Melbourne Boomers

Last updated

Melbourne Boomers
Melbourne Boomers 2020 1000x1000.png
Leagues WNBL
Founded1984
HistoryBulleen Boomers
1984–2013
Melbourne Boomers
2013–present
Arena Parkville Stadium
Capacity3,500
LocationMelbourne, Victoria
Team colorsPurple and gold
Main sponsorDeakin University Australia
Head coach Chris Lucas
Team captainTBC
Championships2 (2011, 2022)
Website wnbl.basketball/melbourne

The Melbourne Boomers are an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. The Boomers compete in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and play their home games at Parkville Stadium. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Deakin Melbourne Boomers.

Contents

History

Bulleen-Templestowe Basketball Club (BTBC) was established in 1969. [1]

In 1984, BTBC secured a licence to join the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), [1] marking the debut of the Bulleen Boomers. [2]

The Boomers' first coach was Trevor Cook and the initial team included Michele Timms and Samantha Thornton who both would go on to represent Australia with distinction in future years. The club first qualified for the finals in 1989 under the guidance of coach Paul Deacon and, after progressing to the same stage the following year, missed the playoffs until 1996 when, in coach Lori Chizik's first season, Bulleen finished third in the regular season before bowing out in the semi-finals. Chizik led the Boomers to the preliminary final in 1999/00, the club's best ever result. Cheryl Chambers took over in 2001/02 and steered the club to two finals appearances, including the 2004/05 preliminary final.

In the mid-2000s the likes of Katrina Hibbert and Hollie Grima formed the backbone of the Boomers. Hibbert won back-to-back league MVP awards in 2004/05 and 2005/06 while Grima was crowned league MVP in 2006/07.

Liz Cambage, Rachel Jarry and Jenna O'Hea helped the Boomers win the WNBL championship in 2010/11.

In 2013, the Boomers changed their name from "Bulleen" to "Melbourne" to target a wider area of population and boost crowd numbers. [2] The team also changed its colours from blue and gold to purple and gold, and moved their home games to the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna. [3]

In 2016, a new ownership group took over the license to run the Boomers. [2]

In the 2021–22 season, the Boomers won their second WNBL championship under coach Guy Molloy. [4] [5]

In March 2024, Geelong United Basketball and a consortium of local private investors from Geelong expressed interest in acquiring the Boomers' licence after the Boomers' longtime ownership group looked to transfer its licence. [6] [7]

Season-by-season records

SeasonStandingsRegular seasonFinalsHead coach
WLPCT
Bulleen Boomers
1984 9th51327.7Did Not QualityTrevor Cook
1985 10th31516.6Did Not QualityTrevor Cook
1986 12th51920.8Did Not QualityTrevor Cook
1987 11th31715.0Did Not QualityTrevor Cook
1988 10th51722.7Did Not QualityTrevor Cook
1989 4th16866.6Loss Semi-Final (Nunawading Spectres, 68-69)Paul Deacon
1990 3rd17770.8Loss Semi-Final (Nunawading Spectres, 69-89)Lori Chizik
1991 6th111150.0Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1992 6th101050.0Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1993 7th71138.8Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1994 8th51327.7Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1995 7th61233.3Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1996 3rd14477.7Loss Semi-Final (Perth, 58-75)Lori Chizik
1997 9th51327.7Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1998 7th3925.0Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1998–99 5th111052.3Did Not QualityLori Chizik
1999–00 3rd111052.3Won Semi-Final (Perth, 61-60)

Loss Premliminary Final (Canberra, 66-80)

Lori Chizik
2000–01 6th71433.3Did Not QualityLori Chizik
2001–02 6th61528.5Did Not QualityCheryl Chambers
2002–03 6th61528.5Did Not QualityCheryl Chambers
2003–04 6th7943.7Did Not QualityCheryl Chambers
2004–05 2nd16576.1Loss Semi-Final (Dandenong, 59-63)

Loss Premliminary Final (Sydney, 71-79)

Cheryl Chambers
2005–06 4th13861.9Loss Semi-Final (Canberra, 62-67)Cheryl Chambers
2006–07 5th12957.1Did Not QualityCheryl Chambers
2007–08 5th111345.8Did Not QualityCheryl Chambers
2008–09 2nd17577.2Loss Semi-Final (Canberra, 52-60)

Win Preliminary Final (Townsville, 79-68)

Loss Grand Final (Canberra, 58-61)

Cheryl Chambers
2009–10 1st21195.4Won Semi-Final (Sydney, 72-55)

Loss Grand Final (Canberra, 70-75)

Tom Maher
2010–11 1st19386.3Won Semi-Final (Canberra, 71-67)

Won Grand Final (Canberra, 103-78)

Tom Maher
2011–12 2nd15768.1Won Semi-Final (Adelaide, 73-70)

Loss Grand Final (Dandenong, 70-94)

Tom Maher
2012–13 5th101441.6Did Not QualityTom Maher
Melbourne Boomers
2013–14 4th141058.3Loss Semi-Final (Townsville, 73-78)Guy Molloy
2014–15 6th111150.0Did Not QualityGuy Molloy
2015–16 8th81633.3Did Not QualityGuy Molloy
2016–17 7th51920.8Did Not QualityGuy Molloy
2017–18 4th12957.1Won Semi-Final (Perth, 2-0)

Loss Grand Final (Townsville, 1-2)

Guy Molloy
2018–19 2nd15671.4Loss Semi-Final (Adelaide, 0-2)Guy Molloy
2019–20 3rd15671.4Loss Semi-Final (Canberra, 1-2)Guy Molloy
2020 4th9469.2Won Semi-Final (Canberra, 78-68)

Loss Preliminary Final (Townsville, 62-65)

Guy Molloy
2021–22 1st12570.5Won Semi-Final(Adelaide, 2-0)

Won Grand Final (Perth, 2-1)

Guy Molloy
2022–23 3rd15671.4Loss Semi-Final (Southside, 1-2)Chris Lucas
2023–24 3rd12957.1Loss Semi-Final (Southside, 1-2)Chris Lucas
Regular season42541550.53 Minor Premierships
Finals111936.62 WNBL Championships

Players

Current roster

2023–24 Melbourne Boomers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 0 Flag of the United States.svg Canada, Jordin  (I)1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
G 2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Burrows, Paige  (DP)1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
G 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wallace, Kristy 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
G 4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Calleia, Sherrie 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
G 5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham, Grace  (DP)1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
F 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simmons, Taylah 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
F 7 Flag of the United States.svg Hillmon, Naz  (I)1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
C 10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mckay, Megan
G 11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Reed, Tera 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
F 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Davidson, Penina 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
G 14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Conti, Monique 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
F 21 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Froling, Keey 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rocci, Aime 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 24 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Carmody, Lily  (DP)1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
G 42 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rotunno, Lily  (DP)1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
F 46 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Blicavs, Sara   Cruz Roja.svg 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

Updated: 2 March 2024

Former coaches

Former players

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michele Timms</span> Australian basketball coach and retired player

Michele Margaret Timms is an Australian basketball coach and retired professional basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association(WNBA). Many people consider the Melbourne native to be one of Australia's greatest basketball players of all time. She has one daughter, Kalsie Timms. Timms was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. She was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Canberra Capitals</span> Basketball team in Canberra, Australia

The University of Canberra Capitals are an Australian professional women's basketball team competing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). The team is based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. In 2014 the University of Canberra Union took control of the Capitals from Basketball ACT. The University of Canberra is the current naming rights sponsor for the Capitals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth Lynx</span> Western Australian womens basketball team

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollie Grima</span> Australian basketball player

Hollie Florance is an Australian women's basketball player. She is 190 cm tall, weighs 84 kg and plays in the Centre position. She attended the Australian Institute of Sport in 2000 to 2002. She was named the WNBL MVP during the 2006–07 season playing for the Bulleen Boomers. During the 2007/08 season she played offshore in the Italian Serie A League suiting up for Italmoka Pozzuoli. She has represented her country on numerous occasions, debuting at the 2002 World Championships in China where the Australian team won bronze. She has also won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics after missing out on selection during the 2004 Olympics. She was also part of the Australian team that won the gold medal at the world championships in 2006 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Hollie is of Maltese heritage.

Cheryl Chambers is an Australian basketball coach and retired professional basketball player. She currently is head coach for the Southside Flyers in the WNBL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Cambage</span> Australian basketball player (born 1991)

Elizabeth Folake Cambage is an Australian professional basketball player who recently joined the Sichuan Yuanda Women's Basketball Team in Chengdu, China. Prior to her move to China, Cambage showcased her prowess with the Maccabi Bnot Ashdod of the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League. Cambage currently shares the WNBA single-game scoring record with A'ja Wilson, with her 53-point performance against the New York Liberty on 17 July 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenna O'Hea</span> Australian basketball player

Jenna O'Hea is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Southside Flyers in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). O'Hea is also currently the captain of Australia's national team, the Opals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Jarry</span> Australian basketball player

Rachel Jarry is an Australian professional basketball player for the Southside Flyers of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She started playing basketball as a five-year-old and as a youngster in national competitions, she represented the state of Victoria. In Australia's WNBL, she has played for the Dandenong Rangers, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Melbourne Boomers. She was drafted by the WNBA's Atlanta Dream in 2011 and was traded to the Lynx on the same day. She has been a member of the Australia women's national basketball team at junior and senior level.

Elyse Penaluna is an Australian basketball forward. She has played in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the Australian Institute of Sport and the Bulleen Boomers, winning a WNBL Championship with that team in 2011/2012. She has been a member of Australia women's national basketball team, representing the country in its 2012 Olympic qualifying campaign. Playing for Australia's Australian U21 Sapphires, she won a silver medal at the FIBA Under-21 World Championship for Women in 2007.

Katrina Hibbert is an Australian basketball coach and retired professional basketball player.

Eziyoda Magbegor is an Australian professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and USK Prague of the EuroLeague Women and the Czech women's basketball league. Magbegor was a member of the Australian Women's basketball team (Opals) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Opals were eliminated after losing to the USA in the quarterfinals.

Kalani Purcell is a New Zealand professional basketball player.

Courtney Duever is an American professional basketball player.

Rebecca Ott is an Australian-New Zealand professional basketball player and Australian rules footballer.

Guy Molloy is an Australian basketball coach, who is currently the head coach of the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also interim head coach of the Sydney Flames in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).

The 2017–18 Melbourne Boomers season is the 35th season for the franchise in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southside Flyers</span> Basketball team in Victoria, Australia

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 reasons, they are known as the Jayco Southside Flyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geelong United Basketball</span> Australian basketball team

Geelong United Basketball is a basketball association in Geelong, Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulleen Boomers (Big V)</span> Basketball team in Bulleen, Victoria

Bulleen Boomers is a Big V club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's Big V. The club is a division of Bulleen-Templestowe Basketball Club (BTBC), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Manningham. The Boomers play their home games at Sheahans Reserve Basketball Stadium.

References

  1. 1 2 "Club History". BulleenBoomers.com.au. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "About Us". wnbl.basketball/melbourne. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. Ward, Roy (7 October 2013). "Boomers rebound in second quarter to shoot down Flames". smh.com.au. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. Boomers look forward to celebrating championship season
  5. Strong steady hand to lead WNBL Champions
  6. Randall, Michael; Clark, Jay (10 March 2024). "Geelong group makes play for Melbourne Boomers' WNBL licence". Geelong Advertiser . Archived from the original on 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  7. Cameron, Ben; Randall, Michael (21 March 2024). "The Geelong United Basketball Association and a consortium of investors plan to enter teams in elite women's competitions". Geelong Advertiser . Archived from the original on 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  8. Boomers add basketball legend to coaching panel