Adelaide Lightning 'won't exist in two weeks', owner Steve Wren claims
South Australia's most successful sporting team, the Adelaide Lightning, a five-time national champion, is facing potential collapse and expulsion from the WNBL.
The team's future is hanging in the balance, with owner Steve Wren exclusively revealing the club's precarious position to 9News.
"I would doubt the Adelaide Lightning, as a brand in the WNBL, will exist in two weeks' time".
READ MORE: Cherry-Evans replacement locked in as Manly land star
READ MORE: 'Pull your finger out': Gallen sprays SBW over $2m split
READ MORE: Superstar halves top list of Bears' 30 recruitment targets
Wren said the Lightning's ownership group was intending to relinquish its license back to the WNBL, before a change of heart after seeing plans for a restructured league under a new ownership consortium.
Scott Ninnis, coach of the Lightning, during the round 12 WNBL match between Adelaide Lightning and Townsville Fire. Getty
Despite a renewed desire to remain in the WNBL, Wren said the foundation club has been knocked back from continuing next season.
"There's seven teams signed, they need eight teams, they have one in Adelaide, but they've told us they don't want us," Wren said.
He described the potential loss as "a disaster for Adelaide, and for South Australia".
In a statement, new WNBL CEO Jennie Sager reiterated a desire to "maintain a WNBL presence in Adelaide", with the league "actively exploring new and viable approaches to operating a team in the city".
She also added, "the previous club model proved financially unsustainable," and they're "actively seeking a sustainable solution".
Rachael Sporn is a key figure in the club's history, leading the club to four of its five titles during a golden era throughout the 1990s, with the league's medal for most valuable player in the grand final named in her honour.
"I can't even imagine it, we've had a team since the league inception in 1981… I just can't imagine not having a WNBL team."
The Lightning boasts a history of producing prominent Australian basketball talent, including the likes of Erin Phillips, Laura Hodges, Marina Moffa, current Opals Steph Talbot and Izzy Borlase, as well as former Opals coach Jan Stirling.
The ramifications extend to the team's current roster, with multiple contracted players facing uncertain futures.
"All of our girls based here will now need to go and travel and live interstate if they want to continue playing in the WNBL," Wren said.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
