Antonia Farnworth

Antonia "Toni" Farnworth (née Edmondson)[1] (born 10 May 1987) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Melbourne Boomers of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She has spent most of her career playing in the WNBL in Australia and has been a long-time representative and captain of the New Zealand national team, the Tall Ferns.

Antonia Farnworth
Farnworth in January 2018
No. 7 – Melbourne Boomers
PositionGuard
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (1987-05-10) 10 May 1987
Christchurch, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand
Listed height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Career information
High schoolChristchurch Girls'
(Christchurch, New Zealand)
Playing career2007–present
Career history
2007–2008Christchurch Sirens
2009–2010Albury Wodonga Bandits
2009–2010Dandenong Rangers
2010–2011Bendigo Spirit
2011Bendigo Braves
2011–2012Adelaide Lightning
2012Hume City Broncos
2012–2015West Coast Waves
2013–2014Willetton Tigers
2015Joondalup Wolves
2015–2019Perth Lynx
2016–2018Perry Lakes Hawks
2019–presentMelbourne Boomers
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  New Zealand
Women's Basketball
Commonwealth Games
2018 Gold Coast Team competition
FIBA Oceania Championships
2007 New Zealand Team
2009 Australia / New Zealand Team
2011 Australia Team
2013 Australia / New Zealand Team

Professional career

Early years (2007–2012)

Farnworth began her professional career in 2007 when she joined her hometown team, the Christchurch Sirens, of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She played one season for the Sirens before the club folded prior to the start of the 2008–09 season.

In 2009, Farnworth moved to Australia and joined the Albury Wodonga Bandits of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). In 21 games for the Bandits in 2009, she averaged 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.[2]

Farnworth returned to the WNBL for the 2009–10 season, joining the Dandenong Rangers. In 22 games for the club, she averaged 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.[3]

After spending the 2010 SEABL season with Albury Wodonga, Farnworth joined the Bendigo Spirit for the 2010–11 WNBL season.[4] In 24 games for the club, she averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[3] Following the 2010–11 WNBL season, Farnworth joined the Bendigo Braves for the 2011 SEABL season.

In July 2011, Farnworth signed with the Adelaide Lightning for the 2011–12 WNBL season.[5] In 24 games for the club, she averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.[3] Following the 2011–12 WNBL season, she joined the Hume City Broncos for the 2012 Big V season. In 12 games for Hume City, she averaged 20.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.[6]

West Coast Waves (2012–2015)

In August 2012, Farnworth signed with the West Coast Waves for the 2012–13 WNBL season.[7] Edmondson found her place with the Waves in Perth while playing under her long-time coach and mentor Kennedy Kereama. However, success eluded the Waves over her three seasons with the club as they finished on the bottom of the ladder every year, winning just nine total games over that span. Her best season with the Waves came in 2013–14 when she recorded averages of 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assist per game, all career highs.[3] During her time with the Waves, she played in the State Basketball League (SBL) during the off-seasons, competing with the Willetton Tigers (2013 & 2014) and Joondalup Wolves (2015).[8]

Perth Lynx (2015–2019)

On 2 September 2015, Farnworth signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2015–16 WNBL season, joining the rebranded club after the Perth Wildcats purchased the West Coast Waves.[9] She helped the Lynx reach their first WNBL Grand Final since 1999,[10] where they lost the best-of-three series 2–0 to the Townsville Fire. She appeared in all 27 games for the Lynx in 2015–16, averaging 3.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.[3]

For the 2016 SBL season, Farnworth joined the Perry Lakes Hawks.[11]

On 3 May 2016, Farnworth re-signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2016–17 WNBL season.[12] She started all 27 games for the Lynx in 2016–17, averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.[13]

In March 2017, Farnworth re-joined the Perry Lakes Hawks.[14] Farnworth was a powerful force for the Hawks in 2017, helping them win the minor premiership with a 20–2 record before reaching the SBL Grand Final.[15] Farnworth took out the Grand Final MVP award after her dominant performance in leading the Hawks to championship victory over the Mandurah Magic, particularly in the second half where she had 18 of her 26 points. She shot 8-of-18 from the field, 3-of-7 from downtown and 7-of-8 at the foul line.[16]

On 11 April 2017, Farnworth re-signed with the Perth Lynx for the 2017–18 WNBL season.[13] On 28 September 2017, just a week out from the start of the WNBL season, Farnworth was ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a broken wrist she suffered during pre-season play.[17] On 25 November 2017, she was cleared to return three weeks ahead of the initial time frame.[18] The Lynx finished on top of the ladder thanks to a 14-game winning streak, but a brutal travel schedule and string of injuries robbed them of the chance to taste ultimate success.[19]

She re-joined the Hawks in 2018, before re-signing with the Lynx on 14 June 2018.[20]

National team career

Farnworth made her debut for the New Zealand Tall Ferns during the 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship. At the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, Farnworth averaged a tournament-leading 22 points per game.[21] She represented the Tall Ferns at the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, averaging 7.7 points and 6.2 rebounds.[22] Farnworth was selected in the New Zealand team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[23]

Personal life

In April 2017, Toni Edmondson married her husband Josh Farnworth, continuing her career under her new surname Farnworth.[1]

References
  1. "Familiar face but new name for Toni Farnworth". PerthLynx.com. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  2. "Bandits : Team Details" (PDF). Seabl.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  3. "Player statistics for Antonia Edmondson". Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  4. "Kiwi guard bolsters squad". Bendigo Advertiser. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  5. "Screen back as Lightning rebounding". Adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  6. "Player statistics for Antonia Edmondson". Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  7. "Edmondson Signs with Waves - Canterbury Basketball Association". Fox Sports Pulse. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  8. "ANTONIA EDMONDSON JOINS WOLFPACK IN 2015" (PDF). Sportingpulse.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  9. "Perth Lynx sign Tall Fern Toni Edmondson". Perthlynx.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  10. "Lynx smash Fire, qualify for Grand Final". Perthlynx.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  11. "Women's SBL Season Preview – Perry Lakes Hawks - WA State Basketball League". Fox Sports Pulse. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  12. "Toni Edmondson Re-Signs". Perthlynx.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  13. "Toni Edmondson re-signs with Perth Lynx". Perth Lynx. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  14. No playing return as 'Doccy' puts full faith in Lady Hawks
  15. FARNWORTH CHASING FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE LEAVING NZ
  16. "FARNWORTH INSPIRES PERRY LAKES TO SEVENTH WOMEN'S SBL CHAMPIONSHIP". SBL.asn.au. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  17. LYNX DEALT SEVERE INJURY BLOW
  18. TONI FARNWORTH READY TO FIRE
  19. O'Donoghue, Craig (14 June 2018). "Redemption drives returning Perth Lynx trio ahead of 2018-19 WNBL campaign". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  20. "RE-SIGNED TONI FARNWORTH SET TO LEAD LYNX". PerthLynx.com.au. 14 June 2018. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  21. "Antonia Edmondson's profile | 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women | ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM". Fiba.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  22. "Toni Farnworth selected by NZ Tall Ferns". Perth Lynx. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  23. "Toni Farnworth selected by NZ Tall Ferns". Perth Lynx. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
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