The Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team is the women's

wheelchair basketball Wheelchair basketball is a style of basketball played using a sports wheelchair. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as ...

side that represents

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

in international competitions. The team is known as the Gliders. The team hasn't won a gold medal for Australia since it began competing at the

1992 Summer Paralympics The 1992 Summer Paralympics (; ) were the ninth Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. In addition, the 1992 Paralympic Games for Persons with mental handicap were held immediately after the regular Paralymp ...

, however it has won either the silver or bronze medal since the 2000 Summer Paralympics held in Sydney. Gliders finished 6th at the

2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship Separate men's and women's Wheelchair Basketball World Championship tournaments were held in 2014. The women's tournament was held at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Canada between 20 and 28 June 2014. It was the largest women's ...

but did not qualify for the

2016 Summer Paralympics The 2016 Summer Paralympics (), the 15th Summer Paralympic Games, were a major international multi-sport event for disabled sports, athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, f ...

History

03 ACPS Atlanta 1996 Womens Basketball Coach Peter Corr

Women's wheelchair basketball was first played at the

1968 Summer Paralympics The 1968 Summer Paralympics () were the third Paralympic Games to be held. Organised under the guidance of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF), they were known as the 17th International Stoke Mandeville Games at the time. ...

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

, but Australia did not have a team that competed until 1992 in Barcelona. The

1996 Summer Paralympics The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, were held from August 16 to 25. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million. It was the first Paralympic Games where Internatio ...

were the first Paralympics basketball tournament to feature the three-wheeled wheelchair. Most of the women on the Australian team opted to use the traditional four-wheeled wheelchair.

Competition history

Prior to the start of the 1996 Paralympics, Australia was ranked third in the world after their bronze medal at the 1994

Wheelchair Basketball World Championship The IWBF World Wheelchair Basketball Championship (World Championships from 1973 to 2002 (2006) known as Gold Cup) is an international wheelchair basketball competition contested by the men's and the women's national teams of the members of the I ...

, behind first placed Canada and United States. In lead up preparations for the games, the team toured Canada. Australia's women's team beat the American team at the Paralympics in pool play. This was viewed as extremely significant by Australian women's wheelchair basketball fans and the Australian Paralympic Federation because the game was invented in America. Also, it was the first time that the Australian women had defeated the Americans. The match had even more significance because Australia needed to win it in order to stay in contention for a medal. Australia was down 21–16 at halftime. Australia went up with seven minutes left in the second half. The match finished with a score of 31–27 in Australia's favour. American Sharon Herbst was their team's start performer and she caused a number of problems for Australia's defence. During the game, several players were knocked out of their wheelchairs, including Australia's Melissa Ferrett. The Americans challenged the win, protesting because they believed the Australians were not wearing matching uniforms. Australia beat Brazil 67–8, beat the USA 31–27 and lost to Germany 34–26 in pool play. They lost to Canada in the semi-finals, going down 31–36. They played the Americans in the bronze medal match, losing 30–41. The team's top scorer in the competition was

Liesl Tesch Liesl Dorothy Tesch Order of Australia, AM (born 17 May 1969) is an Australian wheelchair basketball player, sailor, and politician. She is a New South Wales Labor Party, Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, represent ...

. In 1998, the team again won a bronze medal at the World Championships. In April and May 1999, the team was invited by the Kinki Wheelchair Basketball Association and the Japanese Wheelchair Basketball Federation to compete in a tournament in Japan to celebrate twenty-five years of wheelchair basketball in that country. The Australian team won every game they competed in, including three test matches against the Japanese team. The last test was played before Japan's royalty, and Australia won 61–25. The team had an official team dinner with Emperor Akihito of Japan during this tour. The team won silver medals at the

2000 Summer Paralympics The 2000 Summer Paralympic Games or the XI Summer Paralympics were held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, between 18 and 29 October. The Sydney Paralympics was the last time that the Summer Paralympics were organized by two different Organ ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

and the

2004 Summer Paralympics The 2004 Summer Paralympics (), the 12th Summer Paralympic Games, were a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee, held in Athens, Greece, from 17 to 28 September ...

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

, with a bronze medal at the 2002 World Championships. Prior to the start of the 2008 Paralympics, the team was ranked fourth in the world. They received this rank by beating Japan and

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

in the qualifying tournament for the games. In 2008, the team competed in the

Osaka Cup is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population o ...

. They earned a silver medal, only losing to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in the final. The Gliders lost to the United States 20–52. After the Osaka Cup, the team competed in the Goodluck Beijing Test Event, where they won three matches and lost one against

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. The team then competed in the Joseph F. Lyttle World Basketball Challenge, where they finished third. They then went to the United States and competed in the

North America Cup The North America Cup is an annual harness racing event for 3-year-old standardbred pacing horses which is held at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada. The race replaced the Queen City Pace run from 1964 to 1983. From 1984 t ...

, where they finished fourth. The team then went back to China where they played five matches against China, where they went undefeated. The

Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team at the 2012 Summer Paralympics The Australian women's national wheelchair basketball team, known as the Gliders, played in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. The team of twelve included nine Paralympic veterans with fifteen Paralympic Games between them: Bridie Kean, ...

consisted of twelve included nine veterans with 15 Paralympic Games between them: Bridie Kean,

Amanda Carter Amanda Carter (born 16 July 1964) is an Australian Paralympic wheelchair basketball player. Diagnosed with transverse myelitis at the age of 24, she began playing wheelchair basketball in 1991 and participated in the Australia women's nationa ...

, Sarah Stewart, Tina McKenzie,

Kylie Gauci Kylie Gauci (born 1 January 1985) is an Australian Paralympic 2 point player, 2-point wheelchair basketball player. She participated in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where she won a silver medal; in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Bei ...

Katie Hill Katherine Lauren Hill (born August 25, 1987) is an American former politician and social services administrator from Agua Dulce, California. She is the Chief executive officer, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services and a member of the Los Angel ...

Cobi Crispin Cobi Crispin (born 22 December 1988) is a 4 point player, 4 point wheelchair basketball forward (basketball), forward from Western Australia. She began playing wheelchair basketball in 2003 when she was 17 years old. The Victorian Institute o ...

Clare Nott Clare Nott (née Burzynski, born 11 August 1986) is a former Australian 1 point player, 1.0 point wheelchair basketball player who played for the Kilsyth Cobras in the Women's national Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL) and for the Red Dust ...

and

Shelley Chaplin Shelley Matheson (née Chaplin) (born 4 September 1984) is an Australian 3.5-point player wheelchair basketball player. She participated in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where she won a silver medal; in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in ...

; and three newcomers:

Amber Merritt Amber Merritt (born 17 February 1993) is a 4.5 point player, 4.5-point wheelchair basketball player who plays forward (basketball), forward. She represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, where she won a silver medal and a ...

Sarah Vinci Sarah Vinci (born 4 December 1991) is a 1 point player, 1 point wheelchair basketball player who plays for the Perth Western Stars in the Australian Women's National Wheelchair Basketball League. She made her debut with the Australia women's n ...

and

Leanne Del Toso Leanne Del Toso (born 12 August 1980) is a 3.5 point wheelchair basketball player who represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, where she won a silver medal. Diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneurop ...

. The Gliders, who had won silver in the

and the

, but had never won gold, finished at the top of their pool in the group stage of the competition with victories over Brazil, Great Britain and the Netherlands. They then went on to win in the quarter-final against Mexico and the semi-final against the United States, only to lose to Germany in the final.

Major tournament record

Performance in Paralympic Games

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

– 4th *

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

– 4th *

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

–

''Silver'' *

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

–

''Silver'' *

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

–

''Bronze'' *

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

–

''Silver'' *

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

– did not qualify *

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

– 9th *

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

– did not qualify

Performance in Gold Cup / World Championships

*1990 - 6th *1994 – Bronze medal Paralympics

''Bronze'' *1998 – Bronze medal Paralympics

''Bronze'' *2002 – Bronze medal Paralympics

''Bronze'' *2006 – 4th *

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

– 4th *

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

– 6th *

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

– 9th *

2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...

– 6th

Past Paralympic Games rosters

1992 Paralympic Games

*Team Members –

, Coralie Churchett, Sue Hobbs, Paula Coghlan, Lisa O'Nion, Donna Ritchie, Amanda Rose, Julie Russell, Sharon Slann,

; Coach – Peter Corr Official – John Crossley (escort).

1996 Paralympic Games

*Team Members –

Julianne Adams Julianne Adams (born 11 July 1966) is an Australian wheelchair basketball player. Personal Adams was born in Perth, Western Australia, Perth on 11 July 1966. As a child, Adams thought that she could perhaps be an Olympic gymnast. From the age ...

(2.0), Paula Ewin (4.5), Melissa Ferrett (1.0), Alison Mosely (4.5), Lisa O'Nion (3.0), Donna Philp (4.0), Donna Ritchie (1.5), Amanda Rose (2.5), Sharon Slann (3.0),

(4.5),

Jane Webb Jane Karyl Webb (August 13, 1925 – March 30, 2010) was an American film, radio, and voice actress, best known for her work on Filmation's cartoons. Early years Webb's mother was Estelle Sigrid Webb, a Swedish immigrant who was an operatic ...

(3.0); Coaches – Peter Corr (head coach), Tracy York; Officials – Shona Casey .

2000 Paralympic Games

291000 - Wheelchair basketball Australian team silver presentation - 3b - 2000 Sydney ceremony photo

*Team Members –

(2.0),

(2.0), Paula Coghlan (4.5), Mellissa Dunn (4.5), Karen Farrell (1.0), Alison Mosely (4.5), Lisa O'Nion (3.0), Donna Ritchie (1.5),

Nadya Romeo Nadya Romeo (sometimes Nadia Romeo) (born 1 June 1971 in Perth, Western Australia) is a wheelchair basketball player from Australia. Life Romeo made the Northern Territory state team with Mellissa Dunn.Sharon Slann (2.5),

(4.5),

(3.0); Coaches – Peter Corr (head coach), Tracey York, Rob Beveridge Officials – Kevin Smith (manager)

2004 Paralympic Games

*Team Members – Lisa Chaffey (1.0),

(3.5), Paula Coghlan (4.5),

Melanie Domaschenz Melanie Domaschenz (born 13 October 1983) is an Australian wheelchair basketball player who is part of the Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team. She won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens and a bronze medal ...

(1.0), Karen Farrell (1.0),

(2.0), Tina McKenzie (3.0), Alison Mosely (4.5), Jane Sachs (3.0), Sarah Stewart (3.0),

(4.0),

Melinda Young Melinda Jane Young (born 20 August 1971) is a wheelchair basketball player from Australia. She was born in Melbourne, Victoria. She was part of the silver medal-winning Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team at the 2004 Summer P ...

(2.5); Coaches – Gerry Hewson (head coach), Darryl Durham (assistant coach); Officials – Sonia Healy (manager), Michael Dowling.

2008 Paralympic Games

*Team Members – Clare Burzynski (1.0),

(3.5),

(4.0),

(1.0),

(2.0), Melanie Hall (2.5),

(3.0), Bridie Kean (4.0), Tina McKenzie (3.0),

Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy (born 21 June 1986) is an Australian 4.0 point wheelchair basketball player who plays forward-centre. She was part of the bronze medal-winning Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team at the 2008 Summer ...

(4.0), Sarah Stewart (3.0)

(4.0); Coaches – Gerry Hewson (head coach), Mark Hewish Officials – Sonia Healy (Section Manager), Emma Whiteside.

2016 Paralympic Games

Gliders failed to qualify after finishing second to China at the 2015 Asia Oceania Zone Qualifying Tournament.

2020 Paralympic Games

*Team Members – Natalie Alexander (2.5), Jess Cronje (4.0), Shelley Cronau (2.5),

Hannah Dodd Hannah Dodd (born 27 April 1992) is an Australian Grade IV equestrian and 1.0 point wheelchair basketball player who represented Australia in equestrian at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, coming 11th and 12th in her events. Switchin ...

(1.0), Mary Friday (1.0), Isabel Martin (1.0), Bree Mellberg (3.0),

(4.5),

Georgia Munro-Cook Georgia Munro-Cook is an Australian 4.5 point wheelchair basketball player. She represented Australia at the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Hamburg, the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, and the 2022 Wheelchair Basketball ...

(4.5), Taishar Ovens (1.0), Ella Sabljak (1.0),

(1.0); Coaches – Craig Friday (head coach), Craig Campbell (Assistant > Head Coach Vs Algeria), Sarah Graham (Assistant) Officials - Leigh Gooding (Program Manager), Cathy Lambert (team manager), Chloe Manuel (physiotherapist) Detailed Results –

Wheelchair basketball at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Wheelchair basketball at the 2020 Summer Paralympics was held at two venues: Musashino Forest Sport Plaza for group stage rounds and Ariake Arena for group stage and finals. The 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games were postponed to 2021 ...

2024 Paralympic Games

Gliders failed to qualify after losing to Japan in the quarter-finals at the IWBF Repechage in Osaka, Japan.

Past World Championship Rosters

1990 Gold Cup

*Team Members –

, Coralie Churchett, Paula Ewin, Susan Hobbs, Lisa O'Nion, Mandy Rose, Donna Ritchie, Sharon Slann,

; Coach - Peter Corr

1994 Gold Cup

*Team Members – F. Alaouie,

, Lisa Chaffey, Coralie Churchett, Karen Farrell, Lisa O'Nion, Donna Ritchie, Amanda Rose, Sharon Slann, F. Stanley,

; Coach - Peter Corr

1998Gold Cup

*Team Members –

, Paula Coghlan, Melissa Collins, Mellissa Dunn, Karen Farrell, Alison Mosley, Lisa O’Nion, Donna Ritchie, Nadiy Romeo,

; Coaches - Peter Corr, C. Lueg (assistant coach)

2002 Gold Cup

*Team Members –

, Lisa Chaffey,

, Paula Coglan, Melissa Collins, Karen Farrell,

, Tina McKenzie, Alison Mosely, Lisa 'O'Nion, Jane Sachs,

; Coaches - Elizabeth Fraser (head coach), Darryl Durham (assistant coach), Gerry Hewson (assistant coach)

2006 Gold Cup

*Team Members –

(1.0), Leisl Tesch (4.0), Clare Burzynski (1.0),

(2.0),

(3.5), Melanie Hall (2.5), Alison Mosely (4.5),

(2.0),

(4.0), Jenny Nicholls, incomplete; Coaches -

2010 World Championships

*Team Members –

(1.0),

(4.0), Bridie Kean (4.0),

(4.5), Tina McKenzie (c) (3.0), Leisl Tesch (4.0), Clare Burzynski (1.0),

(2.0), Sarah Stewart (3.0),

(3.0),

(4.0),

(3.5); Coaches – John Triscari (head coach), Ben Osborne (assistant coach), Matt Dunstan (assistant coach); Officials – Marian Stewart (manager), Miranda Wallis (physiotherapist)

2014 World Championships

*Team Members –

(3.5),

(4.0), Shelley Cronau (3.0),

(3.5),

(2.0), Bridie Kean (4.0),

(4.5),

(1.0),

(4.0), Sarah Stewart (3.0), Stephanie van Leeuwen (1.0),

(1.0); Coaches – Tom Kyle (head coach),

David Gould David L. Gould (January 9, 1873 – January 25, 1939) was a Scottish American soccer player, coach and referee. He coached the U.S. national team at the 1934 FIFA World Cup and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He was born in ...

(assistant coach), Troy Sachs (assistant coach)

2018 World Championships

*Team Members -

(3.5),

, Shelley Cronau (3.0),

(1.0),

(3.5),

(2.0), Annabelle Lindsay(4.5),

(4.5),

(1.0),

(4.5), Ella Sabljak,

(1.0); Coaches

(head coach), Stephen Charlton (assistant coach), Craig Campbell (Assistant/Technical Coach); Officials - Anna de Araugo (physiotherapist), Peta Forsyth (Physiologist), Cathy Lambert (team manager)

2022 World Championships

*Team Members - Lucinda Bueti (4.0), Jess Cronje (4.0), Laura Davoli (4.0),

(1.0), Annabelle Dennis (4.5), Breanna Fisk (1.0), Georgia Inglis (2.5), Maryanne Latu (2.5), Isabel Martin (1.0),

(4.5)

(4.5),

(1.0); Coaches Craig Campbell (head coach), Tina McKenzie (head assistant coach), Lauren Robinson (assistant coach), Warren Brown (technical assistant)

References

Bibliography

* * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Australia National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team Australian Paralympic teams National women's wheelchair basketball teams

Wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditio ...

Women's A woman is an adult female human. Before adulthood, a female child or adolescent is referred to as a girl. Typically, women are of the female sex and inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent, and women with functional uteruses ...

1990 establishments in Australia National sports teams established in 1990

History

Competition history

Major tournament record

Performance in Paralympic Games

Performance in Gold Cup / World Championships

Past Paralympic Games rosters

1992 Paralympic Games

1996 Paralympic Games

2000 Paralympic Games

2004 Paralympic Games

2008 Paralympic Games

2016 Paralympic Games

2020 Paralympic Games

2024 Paralympic Games

Past World Championship Rosters

1990 Gold Cup

1994 Gold Cup

1998Gold Cup

2002 Gold Cup

2006 Gold Cup

2010 World Championships

2014 World Championships

2018 World Championships

2022 World Championships

See also

References

Bibliography

External links