Townsville Fire

The Townsville Fire are an Australian professional female basketball team competing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). They are the only female professional sporting team of any discipline in the northern half of Australia. The team was established in 2001 by Townsville Basketball Inc. In 2014, James Cook University became the team's principal partner and naming rights sponsor.[1]

Townsville Fire
LeaguesWNBL
Founded2001
HistoryTownsville Fire
2001–present
ArenaTownsville RSL Stadium
Capacity2,200
LocationTownsville, Queensland
Main sponsorJames Cook University
PresidentSam Pascoe
Head coachShannon Seebohm
Championships3 (2015, 2016, 2018)

Following the 2010/11 season, the Fire were seemingly doomed, folding under the weight of financial pressures before an 11th hour resurrection.[1] Prior to the 2011/12 season, the team became a not-for-profit, community owned entity. The Fire reached four straight WNBL Grand Finals between 2012/13 and 2015/16, winning back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016. Their victory in March 2015 was the city's maiden national premiership.[2] The Fire returned to the WNBL Grand Final in 2017/18 and won their third title in four years.[3]

Season-by-season records
Season Standings Regular season Finals Head coach
W L PCT
Townsville Fire
2001–02 8th 3 18 14.29 Did not qualify David Herbert
2002–03 2nd 15 6 71.00 Lost Semi Final (Canberra, 68–67)
Lost Preliminary Final (Sydney, 83–78)		 David Herbert
2003–04 5th 12 9 57.00 Did not qualify David Herbert
2004–05 6th 7 14 33.00 Did not qualify David Herbert
2005–06 6th 12 9 57.00 Did not qualify David Herbert
2006–07 6th 10 11 48.00 Did not qualify David Herbert
2007–08 6th 10 14 41.67 Did not qualify Peter Buckle
2008–09 3rd 16 6 72.73 Won Semi Final (Adelaide, 91–78)
Lost Preliminary Final (Bulleen, 79–68)		 Peter Buckle
2009–10 4th 14 8 63.64 Won Elimination Final (Bendigo, 84–73)
Lost Semi Final (Canberra, 60–39)		 Peter Buckle
2010–11 7th 10 12 45.45 Did not qualify Peter Buckle
2011–12 4th 13 9 59.09 Won Elimination Final (Sydney, 85–78)
Lost Semi Final (Dandenong, 77–66)		 Chris Lucas
2012–13 4th 13 11 54.17 Won Semi Final (Adelaide, 60–53)
Won Preliminary Final (Dandenong, 78–64)
Lost Grand Final (Bendigo, 71–57)		 Chris Lucas
2013–14 3rd 16 8 66.67 Won Semi Final (Melbourne, 78–73)
Won Preliminary Final (Dandenong, 74–71)
Lost Grand Final (Bendigo, 83–94)		 Chris Lucas
2014–15 1st 17 5 77.73 Won Semi Final (Bendigo, 82–63)
Won Grand Final (Bendigo, 75–65)		 Chris Lucas
2015–16 1st 17 7 70.83 Lost Semi Final (Perth, 91–72)
Won Preliminary Final (South East Queensland, 91–71)
Won Grand Final (Perth, 2–0)		 Chris Lucas
2016–17 4th 14 10 58.33 Lost Semi Final (Sydney, 0–2) Claudia Brassard
2017–18 3rd 14 7 66.67 Won Semi Final (Sydney, 2–0)
Won Grand Final (Melbourne, 2–1)		 Claudia Brassard
2018–19 6th 9 12 42.85 Did not qualify Claudia Brassard
2019–20 8th 5 16 23.81 Did not qualify Shannon Seebohm
Regular season 227 192 54.17 2 Minor Premierships
Finals 16 11 59.25 3 WNBL Championships

Players

Current roster
2020 Townsville Fire roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 1 Nicholson, Lauren 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
G 3 Reid, Stephanie 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
G 4 Heal, Shyla 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
G/F 7 Woods, Courtney 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 10 Murray, Mia 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 11 Gaze, Kate 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
F 12 Payne, Nadeen 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F 14 McSpadden, Lara 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
C 15 Aokuso, Zitina 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
G 23 Fabbro, Aliza 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
F/C 25 McKay, Megan 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Head coach
  • Shannon Seebohm
Assistant coach(es)
  • Luke Brennan
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured
Updated: 15 November 2020

Former players

Coaches and staff

Owners
  • Townsville Fire Limited (2011–present)

Head coaches
Townsville Fire head coaches
Name Start End Seasons Regular season Finals
WLPCTGWLPCTG
David Herbert200120076596746.82126020.002
Peter Buckle200720114504055.55902250.004
Chris Lucas201120165764065.5111610471.4214
Claudia Brassard201620193372956.06664357.147
Shannon Seebohm2019Current151623.810000.000

References
  1. Uni stoking Fire in sponsorship deal
  2. Side earn top city honours
  3. WNBL: Townsville Fire claim third title in four years with win over Melbourne Boomers
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