Basketball New Zealand

Christchurch Sirens celebrate victory in 2007

The Sirens basketball team will not contest the 2008/09 Australian Women’s Basketball League from Christchurch.

After one season in the Australian WNBL, the Christchurch-based franchise has not been able to secure sufficient funding to remain in Christchurch and is now searching for a new home.

The Sirens were established last year as a joint venture between Canterbury Basketball Association and entrepreneur Jan Cameron, operating under a licence held by Basketball New Zealand.

BBNZ is now exploring the option of relocating the franchise to Wellington.

“The Sirens board has worked strenuously to secure enough commercial support to keep the team in Christchurch, but has not been able to confirm the $600,000 required,” says board member Amanda Strong.

“Shareholders are disappointed at this outcome, but believe it is a prudent step and supports the efforts to continue the franchise elsewhere in New Zealand.

“All costs associated with the inaugural season have been met and the board believes it would not be financially responsible to embark on a second season in Christchurch without the necessary level of confirmed funding.”

The Sirens were formed as an integral part of the NZ Tall Ferns programme, designed to give the country’s top women basketballers a chance to compete at a consistently high level over the summer.

Christchurch then became the training base for the Ferns as they prepared for the Beijing Olympics.

After beginning their inaugural season with seven straight losses, the Sirens finished with a 9-15 record, including 9-2 at Cowles Stadium and victory over every team in the league except eventual champions Adelaide.

The benefits of the programme were reflected when the Tall Ferns achieved their first ever win over the world champion Australian Opals at the Good Luck Beijing Olympic test event in April.

“We remain committed to the Sirens concept as a step in the professional pathway for our women,” says Basketball New Zealand chief executive Dale Stephens.

“We sincerely thank Jan Cameron and Canterbury Basketball for their efforts in getting the team off the ground, and are determined not to let their hard work go to waste.”