The Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx have partnered with Rio Tinto in a new sponsorship deal that aims to enhance basketball in WA, from emerging young talent to the elite level of competition.
The two leading basketball clubs from WA guided 250 participants from schools in the Pilbara through community basketball clinics on Tuesday, from local primary and senior high schools, to members of basketball associations.
Rio Tinto is funding the clinics for school kids and local basketball associations under its new sponsorship agreement with the Wildcats and Lynx announced in August last year.
About 250 children from primary schools in Karratha and as far as Wickham took part in the clinics, as did keen basketballers from local high schools and from the local Karratha, Dampier and Wickham basketball associations.
The schools have run competitions to secure a spot in the clinics, which have been hotly contested.
The partnership aims to increase access to pathways for Western Australians who would like to participate in basketball, and also promote women in sport at a professional level.
The Wildcats' community and elite pathway programs have received a significant boost from the partnership, including support for its community and youth programs.
This included a new Rio Tinto Perth Wildcats Academy from the 2023/24 season, designed to support 25 high-potential athletes, aged between 14 and 19, from various backgrounds, on a pathway to elite sport.
Rio Tinto managing director for Port, Rail and Core Services, Richard Cohen, said it was exciting to bring stars from the Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx to the Pilbara for the clinics, which the miner hoped would inspire the next generation of WA basketball stars.
"Basketball is the fastest growing sport for kids in WA and the Pilbara is increasingly a hotbed for young basketball talent," he said.
"For Rio Tinto, we're really excited to be able to connect these elite athletes to this fantastic Karratha community where so many of our team members live and basketball is loved by many."
For the Perth Lynx, this partnership provides much needed financial support, with part of the funding aimed at strengthening the development of a Lynx academy program.
Funding will also allow the Lynx to operate at their maximum WNBL sanctioned salary cap.
SEN teams CEO, Richard Simkiss said the opportunities the partnership would create was exciting.
"We feel that the Perth Wildcats, Perth Lynx and Rio Tinto share a vision to grow basketball throughout the state and have a strong focus on community engagement," he said.
"We are looking forward to working closely with Rio Tinto, who are also leaders in their respective field, as we hunt an 11th NBL championship.
"We couldn't be more thankful for Rio Tinto's support to help launch and grow the Wildcats Academy, which will provide opportunities for elite talent identification right across the State."
Rio Tinto iron ore CEO Simon Trott said the company wanted to help build healthy, thriving communities and strong local economies and basketball was one avenue to that.
"Basketball has the highest participation rate for juniors in team sport in WA and by teaming up with the Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx, we plan to take this sport to the next level," he said.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to connect these elite athletes with communities in the Pilbara and across Western Australia – where our Rio Tinto team members live and work and where basketball is played and followed by many."
