53–60)Peter Buckle
2013–14 5th121250.0Did not qualifyPeter Buckle
Richard Dickel
2014–15 7th71531.8Did not qualifyJeremi Moule
2015–16 7th101441.6Did not qualifyTracy York
2016–17 8th32112.5Did not qualify Chris Lucas
2017–18 5th111052.3Did not qualify Chris Lucas
2018–19 3rd13861.9Won Semi Final (Melbourne, 2–0)
Lost Grand Final (Canberra, 1–2)
Chris Lucas
2019–20 4th12957.1Lost Semi Final (Southside, 0–2) Chris Lucas
2020–21 6th5838.5Did not qualify Guy Molloy
2021–22 4th10758.8Lost Semi Final (Melbourne Boomers, 0–2) Guy Molloy
2022–23 7th51623.8Did not qualify Natalie Hurst
Regular season36821663.05 Minor Premierships
Finals192543.25 WNBL Championships

Source: Adelaide Lightning Archived 22 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Statistics

Adelaide Lightning statistics
2010s
SeasonPPGRPGAPGSPGBPG
2010–11 A. Marino (15.2) D. Walker (6.5) A. Marino (4.2) D. Walker (1.9) D. Walker (1.9)
2011–12 S. Batkovic (24.6) S. Batkovic (10.2) A. Marino (3.5) S. Batkovic (2.6) S. Batkovic (1.6)
2012–13 S. Batkovic (21.0) S. Batkovic (9.7) J. Screen (4.3) S. Batkovic (1.5) S. Batkovic (2.6)
2013–14 L. Hodges (17.8) L. Hodges (7.7) A. Marino (3.4) J. Foley (1.0) C. Shegog (1.1)
2014–15 L. Hodges (16.5) J. Screen (6.9) J. Screen (3.7) J. Foley (1.3) K. Scheer (0.7)
2015–16 L. Mitchell (16.8) M. Ruef (9.9) L. Mitchell (4.5) L. Mitchell (2.1) K. Standish (0.8)
2016–17 L. Hodges (17.5) L. Hodges (7.1) S. Logic (5.4) S. Logic (1.8) C. Planeta (1.5)
2017–18 A. Bishop (15.7) A. Bishop (9.2) N. Seekamp (5.0) N. Novosel (2.4) R. Hamblin (1.0)
2018–19 N. Coffey (17.5) K. Alexander (8.9) N. Seekamp (6.0) N. Seekamp (2.2) N. Coffey (1.3)

Players

Current roster

2023–24 Adelaide Lightning roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Basham, Brooke 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
G 4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tonks, Elizabeth 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Thompson, Sharna 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
G/F 7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Talbot, Stephanie  (C)1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simons, Jess 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
F 11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mole, Taylor 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Coleman, Molly 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 13 Flag of the United States.svg Willoughby, Jocelyn  (I)1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Borlase, Isobel 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
F/C 20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Batish, Ella 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
F 21 Flag of the United States.svg Turner, Brianna  (I)1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
G 24 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Stasinowsky, Bianca 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
G 33 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mansfield, Lauren 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
F 34 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bourne, Isabelle 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G/F 41 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brazel, Tayla 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mel Downer

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Updated: 9 January 2024

Honour roll

WNBL Championships:5 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007/08)
WNBL Finals Appearances:19 (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2012/13)
WNBL Grand Final appearances:7 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999/2000, 2007/08)
WNBL Most Valuable Players: Rachael Sporn (1996, 1997), Suzy Batkovic (2012, 2013)
WNBL Grand Final MVPs: Rachael Sporn (1994, 1995), Michelle Brogan (1996), Jo Hill (1998), Renae Camino (2008)
WNBL Coach of the Year: Jan Stirling (1993), Peter Buckle (2012)
WNBL Rookie of the Year:Kamala Lamshed (2002)

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References

  1. "WNBL Media Guide 2016–17" (PDF). wnbl.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  2. "RACHAEL SPORN'S NO. 14 JERSEY RETURNS WITH ISOBEL BORLASE". wnbl.basketball/adelaide. 11 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024.