Townsville Fire

Last updated

Townsville Fire
Townsville Fire 2020.png
Leagues WNBL
Founded2001
HistoryTownsville Fire
2001–present
Arena Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre
Capacity5,257
Location Townsville, Queensland
Main sponsor James Cook University
PresidentSam Pascoe
Head coachShannon Seebohm
Championships4 (2015, 2016, 2018, 2023)

The Townsville Fire are an Australian professional female basketball team competing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). They are the only female professional sporting team of any discipline in the northern half of Australia. The team was established in 2001 by Townsville Basketball Inc. In 2014, James Cook University became the team's principal partner and naming rights sponsor. [1]

Contents

Following the 2010/11 season, the Fire were seemingly doomed, folding under the weight of financial pressures before an 11th hour resurrection. [1] Prior to the 2011/12 season, the team became a not-for-profit, community owned entity. The Fire reached four straight WNBL Grand Finals between 2012/13 and 2015/16, winning back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016. Their victory in March 2015 was the city's maiden national premiership. [2] The Fire returned to the WNBL Grand Final in 2017/18 and won their third title in four years. [3] The team won their fourth championship in 2023. [4]

Season-by-season records

SeasonStandingsRegular seasonFinalsHead coach
WLPCT
Townsville Fire
2001–02 8th31814.2Did not qualifyDavid Herbert
2002–03 2nd15671.0Lost Semi Final (Canberra, 67–68)
Lost Preliminary Final (Sydney, 78–83)
David Herbert
2003–04 5th12957.0Did not qualifyDavid Herbert
2004–05 6th71433.0Did not qualifyDavid Herbert
2005–06 6th12957.0Did not qualifyDavid Herbert
2006–07 6th101148.0Did not qualifyDavid Herbert
2007–08 6th101441.6Did not qualifyPeter Buckle
2008–09 3rd16672.7Won Semi Final (Adelaide, 91–78)
Lost Preliminary Final (Bulleen, 68–79)
Peter Buckle
2009–10 4th14863.6Won Elimination Final (Bendigo, 84–73)
Lost Semi Final (Canberra, 39–60)
Peter Buckle
2010–11 7th101245.4Did not qualifyPeter Buckle
2011–12 4th13959.0Won Elimination Final (Sydney, 85–78)
Lost Semi Final (Dandenong, 66–77)
Chris Lucas
2012–13 4th131154.1Won Semi Final (Adelaide, 60–53)
Won Preliminary Final (Dandenong, 78–64)
Lost Grand Final (Bendigo, 57–71)
Chris Lucas
2013–14 3rd16866.6Won Semi Final (Melbourne, 78–73)
Won Preliminary Final (Dandenong, 74–71)
Lost Grand Final (Bendigo, 83–94)
Chris Lucas
2014–15 1st17577.7Won Semi Final (Bendigo, 82–63)
Won Grand Final (Bendigo, 75–65)
Chris Lucas
2015–16 1st17770.8Lost Semi Final (Perth, 72–91)
Won Preliminary Final (South East Queensland, 91–71)
Won Grand Final (Perth, 2–0)
Chris Lucas
2016–17 4th141058.3Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 0–2) Claudia Brassard
2017–18 3rd14766.6Won Semi Final (Sydney, 2–0)
Won Grand Final (Melbourne, 2–1)
Claudia Brassard
2018–19 6th91242.8Did not qualify Claudia Brassard
2019–20 8th51623.8Did not qualifyShannon Seebohm
2020-21 2nd9469.2Lost Semi Final (Southside, 93–106)
Won Preliminary Final (Melbourne, 65–62)
Lost Grand Final (Southside, 82–99)
Shannon Seebohm
2021–22 6th71041.1Did not qualifyShannon Seebohm
2022–23 1st17480.9Won Semi Final (Perth, 2-0)

Won Grand Final (Southside, 2-0)

Shannon Seebohm
2023–24 1st14766.6Loss Semi Final (Perth, 0-2)Shannon Seebohm
Regular season27422155.34 Minor Premierships
Finals191555.84 WNBL Championships

Players

Current roster

2024-25 Townsville Fire roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 0 Flag of the United States.svg Cooke, Zia 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)23 – (2001-01-09)9 January 2001
F 1 Flag of South Sudan.svg Lok, Nyaduoth 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)24 – (2000-04-24)24 April 2000
G 2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Shiels, Saffron 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)18 – (2006-01-18)18 January 2006
G 7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woods, Courtney 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)27 – (1997-03-24)24 March 1997
F 9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Froling, Alicia 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)28 – (1996-01-31)31 January 1996
F 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fowler, Alex 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)23 – (2001-07-21)21 July 2001
F 14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Carey, Majella 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)24 – (2000-04-06)6 April 2000
F 15 Flag of the United States.svg Cox, Lauren 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)26 – (1998-04-20)20 April 1998
G 23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ellis, Abbey 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)23 – (2001-01-22)22 January 2001
G 24 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mcdowell-White, Jessica 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)24 – (2000-08-23)23 August 2000
F 30 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cochrane, Lucy 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)24 – (2000-09-18)18 September 2000
G 33 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mansfield, Lauren 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)34 – (1989-12-18)18 December 1989
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

Updated: 28 January 2024

Former players

Coaches and staff

Owners

Head coaches

Townsville Fire head coaches
NameStartEndSeasonsRegular seasonFinals
WLPCTGWLPCTG
David Herbert 200120076596746.82126020.002
Peter Buckle 200720114504055.55902250.004
Chris Lucas 201120165764065.5111610471.4214
Claudia Brassard 201620193372956.06664357.147
Shannon Seebohm 2019Current4142041.17341233.333

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References

  1. 1 2 Uni stoking Fire in sponsorship deal
  2. Side earn top city honours
  3. WNBL: Townsville Fire claim third title in four years with win over Melbourne Boomers
  4. "JCU TOWNSVILLE FIRE CROWNED WNBL CHAMPIONS". wnbl.basketball. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.