THE Logan Thunder's withdrawal from the Women's National Basketball League is not the end of national basketball in south-east Queensland, the organisation's controlling body says.
Chief operating officer Graeme Allen confirmed the Logan Thunder women's basketball team withdrew its licence submission this morning after being unable to secure the necessary sponsorship and financial commitments.
Although not happy about the Thunder's withdrawal from the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) competition, the sport's governing organisation understands why it has happened.
"Obviously we'd prefer to have Logan Thunder or someone representing south-east Queensland basketball participating in the WNBL, however we do see and undertand the difficulties that they've had in attracting sufficient finiancial and operational resources to keep the team going for the next season," Mr Allen said.
He said it was disappointing south-east Queensland would not have a team in the WNBL but stressed "the case isn't closed" and the organisation would work towards re-establishing a team for the 2015-16 season.
"We'll continue to work with people in that part of QLD for the re-establishment of the team in the year after," he said.
Mr Allen said it was important for basketball and women's basketball there be a team from the Logan or south-east Queensland region in the competition.
The Thunder's withdrawal from the season leaves eight teams and Mr Allen said although they would have preferred the Thunder had remained in the competition, it was not to be.
"The reality is if the team had have fallen over at the last minute or been unable to complete the season, it would have had a lot worse effects than making the decision now," he said.
Mr Allen said the inability of the Thunder to meet the Basketball Australia licence requirements was not due to a lack of effort on the management committee's part or the club's members.
He said head coach Jason Chainey in particular had been outstanding.