Hoops

Perth WNBL team to be Perth Lynx

Lynx sign Chicago Sky rookie, Betnijah Laney.

http://perthlynx.com/Media/News/perth-lynx-sign-wnba-player-betnijah-laney

Not sure she's the ideal fit for the team's needs (I'd feel better if our starting lineup had another 3 point threat), or that a rookie is ideal, but she is certainly well credentialed and is getting rotation minutes (averaging 17 mpg this season) as a rookie for the top team in the east in the WNBA.

Lots of height in this Lynx team!

Quite couple of games for Sami Whitcomb this weekend in the WSBL played 52 minutes for 79 points

Pfft... you're both hella jealous, it's so obvious
:p

Tessa Lavey is official
http://perthlynx.com/Media/News/perth-lynx-sign-australian-opal-tessa-lavey

And if Mijovic doesn't get p,aging time this season she will hop to another club next season, pretty soon she will have run out of clubs!!

Lynx have announced more signings this morning
Carley Mijovic
Klara Wischer
Izzy Chilcott

To be honest, the past waves players haven't exactly set the WNBL on fire. They are good sbl players, most would be bench players at most on other WNBL teams. Sorry to offend anyone just seeing it as it is.

That is funny, thanks for the laugh

Anymore signings for the Lynx?
If they're going to be competitive might need more than 2 players.

Add another one to the list departed Townsville
Harmon

Wow and mark wright was always made out to be Mr bad lol

Hmmm add Ally Wilson to the list as well.
Its funny how people forget in the seasons he has had he has gone through enough players to make 2 teams. Got to be a reason they don't wont to stay.

She did nothing under Lucas

Olivia Thompson left and has developed well under Guy Molloy

Which one of those listed have improved and stayed??

Flanny is indeed a huge hole. Very big shoes to fill.
Neither of the American guards are the shot hog type though, so I don't see that aspect being a problem.

But does Lucas even develop, look at Rosie fadjevic ( not sure how you spell it) her games gone backwards since being up in townsville

Waves ^^^^^ you are correct and I couldn't agree anymore with you. He has a shocking record gets them and spits them out. He doesn't support Townsville having No local women in the Townsville team, where is the development for them. Garbin will be one of his next victims Im sorry to say.

Louella Tomlinson is the second signing

Townsville have also signed Novosel , looking to be a powerhouse again, with even their lesser players being good. Poor Perth, might only have the likes of Lavey left

WA has not exactly been a fertile breeding ground for the upper levels of WNBL talent, which makes it all the sadder about how many get away.
I was hopeful that finally having some security and a more credible programme under the Wildcats umbrella would finally reverse that trend. Nat Burton returning to Perth was a nice sign. But losing Darcee hurts. She's talented, she has improved every year, and she's still only 20! She's literally the last player we should have let get away.

That's not a good start for my opinion of Andy if he didn't want Darcee! I'm going to pretend like I didn't hear that and just assume it's something more sensible like Garbs just wanting to broaden her horizons, or be a part of a winning culture.

Garbin to Townsville is now official.
Nice signing for them. Big loss for the Lynx :(

Thats bad news I true about Darcee, I rate her higher than Nat Burton.

Maybe but I think its worth a try to see if they would be interested.

What about the local girls and the others that where in the squad last year . Graham and Payne from Queensland would be good pickups.

So, Nat Burton and Sami Whitcomb signed

Holy crap that is some exorbitant pricing. I know they want to make a point that women's basketball is valid and important but...

Well, okay, for Bronze it works out to a touch under $15/gm for an adult, half that for child. For Platinum it's $37/gm. $15/gm for adult is what you'd expect for a WAFL game entry and its still less than entry for any other men's national sport I can think of...

They're cocky, I'll say that much.

Prime example of where inflated prices can cripple a game is the WNBL finals, the week before the semi dandenong Rangers hosted townsville as a normal season game with normal season prices, it was a sell out probably one of the biggest crowds all season.
The next week the same time same place scenario but first round of final series, ( remember at this stage both of these games were also shown on the ABC)
Tickets trippled in price , the echo from the lack of people was evident, they had one tenth of the crowd they had the week before, as a family unit you cannot justify that type of cost for a two hr basketball game with no other entertainment given.
Bums on seats is what brings in the money, but you have to make it affordable AND enjoyable.

Also Channel ten Perth reporting that Wildcats have been in talks with Josh Childress for next season

I think this is a big step for the club and I wonder if there will be a big name WNBA import coming our way or not?

As for Tessa Lavey, I'd love to see that girl play with confidence and freedom, she can get to the rack quite nicely but severely lacks the confidence to do it regularly

I'd love to see Deanna Smith playing in a successful squad as she has stuck around through some awful seasons and teams.

With Bendigo really dialling back finances, I wonder if any other players comes the Lynx way.

Official release by the Wildcats:
http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/lf0tdqet5v611g8t08fvfd4ed

$400 to sit at the SIDE of the court BEHIND the backboard !! ??

Include me out of that

"She will be a huge addition to the West Coast team."

If you say so, Brendan ;)

So yeah I see that the Perth Lynx thing is true. I guess it makes sense if they're going to share branding with the Wildcats.
I'd rather they had picked any of the other members of the cat family that wasn't a reminder of our worst era, but whatever. It's not a big deal.

What will matter is whether they are prepared to bring in some genuine quality players.
Last season's team wasn't far off the mark at all when everyone was healthy, so hopefully we can build on that.
Moore -> Lavey is a downgrade though.
Will graham stick around? I have to be doubtful now that there's a SEQ team in the league. Significant hole to fill if she goes.

I hope that's just a piss-take.
I'd be happy to have Nat back home again (though if she does have ambitions to take her game to the next level I'm very surprised she would leave probably the best development program in the league under Guy at the Boomers), but Lavey? We've already got a very competent backup PG here in Shani, we don't need another. We need a replacement starter for Lindsay Moore.

As for the Lynx name, gawd I hope not. The only thing associated with that name is the darkest days of the club's history. The highly forgettable decade in between our glory days of the early 90's and our slow but steady return to relevance as the Waves.

They should have a reasonable budget if Perth Wildcats have taken them over. Hearing definitely Tomlinson and Burton with a possible Tess Lavey.

Some one must know something.

5 man position - Thomlinson was there last year and is still in the West playing - way better than Burton

4 man position - Payne was moving last year also has family there, got injured ,but still spent time in the program , playing in Qld for off season, grab her not a lot want to make the move west.

1-2 man position - Graham was there last year , playing in Qld for off season. Great shooter.

Burton headed West is the mail...