Trying to get Borlase and Talbot back is a priority apparently. Not sure about the name, but they are still being referred to in the media as Adelaide Lightning, so hopefully that means the IP has been secured.

The WNBL specifically didn't refer to them as the "Adelaide Lightning", which suggests the IP hasn't been secured.

Throw a few names out...
Maybe something like…

Import / Henderson + Fejo
Borlase / Yaeger or Basham
Talbot / Brazel / Woolley or Pollerd
Bourne / Robati or Moore
Import / Hannan, someone not used much? / Dvlp -Rees or Prior or Greenslade

big fan of Bourne's game last season

IMO - Monika Czinano would do well in the WNBL

and is it confirmed playing out of the State Basketball Centre ?

Premier Malinouskis said when handing over the cash it was.

that should be good - aircond and the new stands (please don't damage the floors !) - wonder what the capacity is ?

Rings, floor and lighting is excellent at the stadium - but do they need more lighting for TV ?

1500-2000 ? which would be a suitable size - although some good finals 2-3,000 can attend.

It's got some big screens - that canteen will need to be used in the foyer plus more.

Hope they take some ideas from the 36ers game day experience.

SBC
1800 seats
Show court -Floor FIBA1 standard, OK for internationals/Boomers
Lighting first class = at TV standard

Just announced that they will be remaining the Lightning

No one cares

I do, glad it remained the lightning.

36ettes if it isn't.

Cool Weedy, buy a membership

Hey Sebastian, it's not mandatory to post in every thread here. It's actually ok to scroll past the ones that don't interest you, and not be a dipshit.

I'm just happy Adelaide still has a team. Getting to retain Lightning is a nice bonus.

At least they didn't go back to being the Fellas, was that maybe one of the worst decisions in the history of basketball ever?

A desperate attempt to secure corporate funding, Fellas brand was a result of the team costing a lot more than it was bring in.

As it always has and always will.

Sebastian's point is valid. At some games in 2023/24 there would have been 200 spectators in attendance. People can complain and argue for the team but unless they're buying memberships, sponsoring the team or showing up each week they're also part of the problem.

quality local players attract more attendance.

Many interstaters playing last few years with no connect.

Need to get out in the community - even in the halcyon days players has part time jobs, community work for basketball etc.

I'll comment on what I like Luuuc just like you do. It's a forum, don't like it don't read it. Plenty of names I see and don't bother. But if people don't put their hands in their pockets for the Lightning they wont be around under the new WNBL. And that's a reality.

+ you tried that argument before and I proved it to be wrong.

Again,

Talbot - Local, Opal, 6th year straight, 9th year total
Borlase - Local, Opal 4 years*
Bourne - Opals squad 2 years
Basham - Local, 5 years
Turner - 2nd straight year, 3rd year total

Core of players which includes South Aussies, Opals, NBL1 South MVP, NBL1 Central MVP.

BSA also spent the past 4 years propping up the Lighting by giving the Club and then players BSA member $$ via the Women's participation Levy. Over 50% of which has gone to Lightning players to connect with the community.

Still crickets at home games despite gifting clubs freebies every week. Be lucky to have 50 paying spectators at games.

Maybe they can hire influencers to attend, make them sit courtside in Hollywood seats and that will attract a few thousand? Isn't that what the NBL does, and they seem to sell out most games. Always love when they put them on screen in the telecast and spend the next 5 minutes asking Gaze if he's a fan of them and Gaze being totally unaware, as 99.99% of the audience are, who they are.
Another suggestion, why not go to some regional places like mt Gambier etc. Sure they don't have the capacity, but that doesn't seem to be a problem. Probably get the same amount of spectators at Parafield Garden rec centre.

I'm excited to see this team perform under coach Mitchell. It’s nice to see a coach who has done the work get rewarded with the opportunity to lead a group instead of just recycling coaches from the past. She’s new, she’s passionate, she’s vocal about women and sport, she’s exactly what the WNBL needs. It’s an exciting time for the WNBL, and a coach like Coach Mitchell on that journey can only be positive for Adelaide hoops and basketball in this country in general.

Slow to the party on this thread.

Maybe for a Melbourne Club but not the Lightning. She has no profile here. Plenty of SA coaching talent in SA and interstate that should have been considered first as the Club desperately needs to connect to the small, burnt SA basketball community. Made worse by the lose of Borlase.

Posting and disappearing, not hiding the fact poster is a friend of the new coach.

Supposedly a lot of talent was considered. Reports are that Mitchell beat a pretty long list of candidates including Clarke, Chambers, Herbert & Graff. And the rumour was that Borlase was 90% out the door before Mitchell signed. I don't think any new coach stood much chance of keeping Borlase.

I would've expected Borlase to move - she's young and still building her CV and hopefully at soem stage she'll get to an Atlanta WNBA preseason camp.
With the potential instability that was taking place - I'd say we were lucky to get Steph Talbot.

It's a bigger basketball world out there now that is easier to connect - a lot less traditional pathways or persons appearing before us.

Got to deliver 2025/26 style.

who will be the new CEO?

So this Adelaide team is shaping up to be ok so far. I'm pleased to see Ella Tof still in the league. Safe to say the NZ national team connection helped there and I don’t hate it.

I actually checked in here hoping for anyone posting about Shyla Heal injury? Didn’t she just sign with Geelong United/Venom? Now she’s in a giant knee brace!

as with any team - the true test will be to get the team to gel and believe