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The Perth Lynx are an Australian professional
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
team based in
Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...
, Western Australia. The Lynx compete in the
Women's National Basketball League The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) is a professional women's basketball list of basketball leagues, league in Australia composed of eight teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the Women's sports, women's counterpart to the Na ...
(WNBL) and play their home games at both Bendat Basketball Centre and
Perth High Performance Centre Perth High Performance Centre (Perth HPC) is a sports complex in Perth, Western Australia. The venue is located in the suburb of Mount Claremont, approximately west of Perth's central business district. Venue facilities include an Olympic-sta ...
. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Northern Star Resources Perth Lynx. The Lynx were established in 1988 as the Perth Breakers. After being owned and operated by
Basketball Western Australia Basketball Western Australia is the governing body for the sport of basketball in the state of Western Australia. It is responsible for overseeing the development, promotion, and administration of basketball throughout Western Australia. The organ ...
from 2001 to 2015, the
Perth Wildcats The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. The Wildcats compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Perth Arena, ...
took over ownership and operation of the team for a period of five years. In 2020, the licence was transferred back to Basketball Western Australia. In 2024, the licence was transferred to
Sports Entertainment Group Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), formerly Pacific Star Network, is an Australian sports media content and entertainment business. SEG is the owner and parent company of Sports Entertainment Network (SEN). History After going through a number of ...
's sporting teams business, SEN Teams. The Lynx have reached six WNBL Grand Finals, winning their only
championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this sys ...
in 1992.


History


WAIS Rockets (1987)

In 1985, the Western Australian Basketball Federation sent its senior women's team to the Australian women's club championships. Prior to the championships, WA was seen as at least two years away from a national conference berth. After the team went 5–1 at the championships, WA was granted entry into the
Women's Basketball Conference The Women's Basketball Conference (WBC) was a women's basketball league in Australia. The WBC began in 1984 and served as a second-tier national league under the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). It operated for six seasons until it wa ...
(WBC), a second-tier national league under the
Women's National Basketball League The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) is a professional women's basketball list of basketball leagues, league in Australia composed of eight teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the Women's sports, women's counterpart to the Na ...
(WNBL). Former Australian representative Sue Harcus was a key figure in getting a WA side into the national competition. The entry was seen as a two-year apprenticeship on the basis that they paid their own airfares in the first two years. The team debuted in the WBC in 1986, funded by the
Western Australian Institute of Sport The Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) is an elite sports institute set up in 1983 by the Government of Western Australia to support athletes in Western Australia. The founding director was Wally Foreman who held the position for 17 ye ...
(WAIS) and the WA Basketball Federation, and backed by
Adidas Adidas AG (; stylized in all lowercase since 1949) is a German athletic apparel and footwear corporation headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the ...
. Harcus served as assistant coach under head coach Dave Hancock. The team endured tough travel schedules, sometimes playing three games in 36 hours or four games in five days. In 12 games, the team had five wins and seven losses. In 1987, the team was known as the WAIS Rockets. For WA to be admitted to the WNBL, the state was told that the Rockets had to win the 1987 WBC title. That year, the Rockets played all of their games away from home including finals, finishing on top of the ladder with a 10–1 record and beating the
Forestville Eagles Forestville Eagles is a NBL1 Central club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The club fields both a men's and women's team. The club is a division of the overarching Forestville Eagles Basketball Club (FEBC), the major administrative basketball ...
in overtime to advance to the grand final, where they won the title 56–47 against the
Knox Raiders Knox Raiders is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Knox Basketball Incorporated (KBI), the major administrative basketball organisation in the ...
. The Rockets featured Tanya Fisher and Cheryl Kickett-Tucker.


Perth Breakers (1988–2001)

The franchise debuted in the WNBL in the 1988 season as the Perth Breakers. The Rockets name was dropped due to the WNBL already having the
North Adelaide Rockets North Adelaide Rockets is a NBL1 Central club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The club fields both a men's and women's team. The club is a division of the overarching North Adelaide Basketball Club (NABC), the major administrative basketball ...
in the league. The Breakers finished their inaugural season in ninth place with a 6–16 record. In the 1989 WNBL season, the Breakers amassed a 9–8 record over the first half of the season. As a consequence of the 1989 pilot strike, the team withdrew from the season and their record was deleted from the ladder. The Breakers returned to action in the 1990 season. After playing at the Superdrome in Mount Claremont over their first two seasons, the side returned to its original venue at
Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium was a purpose-built basketball stadium located in Perth, Western Australia. The stadium was built for the Australian Basketball Senior Men's Championships held in October 1962, and was Western Australia's home of ...
. The Breakers appeared in the WNBL finals every year between 1991 and 2000 except 1997, making grand final appearances in 1992, 1993 and 1999. In the 1992 season, the Breakers won the WNBL championship behind captain
Michele Timms Michele Margaret Timms (born 28 June 1965) is an Australian basketball coach and former player. She played five seasons for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was inducted into the Women's Basketball ...
and coach
Tom Maher Tom Maher (born 4 September 1952 in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian basketball coach. Maher is the most successful coach in history of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), having won nine championships. He coached the Nunawa ...
, along with
Robyn Maher Robyn Maher (born 6 October 1959) is an Australian former basketball player. A three-time Olympian, she was a member of the national women's team that won the bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. In the Women's Nation ...
, Tanya Fisher, Natasha Bargeus, Lisa MacLean, Marynne Briggs and Marianna Vlahov. They defeated the
Dandenong Rangers 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 pur ...
58–54 in the grand final. Tom Maher won the Coach of the year award; Robyn Maher was the league's Best Defensive Player, and Timms was recognised as the league's number one point guard. In 1993, the Breakers made the
Perth Entertainment Centre The Perth Entertainment Centre was an indoor arena and cinema complex in Perth, Western Australia, located on Wellington Street, Perth, Wellington Street at the northern edge of the Perth#cbd, Perth central business district. It was demolished a ...
their new home venue. Under coach
Guy Molloy Guy Molloy (born 4 November 1965) is an Australian basketball coach, who is currently the head coach of the Sydney Flames of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). Early life Molloy was born in Young, New South Wales. He moved to Canber ...
, the Breakers returned to the grand final but lost 65–64 to the
Sydney Flames The Sydney Flames are an Australian professional basketball team based in Sydney, New South Wales. The Flames compete in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and play their home games at Quaycentre. The club began as the Bankstown Brui ...
. In the 2000–01 season, the Breakers split their home games between Perry Lakes Stadium and
Challenge Stadium Perth High Performance Centre (Perth HPC) is a sports complex in Perth, Western Australia. The venue is located in the suburb of Mount Claremont, approximately west of Perth's central business district. Venue facilities include an Olympic-sta ...
.


Basketball WA's first ownership stint (2001–2015)

In 2001, just three months before round one of the new WNBL season, the owners handed back the licence and the players were told the club would fold.
Basketball Western Australia Basketball Western Australia is the governing body for the sport of basketball in the state of Western Australia. It is responsible for overseeing the development, promotion, and administration of basketball throughout Western Australia. The organ ...
subsequently took over the licence and changed the team name to Perth Lynx, which remained as such until 2010. Basketball WA lacked money to pay players and coaches. The players had to pay for their own gym memberships and maintained full-time jobs. They also travelled on game day or took midnight flights to save money. Despite the challenges, Perth won four games in 2001–02 and six in 2002–03. The Lynx played exclusively at Perry Lakes Stadium in 2001–02. After finishing last on the ladder in the
2009–10 WNBL season The 2009–10 WNBL season was the 30th season of competition since its establishment in 1981. A total of 10 teams contested the league. The regular season was played between October 2009 and March 2010, followed by a post-season involving the top ...
with a 2–20 record, the team was rebranded as the West Coast Waves for the
2010–11 WNBL season The 2010–11 WNBL season was the 31st season of competition since its establishment in 1981. A total of 10 teams contested the league. The regular season was played between 9 October 2010 and 13 March 2011, followed by a post-season involving t ...
. The change symbolised the reinvigoration of the Basketball WA program under experienced head coach David Herbert and home-grown legend
Tully Bevilaqua Tully Louise Bevilaqua (née Crook on 19 July 1972) is an Australian retired professional women's basketball player. She previously served as an assistant with the Phoenix Mercury in 2023. She formerly played for the San Antonio Stars in the ...
, and gave a nod to the team's history with the reintroduction of the black, green and gold colours. The Waves also debuted at the newly opened WA Basketball Centre. In 14 seasons under Basketball WA, the team failed to make a finals appearance.


Perth Wildcats management (2015–2020)

In April 2015, the team's licence was purchased by the
Perth Wildcats The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. The Wildcats compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Perth Arena, ...
and their chairman and owner
Jack Bendat Jack Bendat (6 May 1925 – 17 February 2022) was an American-born Australian businessman most known for his ownership of the Perth Wildcats basketball team between 2007 and 2021. Previously involved in construction and media businesses with l ...
. The Wildcats subsequently brought back the Perth Lynx brand name and red colour. In the 2015–16 season, the Lynx qualified for the finals for the first time since
2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
. They went on to reach the grand final, their first since
1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
, where they lost 2–0 to the
Townsville Fire The Townsville Fire are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). The Fire are based in Townsville, Queensland, and play their home games at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Ce ...
. In the 2017–18 season, the Lynx won 14 consecutive games throughout the season and finished on top of the ladder, before losing four matches in a row after enduring seven flights in eight days. They lost to
Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
and Townsville in the final weekend of the regular season and were then swept 2–0 by fourth-placed
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
in the semi-finals. In March 2018, the licence agreement with the Wildcats was extended.


Basketball WA's second ownership stint (2020–2024)

In March 2020, the Perth Lynx's WNBL licence was transferred back to Basketball WA. In the 2021–22 season, the Lynx finished in second place with an 11–5 record and reached the grand final, where they lost the series 2–1 to the
Melbourne Boomers Geelong United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Geelong, Victoria. United compete in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and play their home games at Geelong Arena. Beginning as the Bulleen Boomers in 1984, the ...
despite winning game one in Melbourne. In the 2023–24 season, the Lynx finished in fourth place with an 11–10 record and defeated the first-placed
Townsville Fire The Townsville Fire are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). The Fire are based in Townsville, Queensland, and play their home games at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Ce ...
in the semi-finals to reach their second grand final series in three years. The Lynx won 101–79 in game one of the grand final series against the
Southside Flyers 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 pur ...
. They became only the second team to ever score 100 points in a WNBL grand final and finished the game with 22 three-pointers. They went on to finish runners-up after losing game two 97–95 and game three 115–81.


New ownership (2024–present)

In May 2024, Perth business couple Christian Hauff and Jodi Millhahn were revealed as the front runners to take over ownership of the Perth Lynx from Basketball WA. The couple had earlier in the year become minor investors in
Sports Entertainment Group Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), formerly Pacific Star Network, is an Australian sports media content and entertainment business. SEG is the owner and parent company of Sports Entertainment Network (SEN). History After going through a number of ...
's sporting teams business, SEN Teams. On 13 June 2024, the Lynx's WNBL licence was transferred to Perth Lynx Pty Ltd, owned by Hauff and Millhahn, with management and operational support from SEN Teams. On 10 December 2024, SEN Teams took over from Hauff and Millhahn as majority owners of the Lynx. Hauff and Millhahn remained shareholders and co-chairs of the club's board of directors. During the pre-season in the lead up to the
2024–25 WNBL season The 2024–25 WNBL season was the 45th season of the competition since its establishment in 1981. The Southside Flyers were the defending champions, but they failed to qualify for Finals this season. The Bendigo Spirit won their third champions ...
, the Lynx played two games as part of HoopsFest at
RAC Arena Perth Arena (known commercially as ) is an entertainment and sporting arena in the city centre of Perth, Western Australia, used mostly for basketball matches. It is located on Wellington Street near the site of the former Perth Entertainment ...
. During the 2024–25 regular season, the Lynx split their home games between Bendat Basketball Centre and the 4,000-capacity
Perth High Performance Centre Perth High Performance Centre (Perth HPC) is a sports complex in Perth, Western Australia. The venue is located in the suburb of Mount Claremont, approximately west of Perth's central business district. Venue facilities include an Olympic-sta ...
. They played three games at Perth High Performance Centre and made the venue their training base.


Season-by-season records

Source
Year By Year


Arena history

* Superdrome / Challenge Stadium / Perth HPC (1988–1989; 2000–2001; 2024–present) *
Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium was a purpose-built basketball stadium located in Perth, Western Australia. The stadium was built for the Australian Basketball Senior Men's Championships held in October 1962, and was Western Australia's home of ...
(1990–1992; 2000s) *
Perth Entertainment Centre The Perth Entertainment Centre was an indoor arena and cinema complex in Perth, Western Australia, located on Wellington Street, Perth, Wellington Street at the northern edge of the Perth#cbd, Perth central business district. It was demolished a ...
(1993) * WA Basketball Centre (2010–present)


Players


Current roster


Notable former players

* Ariel Atkins * Natasha Bargeus *
Tully Bevilaqua Tully Louise Bevilaqua (née Crook on 19 July 1972) is an Australian retired professional women's basketball player. She previously served as an assistant with the Phoenix Mercury in 2023. She formerly played for the San Antonio Stars in the ...
*
Rohanee Cox Rohanee "Roey" Cox (born 23 April 1980) is an Australian former professional basketball player. She was one of the first Aboriginal Australians to represent her country in basketball at the Olympics and won a silver medal with the Opals at the ...
* Antonia Farnworth * Betnijah Laney * Tessa Lavey * Angela Marino * Melissa Marsh *
Fiona Robinson Fiona Mary Robinson (born 7 February 1969) is an Australian former basketball and handball player. She played 10 seasons in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and five seasons in the State Basketball League (SBL). She was a member of ...
* Asia Taylor *
Michele Timms Michele Margaret Timms (born 28 June 1965) is an Australian basketball coach and former player. She played five seasons for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was inducted into the Women's Basketball ...
*
Sami Whitcomb Samantha Allison Whitcomb (born July 20, 1988) is an American-Australian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is also contracted with Beşiktaş JK of the Turkish Women' ...
*
Courtney Williams Courtney Monae Williams (born May 11, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Williams completed her high school basketball career at Charlton County Hig ...
* Carly Wilson


Honour roll

Source
Perth Lynx Achievements


References


External links


Perth Lynx official website

Perth Lynx official website (2009)

"Former greats offer thoughts on 2023/24 Lynx team"
at wnbl.basketball
"Perth Lynx are closing in on new ownership as WNBL guarantees their place in the league for next season"
at thewest.com.au
"New Perth Lynx owners Christian Hauff and Jodi Millhahn having immediate financial impact on WNBL team"
at thewest.com.au
"Perth Lynx relishing life in WNBL spotlight with attacking game plan and a story that would make a great movie"
at thewest.com.au {{Sports Entertainment Network Basketball teams established in 1988 1988 establishments in Australia Basketball teams in Western Australia Sports clubs and teams in Perth, Western Australia Women's National Basketball League teams