The collapse of the Logan-based South East Queensland Stars WNBL team is a major blow to basketball in the region and to the city of Logan itself.
But as the team goes into the hands of liquidators and ceases operations with just five games of their season left to play, questions need to be asked.
Why, if the the team was struggling financially, did it not ask for help, earlier?
Why did the Stars leave it this late to pull the plug when they were a legitimate finals chance?
The Logan community along with corporate sponsors and Basketball Australia rallied around Logan Thunder, the last WNBL team to play in the city, when it was in dire financial straits.
Enough money was raised for the team to play out the 2013-2014 season, and if this had been done before, there was no reason it could not be achieved again.
Particularly for the Stars, who frankly looked to be much more successful in the national competition.
Club officials were adamant when the club was launched prior to the start of the WNBL season last year that they had the right business plan to be an ongoing success, unlike their predecessor the Thunder.
For this reason, it is interesting they lasted less time in the league than the previous Logan-based team.
The club also billed itself as wanting to be south-east Queensland's team, so the question must be asked why did they not play any home games in other parts of the south-east Queensland.
This would have enabled the team to try and build their fan base across the region.
While the Stars signed an in-kind sponsorship deal with Logan City Council to play all the their home games at Logan Metro Centre, perhaps they should have negotiated a couple of home games to be played at other venues if they truly wanted to be the Stars of south-east Queensland.
While it may not have been helped, the timing of the decision was terrible.
The team had five games left, four of which were on the road, so that's four home games for their opponents which won't go ahead.
It throws the league into chaos, especially with the competition being as tight as it is with up to six clubs (now five) having a shot at making the top four and playing finals basketball.
You also have two Stars players who are Australian Opals members who would have been factoring in the remainder of the season as part of their preparation for the Rio Olympics.
A number of players including Lauren Mansfield, Nadeen Payne and co-captain Amy Lewis has been signed by the club for next season, so the question must be asked why the club decided to sign players for the next season if they had doubts about completing the first.
While all the players and coaching staff lose out from this decision, the collapse is especially sad for young point guard Mansfield who had emerged as a true superstar of the sport under coach Shane Heal's guidance.
She was knocking on the door of achieving her dream of representing the national team.
The players, coaching staff and club officials cannot be faulted.
They produced an exciting and successful style of basketball and the club's media staff did a stellar job of promoting the club at every opportunity.
Compounding the loss to the city of Logan is the fact the Stars are now the second professional sports team to have gone under in the area.
This does not bode well for any other clubs or teams who may have been looking to build a successful professional sports club in the area.
It also means a hit to the local economy as many fans would travel from outside of Logan to support the team and in doing so spend money on food and drink at both Logan Metro and nearby restaurants and cafes.
