A new chapter in South Australian basketball history was written last night as the State Basketball Centre (SBC) hosted its first ever WNBL home game, welcoming the Adelaide Lightning to centre court in front of an energetic and passionate crowd.
In a moment that perfectly captured the energy and spirit of the evening, the venue was affectionately dubbed “The Spark House” — a nod to the Lightning’s electric presence and the vibrant atmosphere that filled the stands.
The matchup marked more than just a thrilling night of basketball; it was a celebration of the sport’s growth, infrastructure, and vision in South Australia.
Basketball South Australia CEO, Tim Brenton shared his sentiments, stating:
“Yesterday’s WNBL game at the State Basketball Centre marked a defining moment for our sport in South Australia. It delivered on the vision of the State Government and the Basketball SA Commission to build a facility that balances community participation, high performance, inclusivity, and the capacity to host national and international events.”
He further reflected on the calibre of talent that has already graced the courts at Wayville:
“With the Boomers, Opals and New Zealand national teams using the SBC as their training base earlier this year, this game stands as the realisation of the goals and aspirations that shaped its creation. As a sport and as a basketball community, we should all be proud of what we are achieving together.”
The State Basketball Centre, which officially opened in October 2023, has quickly become the home of South Australian basketball — a venue where grassroots athletes, elite players, and fans alike can connect through the game.
With the Lightning now calling the SBC home for their 2025 WNBL season, the venue will continue to host top-level national competition, providing young athletes with an inspiring glimpse of what’s possible within their own state.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Lightning fought hard until the very end, falling just three points short against the Perth Lynx (72–75). The narrow margin didn’t overshadow the significance of the night, as a passionate crowd filled the State Basketball Centre to celebrate a new era for the Adelaide Lightning. It was a showcase of elite women’s basketball, community spirit, and the growing momentum of our sport in South Australia.
Basketball South Australia is delighted to announce that, after more than three years of planning and preparation, the long-awaited air conditioning works at Springbank Secondary College Stadium will commence in the week starting 29 September 2025.
Driven by Springbank Secondary College, this project has been made possible through the strong collaboration between Sturt Sabres Basketball Club, Basketball South Australia, Springbank Secondary College, and the Department for Education; reflecting a shared commitment to improving community sporting facilities.
Basketball South Australia major partner, Seeley International, were successful in what was a hotly contested tender process with their Climate Wizards CW-X Series.
In recognition of the importance of delivering this project before the peak of summer, the “final” timeline was brought forward and condensed to ensure a fully operational system ahead of the hot season. The works are expected to take 8–10 weeks, with key construction activities scheduled during school hours and the September school holidays to minimise disruption to competitions and training.
To facilitate the project, part of the gravel car park will be fenced off to house the project team’s office, temporary toilets, materials storage, and manage deliveries. Car parking will therefore be limited during this period. Additionally, the Sturt Shed will be relocated to allow for the external equipment storage to be housed in a safe a distal location from thoroughfares.Coupled with this project, Springbank Secondary College has invested in significant solar panel additions. The inclusion of these works has zero impact to basketball programs or stadium infrastructure.
Basketball South Australia acknowledges the patience and support of players, coaches, officials, families, and the broader community throughout this process and looks forward to the delivery of a more comfortable environment for all who use the stadium. A special commendation must be made to Sturt Sabres Basketball Club who have been tremendously helpful and supportive of the everchanging logistical landscape outside of all our respective control to make this a reality.
Basketball South Australia will continue to campaign, advocate, and push forward to build and upgrade venues to increase accessibility to air-conditioned venues, and look forward to working with Seeley International into the future.
The future of elite women’s basketball in South Australia is secure, with the Malinauskas Labor Government teaming up with the WNBL to secure the future of the Adelaide Lightning.
As one of the most successful teams in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), winning five championships since entering the league in 1993, the Adelaide Lightning has long been a symbol of excellence, resilience, and opportunity for South Australian athletes, coaches, and fans alike. Today’s announcement ensures that the Adelaide Lightning’s legacy and impact will continue to shine brightly, both on and off the court.
In a statement on the matter, Basketball South Australia Chair James Kitching expressed appreciation for the support, saying, ”On behalf of the Basketball South Australia Commission, we welcome and are grateful for the investment made by the Malinauskas government in ensuring that a high-performance pathway into professional women’s basketball will continue to exist in South Australia. We are excited about the plans that the new private ownership of the WNBL has to elevate the sport, and look forward to working with the WNBL, the South Australian government, and South Australian basketball stakeholders to ensure the ongoing success of the Adelaide Lightning”.
CEO of Basketball South Australia, Tim Brenton, added “We are beyond thrilled that the Adelaide Lightning will remain in the WNBL. This outcome ensures South Australians will continue to enjoy and be inspired by elite women’s basketball. This outcome would not have been possible without the leadership and support of the Malinauskas Government, in particular Sports Minister Emily Bourke and ORSR CEO Kylie Taylor, whose willingness to partner with Basketball SA has been instrumental. Their commitment to women’s sport, building sustainable, community-connected high-performance programs, reflects a shared vision for opportunity, participation and excellence across the state”.
This partnership not only safeguards one of the WNBL’s most iconic clubs but also reinforces South Australia’s commitment to growing women’s basketball and inspiring the next generations. The continuation of the Adelaide Lightning means more than games on the calendar, it means preserving a legacy, protecting pathways for female athletes, and maintaining South Australia’s strong presence in national competition.
Basketball South Australia extends its deepest gratitude to all stakeholders, supporters, and partners who rallied to keep the Lightning alive. The future is bright, and the Lightning is ready to shine once again.
Basketball SA is thrilled to announce the signing of Seeley International as a Corporate Partner.
Seeley International is an Adelaide based company and a world leader in evaporative air conditioning solutions. Their indirect evaporative solution, Climate Wizard, boasts advanced technology to cool large areas while maintaining low running costs, providing exceptional ventilation, and preventing increased humidity.
Our partnership will recognise Seeley International as the preferred supplier for future Basketball SA facilities planning, as well as see Seeley International named as the Referees and Officials partner for Basketball SA. An exciting aspect to our partnership will be a Climate Wizard solution installed in the State Basketball Centre currently under construction at Wayville.
Basketball SA CEO, Tim Brenton, said they are looking forward to working with Seeley International to showcase Climate Wizard in the new Home of South Australian Basketball as the best air conditioning solution for the sport.
“The upfront cost and ongoing running expenses for all community sports are a huge consideration, whilst balancing the need to keep the court area humidity levels low. Seeley’s Climate Wizard indirect evaporative solution does this, whilst also ensuring great ventilation. 100% of the circulated air is sourced outside, which we recognise as an important benefit to basketball following the impacts of Covid-19 to the sport.”
Jon Seeley, Group Managing Director of Seeley International, said he was pleased to be working with such an inclusive and diverse sport that has such a high reliance on the climate control of its venues, and hopes to keep working with Basketball SA in other venues.
“We know basketball is a very popular sport in the state, and we are excited to be working with Basketball SA to support referees and officials deliver the game and help everyone keep their cool. It’s fitting that our cutting-edge technology will be used to help provide perfect conditions for the game at the State Basketball Centre.”
To recognise Seeley International’s valued support for the high performance pathways of our referees to NBL1, National and International levels, the Climate Wizard logo will be seen on all NBL1 Central Referees and Officials uniforms during the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Seasons.
