Mikaela Dombkins Explained

Mikaela Dombkins
Height Cm:181
Position:Assistant coach
League:WNBL
Team:Bendigo Spirit
Nationality:Australian
Birth Date:1 August 1986
Birth Place:Newcastle, New South Wales
Career Start:2003
Career Position:Guard
Coach Start:2021
Years1:2003–2006
Team1:Australian Institute of Sport
Years2:2006–2008
Team2:Sydney Uni Flames
Years3:2007
Team3:Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Years4:2008
Team4:Maitland Mustangs
Years5:2009
Team5:Sandringham Sabres
Years6:2009–2011
Team6:Sydney Uni Flames
Years7:2010
Team7:Frankston Blues
Years8:2011
Team8:Maitland Mustangs
Years9:2011–2013
Team9:Canberra Capitals
Years10:2012
Team10:Canberra Nationals
Years11:2013
Team11:Waverley Falcons
Years12:2014
Team12:Sandringham Sabres
Years13:2015
Team13:Norths Bears
Years14:2015–2016
Team14:Adelaide Lightning
Years15:2019–2021
Team15:Newcastle Hunters
Years16:2021
Team16:Mackay Meteorettes
Cyears1:2021–present
Cteam1:Bendigo Spirit
Highlights:

Mikaela Dombkins (born 1 August 1986) is an Australian professional basketball player and coach. She played 11 seasons in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) between 2003 and 2016. She currently serves as an assistant coach with the Bendigo Spirit of the WNBL.

Early life

Dombkins was born in Newcastle, New South Wales.[1] She played her junior basketball for the Maitland Mustangs.[2]

Professional career

Australian Institute of Sport (2003–2006)

Dombkins came to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) on a scholarship when she was 16.[3] She played for the AIS WNBL team in the WNBL between 2003 and 2006.[4] She endured knee and foot injuries during her time at the AIS.[4] [5] [6] In October 2005, she scored 24 points against the Perth Lynx.[7]

Sydney Uni Flames (2006–2008)

For the 2006–07 WNBL season, Dombkins joined the Sydney Uni Flames.[8] She played two positions for the team, guard and forward.[8] She left the Flames after the 2007–08 season.

Logan Thunder (2008–2009)

For the 2008–09 WNBL season, Dombkins joined the Logan Thunder.[9] She did not make her debut for the Thunder after missing the season with a back injury.[10]

Return to Sydney (2009–2011)

Dombkins returned to the Sydney Uni Flames for the 2009–10 WNBL season. In January 2010, she made a three-point shot to win the game against the Canberra Capitals.[11] She missed the entire 2010–11 season with another back injury which almost ended her career.

Canberra Capitals (2011–2013)

Dombkins joined the Canberra Capitals for the 2011–12 WNBL season.[12] [13] [14] There were some concerns by team management about her potential performance ability because of the previous back injuries.[13] The Capitals' coach said that Michelle Cosier's injury in the pre-season provided an opportunity to look at Dombkins as an option off the bench.[15] She recorded 11 points and eight rebounds in her debut for the Capitals.[16] In November 2012 against Sydney, she had 14 points and eight rebounds and was named player of the match.

In January 2013, Dombkins was ruled out for the rest of the 2012–13 season with a knee injury.[17]

Adelaide Lightning (2015–2016)

In July 2015, after two seasons out of the league, Dombkins signed with the Adelaide Lightning for the 2015–16 WNBL season.[18]

Off-season stints

In 2007, Dombkins played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the Waratah League. She continued on in the Waratah League with the Maitland Mustangs in 2008.[19] In 2009, she played for the Sandringham Sabres in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). She continued on in the SEABL for the Frankston Blues in 2010.[20] In 2011, she returned for a season with the Maitland Mustangs.[21] In 2012, she played for the Canberra Nationals in the SEABL. In 2013, she played for the Waverley Falcons in the Big V.[22] She returned to the Sandringham Sabres in 2014. In 2015, she played for the Norths Bears in the Waratah League.[23] Between 2019 and 2021, she played for the Newcastle Hunters and won a Waratah League championship in 2019. The Hunters were crowned champions in 2021 following the season's cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] She finished the 2021 season with the Mackay Meteorettes of the NBL1 North.

National team career

Dombkins represented Australia at the Under 19 World Championship for Women in Tunisia in 2005,[25] and at the Under 21 World Championship for Women in Russia in 2007, where the team won silver.[26]

Coaching career

In November 2021, Dombkins joined the Bendigo Spirit as an assistant coach for the 2021–22 WNBL season.[27]

Personal life

After rupturing a disc in her back in 2010 forced her to take a break from basketball, she returned to modelling. She has appeared in Cleo magazine, Handle magazine and the Australian men's magazine Alpha. She earned a diploma in fashion design,[3] [28] and has specialised in designing her own swim wear.[29]

Dombkins' partner is former WNBA player Leilani Mitchell.[30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Canberra Capitals: Player Profile . WNBL.com.au . 2012-01-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120318040336/http://www.wnbl.com.au/index.php?id=140 . 18 March 2012 .
  2. Web site: Mikaela Dombkins . https://web.archive.org/web/20090930171748/http://www.wnbl.com.au/index.php?id=311 . dead . 30 September 2009 . Women's National Basketball League . 10 November 2012 .
  3. Web site: Model Mikaela Dombkins . Wix.com . 10 November 2012 .
  4. News: Rwiasak . AIS plays give and take to fix shaky roster . The Canberra Times. 2005-09-27 . 2012-01-09.
  5. News: Benson . Andrew . AIS on top but crippled for tough times ahead . The Canberra Times. 2003-10-08 . 2012-01-09.
  6. News: Dutton . Chris . Lewis ready to force her way into Caps' starting five . The Canberra Times. 23 September 2011 . 12 January 2012.
  7. News: Basketball . Promising start but AIS falls short against Perth . The Canberra Times. 2005-10-09 . 2012-01-09.
  8. News: Flame's burning desire to be like Sun . The Sydney Morning Herald. 2012-01-07.
  9. Web site: Murdoch. Alex. Mikaela Dombkins poses for Alpha Magazine. couriermail.com.au. 10 May 2008. 29 January 2022.
  10. Web site: Thunder rolls Perth in WNBL debut. abc.net.au. 4 October 2008. 29 January 2022. ...but Mikaela Dombkins will remain benched for at least six weeks with a back injury..
  11. News: Chris Dutton . Jackson beats heat and buzzer . The Canberra Times. 2010-01-24 . 2012-01-09.
  12. News: Dutton . Chris . Fear the secret weapon in Caps' aresenal: Dombkins . The Canberra Times. 2011-12-09 . 2012-01-08.
  13. News: Dutton . Chris . Short will be sweet for seasoned Caps . The Canberra Times. 2011-09-14 . 2012-01-07 . https://archive.today/20121206022600/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/basketball/short-will-be-sweet-for-seasoned-caps/2291027.aspx . 6 December 2012 . dead.
  14. News: Dutton . Chris . Capitals take a hit as Lacey steps out . The Canberra Times. 2011-09-08 . 2012-01-09.
  15. News: Dutton . Chris . Caps rocked by Cosier injury . The Canberra Times. 2011-09-22 . 2012-01-09.
  16. Web site: Tuxworth . Jon . Bulleen hands Caps another lesson . The Canberra Times. 2011-10-09 . 2012-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111027080637/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/basketball/bulleen-hands-caps-another-lesson/2317536.aspx . 27 October 2011 . dead.
  17. Web site: Tuxworth. Jon. Capitals up their intensity for rivalry round. northerndailyleader.com.au. 25 January 2013. 29 January 2022.
  18. Web site: Nagy. Boti. Former Canberra Caps WNBL regular Mikaela Dombkins joins a Adelaide Lightning. adelaidenow.com.au. 23 July 2015. 29 January 2022.
  19. Web site: Mikaela Dombkins. Waratah League. 29 January 2022.
  20. Web site: Mikaela Dombkins. SEABL. 29 January 2022.
  21. Web site: Callinan. Josh. THE DOMBKINS SISTERS HAVE PLAYED BASKETBALL SINCE THEY COULD WALK.. Maitland Basketball. 17 March 2011. 29 January 2022.
  22. Web site: Falcons Sign Mikaela Dombkins. waverleybasketball.com. 19 April 2013. 29 January 2022.
  23. Web site: Mikaela Dombkins. australiabasket.com. 29 January 2022.
  24. Web site: BASKETBALL NSW COMPETITIONS, HIGH-PERFORMANCE & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS UPDATE. bnsw.com.au. 12 August 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912091235/https://www.bnsw.com.au/news/basketball-nsw-competitions-high-performance-community-programs-update/. 12 September 2021.
  25. Web site: Australia - 2005 FIBA Women's U19 World Championship . FIBA . 10 November 2012.
  26. Web site: Australia - 2007 FIBA Women's U21 World Championship . FIBA . 10 November 2012.
  27. News: SPIRIT EXPANDS ITS COACHING RANKS. wnbl.basketball/bendigo. 23 November 2021. 29 January 2022 . Bendigo .
  28. News: Dombkins determined to be a model basketballer . Fleta . Page . 23 . The Canberra Times. 8 November 2012 . 10 November 2012 .
  29. Web site: Design Portfolio for Mikaela Dombkins - Fashion Designer . StyleApple . 10 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160203030320/http://www.styleapple.com/public/user_details.php?account=overview&id=12607 . 3 February 2016 . dead .
  30. Web site: France. Lachlan. AUSSIE WRAP: WNBA WEEK 10. 26 July 2018. thewomensgame.com.