Perth Lynx Women
- Leagues Played
- Australia WNBL 222
- Links
- wnbl.basketball/perth/ YouTube Wikipedia
Wikipedia - Perth Lynx
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.
The Lynx were established in 1988 as the Perth Breakers. After being owned and operated by Basketball Western Australia from 2001 to 2015, the Perth Wildcats 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. The Lynx have reached six WNBL Grand Finals, winning their only championship in 1992.
History
Perth Breakers
The franchise debuted in the WNBL in 1988 as the Perth Breakers. After withdrawing midway through their second season in 1989, the Breakers returned to action in 1990.
In the 1992 season, the Breakers were led by captain Michele Timms and coach Tom Maher, and with Tanya Fisher, Natasha Bargeus, Lisa MacLean, Marynne Briggs and Marianna Vlahov, the team won the WNBL championship.
The team appeared in the WNBL finals every year between 1991 and 2000 except 1997, making grand final appearances in 1993 and 1999.
Basketball WA's first ownership stint
In 2001, the franchise came under the ownership of Basketball Western Australia. The team was subsequently rebranded as the Perth Lynx. In 2010, another rebrand saw the team become the West Coast Waves. In 14 seasons under Basketball WA, the team failed to make a finals appearance.
Perth Wildcats management
In April 2015, the team's licence was purchased by the Perth Wildcats and their chairman and owner Jack Bendat. The Wildcats subsequently brought back the Perth Lynx brand name. In the 2015–16 season, the Lynx qualified for the finals for the first time since 2000. They went on to reach the grand final, their first since 1999, where they lost 2–0 to the Townsville Fire.
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 and Townsville in the final weekend of the regular season and were then swept 2–0 by fourth-placed Melbourne in the semi-finals.
In March 2018, the licence agreement with the Wildcats was extended.
Basketball WA's second ownership stint
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 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 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. 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.
The team is known for its fast-paced and aggressive style of play, with a focus on strong defense and quick transitions. The Perth Lynx Women's team is led by a talented roster of players, including some of the best female basketball players in Australia. The team's star players include Katie Ebzery, Darcee Garbin, and Lauren Mansfield, who have all represented the Australian national team.
The Perth Lynx Women's team is also known for its passionate fan base, with supporters coming from all over Western Australia to cheer on the team. The team plays its home games at the Bendat Basketball Centre, which is a state-of-the-art facility that can seat up to 2,500 fans. The Perth Lynx Women's team is a true powerhouse in Australian women's basketball, and is sure to continue to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.