| Geelong United | |
| Color1: | White |
| Color2: |
|
| Leagues: | WNBL |
| Founded: | 1984 |
| History: | Bulleen Boomers 1984–2013 Melbourne Boomers 2013–2024 Geelong United 2024–present |
| Arena: | Geelong Arena |
| Capacity: | 2,000 |
| Location: | Geelong, Victoria |
| Colors: | Navy and white |
| Ceo: | Mark Neeld |
| Coach: | Chris Lucas |
| Championships: | 2 (2011, 2022) |
| Website: | wnbl.basketball/geelong |
Geelong United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Geelong, Victoria. United compete in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) and will play their home games at Geelong Arena starting in 2024.
Beginning as the Bulleen Boomers in 1984, the team underwent a name change in 2013 to Melbourne Boomers. In 2024, the Boomers' WNBL licence was transferred to Geelong United Basketball.
Bulleen-Templestowe Basketball Club (BTBC) was established in 1969.[1] In 1984, BTBC secured a licence to join the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), marking the debut of the Bulleen Boomers.[2]
The Boomers were first coached by Trevor Cook, with the initial team including Michele Timms and Samantha Thornton. The club first qualified for the WNBL finals in 1989 under the guidance of coach Paul Deacon, and, after progressing to the same stage the following year, missed the playoffs until 1996. In coach Lori Chizik's first season, Bulleen finished third in the regular season before bowing out in the semi-finals. Chizik led the Boomers to the 1999–2000 preliminary final, marking the club's best-ever result to that point. Cheryl Chambers then took over in 2001–02 and steered the club to two finals appearances, including the 2004–05 preliminary final. Katrina Hibbert and Hollie Grima formed the backbone of the Boomers during the 2000s. Hibbert won back-to-back League MVP awards during the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons.
Bulleen made four straight WNBL grand finals between 2008–09 and 2011–12, winning their first championship in 2010–11 behind Desiree Glaubitz, Sharin Milner, Liz Cambage, Rachel Jarry, Jenna O'Hea and coach Tom Maher.
In 2013, BTBC changed the team name to Melbourne Boomers to target a wider area of population and boost crowd numbers. The team also changed its colours from blue and gold to purple and gold, and moved their home games to the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna.[3] In 2014, Deakin University joined as a naming rights partner. In 2016, a new ownership group took over the Boomers' license from BTBC.
In the 2017–18 season, the Boomers reached the grand final but lost to the Townsville Fire. In the 2021–22 season, the Boomers won their second WNBL championship under coach Guy Molloy.[4] [5]
In March 2024, Geelong United Basketball (GUB) and a consortium of local private investors from Geelong expressed interest in acquiring the Boomers' licence after the Boomers' ownership group looked to transfer its licence.[6] [7] Two months later, the license was officially transferred to GUB, with the team moving to Geelong under a new brand Geelong United.[8] [9] [10] [11]
The franchise has had a number of home venues, including Sheahan's Road Basketball Centre, Keilor Basketball Stadium, Melbourne Entertainment Centre, the Veneto Club, State Basketball Centre (2013–2023), and Parkville Stadium (2021–2024).[12] [13] [14] [15]
With the move to Geelong in 2024, the home venue shifted to Geelong Arena.
| Season | Standings | Regular season | Finals | Head coach | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | PCT | ||||
| Bulleen Boomers | ||||||
| 1984 | 9th | 5 | 13 | 27.7 | Did Not Quality | Trevor Cook |
| 1985 | 10th | 3 | 15 | 16.6 | Did Not Quality | Trevor Cook |
| 1986 | 12th | 5 | 19 | 20.8 | Did Not Quality | Trevor Cook |
| 1987 | 11th | 3 | 17 | 15.0 | Did Not Quality | Trevor Cook |
| 1988 | 10th | 5 | 17 | 22.7 | Did Not Quality | Trevor Cook |
| 1989 | 4th | 16 | 8 | 66.6 | Loss Semi-Final (Nunawading Spectres, 68-69) | Paul Deacon |
| 1990 | 3rd | 17 | 7 | 70.8 | Loss Semi-Final (Nunawading Spectres, 69-89) | Lori Chizik |
| 1991 | 6th | 11 | 11 | 50.0 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1992 | 6th | 10 | 10 | 50.0 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1993 | 7th | 7 | 11 | 38.8 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1994 | 8th | 5 | 13 | 27.7 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1995 | 7th | 6 | 12 | 33.3 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1996 | 3rd | 14 | 4 | 77.7 | Loss Semi-Final (Perth, 58-75) | Lori Chizik |
| 1997 | 9th | 5 | 13 | 27.7 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1998 | 7th | 3 | 9 | 25.0 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1998–99 | 5th | 11 | 10 | 52.3 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 1999–00 | 3rd | 11 | 10 | 52.3 | Won Semi-Final (Perth, 61-60) Loss Premliminary Final (Canberra, 66-80) | Lori Chizik |
| 2000–01 | 6th | 7 | 14 | 33.3 | Did Not Quality | Lori Chizik |
| 2001–02 | 6th | 6 | 15 | 28.5 | Did Not Quality | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2002–03 | 6th | 6 | 15 | 28.5 | Did Not Quality | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2003–04 | 6th | 7 | 9 | 43.7 | Did Not Quality | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2004–05 | 2nd | 16 | 5 | 76.1 | Loss Semi-Final (Dandenong, 59-63) Loss Premliminary Final (Sydney, 71-79) | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2005–06 | 4th | 13 | 8 | 61.9 | Loss Semi-Final (Canberra, 62-67) | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2006–07 | 5th | 12 | 9 | 57.1 | Did Not Quality | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2007–08 | 5th | 11 | 13 | 45.8 | Did Not Quality | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2008–09 | 2nd | 17 | 5 | 77.2 | Loss Semi-Final (Canberra, 52-60) Win Preliminary Final (Townsville, 79-68) Loss Grand Final (Canberra, 58-61) | Cheryl Chambers |
| 2009–10 | 1st | 21 | 1 | 95.4 | Won Semi-Final (Sydney, 72-55) Loss Grand Final (Canberra, 70-75) | Tom Maher |
| 2010–11 | 1st | 19 | 3 | 86.3 | Won Semi-Final (Canberra, 71-67) Won Grand Final (Canberra, 103-78) | Tom Maher |
| 2011–12 | 2nd | 15 | 7 | 68.1 | Won Semi-Final (Adelaide, 73-70)Loss Grand Final (Dandenong, 70-94) | Tom Maher |
| 2012–13 | 5th | 10 | 14 | 41.6 | Did Not Quality | Tom Maher |
| Melbourne Boomers | ||||||
| 2013–14 | 4th | 14 | 10 | 58.3 | Loss Semi-Final (Townsville, 73-78) | Guy Molloy |
| 2014–15 | 6th | 11 | 11 | 50.0 | Did Not Quality | Guy Molloy |
| 2015–16 | 8th | 8 | 16 | 33.3 | Did Not Quality | Guy Molloy |
| 2016–17 | 7th | 5 | 19 | 20.8 | Did Not Quality | Guy Molloy |
| 2017–18 | 4th | 12 | 9 | 57.1 | Won Semi-Final (Perth, 2-0) Loss Grand Final (Townsville, 1-2) | Guy Molloy |
| 2018–19 | 2nd | 15 | 6 | 71.4 | Loss Semi-Final (Adelaide, 0-2) | Guy Molloy |
| 2019–20 | 3rd | 15 | 6 | 71.4 | Loss Semi-Final (Canberra, 1-2) | Guy Molloy |
| 2020 | 4th | 9 | 4 | 69.2 | Won Semi-Final (Canberra, 78-68) Loss Preliminary Final (Townsville, 62-65) | Guy Molloy |
| 2021–22 | 1st | 12 | 5 | 70.5 | Won Semi-Final (Adelaide, 2-0) Won Grand Final (Perth, 2-1) | Guy Molloy |
| 2022–23 | 3rd | 15 | 6 | 71.4 | Loss Semi-Final (Southside, 1-2) | Chris Lucas |
| 2023–24 | 3rd | 12 | 9 | 57.1 | Loss Semi-Final (Southside, 1-2) | Chris Lucas |
| Regular season | 425 | 415 | 50.5 | 3 Minor Premierships | ||
| Finals | 11 | 19 | 36.6 | 2 WNBL Championships | ||
Lindsay Allen Rebecca Allen
Stella Beck Liz Cambage Carley Ernst Michele Timms Allison Tranquilli Debbie Slimmon Samantha Thornton Katrina Hibbert Sharin Milner Desiree Glaubitz Hollie Grima Rachel Jarry Alice Kunek Jenna O'Hea Ashleigh Karaitiana Antonia Farnworth Madeleine Garrick Kalani Purcell Izzy Wright Ezi Magbegor