Hobart Islanders
LeaguesWNBL
Founded1986
Dissolved1996
HistoryHobart Islanders
1986–1996
ArenaKingborough Sports Centre
LocationHobart, Tasmania
Championships1 (1991)

The Hobart Islanders (also known as the Tassie Islanders[1]) were an Australian professional basketball team based in Hobart, Tasmania. The Islanders competed in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and played their home games at Kingborough Sports Centre.

History

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Hobart Hustlers (1984–1985)

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In 1984, the Hobart Hustlers were inaugural champions of the Women's Basketball Conference (WBC). In 1985, the Hustlers finished third in the WBC.[2]

Hobart Islanders (1986–1996)

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The Hobart Islanders made their debut in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in the 1986 season, finishing tenth with an 8–16 record.[3] The Islanders finished tenth in 1987 with a 4–16 record and last in 1988 with a 0–22 record.[3]

In 1989, the Islanders finished second with a 16–7 record and reached the WNBL Grand Final behind league MVP Kathy Foster, who averaged a league-leading 20.3 points per game.[3] In the grand final, they lost 80–69 to the Nunawading Spectres.[1] In 1990, the Islanders again finished second with a 19–5 record[3] and returned to the WNBL Grand Final, where they lost 72–57 to the North Adelaide Rockets.[1] In 1991, the Islanders finished first with an 18–4 record and reached their third straight WNBL Grand Final.[1][3] In the grand final, Robyn Maher top scored with 19 points to lead the Islanders to their maiden WNBL championship with a 67–64 win over the Nunawading Spectres at Kingborough Sports Centre.[4]

The Islanders dropped to eighth with a 7–13 record in 1992 before finishing on the bottom of the ladder each year between 1993 and 1995.[3] In their final season in the WNBL in 1996, they finish ninth with a 2–16 record.[1][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Final Standings (1981–2001)". WNBL. Archived from the original on 30 December 2001.
  2. ^ "FLASHBACK 99a: NWBL, WBC 1986". botinagy.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "2011–12 WNBL Media Guide" (PDF). WNBL. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012.
  4. ^ "WNBL title goes south to the apple isle". The Canberra Times. 15 September 1991. p. 14. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via Trove.