PROFESSIONAL basketball is back in Logan.
South-east Queensland Basketball has been successful in gaining entry to the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) for next season with the team to be based at the Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre at Browns Plains.
The team will be coached by Australian basketball legend and four time Olympian Shane Heal and has already signed its first marquee player in Olympic silver medalist and LA Sparks player Erin Phillips.
The team will be a return to the WNBL of a Logan based side after the Logan Thunder failed to meet requirements to play in this seasons WNBL competition which was won by the Townsville Fire earlier this month.
Basketball Australia CEO Andrew Moore said he was not concerned about the viability of the new team because of the strong application that was entered.
“The vision that was set forth was that they want to be one of the best clubs not only in the WNBL but in Australian sport,” he said.
Key for the new franchise was securing Heal as head coach and once on board Heal said he was always keen to secure the services of Phillips.
“To have Erin Phillips as our first signing is exciting for the fans and for me as coach,” he said.
“Erin plays extremely hard and her competitive nature will set the tone for the rest of our team.”
For Phillips signing on with the south east Queensland team was a chance to give back to the sport which has made her a star.
“It’s great to be able to come back and play in front of the younger basketballers and show them there is a pathway to a career here and that it is achievable, so I’m very proud to be involved with this team.”
Creating pathways for the areas juniors was a sentiment shared by her now head coach.
"We want to show young people that it’s achievable to play professional basketball in the south east Queensland region,” he said.
Heal will also sit on the board of the club alongside Brisbane Bullets legend Roger Smith and south east Queensland Basketball chairman Jarrod Sierocki among others.
A public social media competition will be launched to find a name for the new team.
