South West Slammers

Club history

1989 saw the formation of the State Basketball League (SBL) with both a men's and women's competition. A team from Bunbury, known as the Slammers, entered the Men's SBL for its inaugural season. In 1991, the Slammers made their first MSBL Grand Final, where they lost 123–120 in overtime to the Swan City Mustangs.

In 1992, a Slammers women's team entered the Women's SBL. That year, the men's team recorded their first minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 22–2 record. They went on to reach their second straight MSBL Grand Final, where they lost 107–94 to the Cockburn Cougars.

Following the 1994 season, the Slammers women withdrew from the SBL. They finished in ninth place in each of their first three seasons, registering a 6–14 record in both 1992 and 1993, and a 3–17 record in 1994.

In 1995, the men's team was led by American imports James Fitch and Steve Branch, and coach Steve Hawkins. Halfway through the season, the Slammers had a 6–7 record. They went on to win 12 of their next 13 games to finish in fifth place, and then had series wins in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals. In the 1995 MSBL Grand Final, the league's only best-of-three grand final series, the Slammers defeated the Goldfields Giants 2–0 to claim their first SBL championship, winning 91–78 in game one and 88–86 in game two. Game two ended with a two-pointer on the final buzzer. Both grand final games were held at Challenge Stadium.

In 1996, the men's team recorded their second minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 21–5 record. They went on to reach their fourth MSBL Grand Final, where they won back-to-back championships with a 103–86 victory over the Geraldton Buccaneers.

In 1998, the men's team made their fifth MSBL Grand Final, where they defeated the Cougars 105–96 to win their third championship.

In 1999, the men's team recorded their third minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 21–5 record. They went on to reach their sixth MSBL Grand Final, where they once again claimed back-to-back championships with an 89–73 victory over the Perth Redbacks.

In 2000, the Slammers women returned to the SBL after a five-year hiatus. In the 2012 season, after 15 years of not playing in the finals, the women's team finished in third place with a 15–7 record. They went on to reach the WSBL Grand Final, where they defeated the Rockingham Flames 85–48 to win their maiden championship behind grand final MVP, Kim Sitzmann.

Following the Slammers men's halcyon period in the 1990s, the team had 11 years without making the finals and an overall record of 46–225, which included two winless seasons and two years where they had just one win. The Slammers men returned to the finals in 2013, 2014 and 2015, with 2015 culminating in a 105–75 grand final loss to the Joondalup Wolves.

In 2021, the SBL was rebranded as NBL1 West.

Coming into the 2024 season, the Slammers women had lost 32 straight matches and 73 of their last 74. After going winless in 2024, the team entered the 2025 season on a 52-game losing streak. On 5 April 2025, in the season opener, the Slammers women won their first NBL1 West game since 21 May 2022.

Accolades

Women

• Championships: 1 (2012)
• Grand Final appearances: 1 (2012)
• Minor premierships: Nil

Men

• Championships: 4 (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999)
• Grand Final appearances: 7 (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2015)
• Minor premierships: 3 (1992, 1996, 1999)

References

References

1. Fris, Justin. (4 August 2022). "NBL1 West 2022: South West Slammers to honour club icon James Fitch on Saturday night". swtimes.com.au.
2. Johansen, Kasper. (8 September 2022). "Unsung Heroes: From growing up in a 'race-divided' Mississippi to becoming a SW Slammers legend". swtimes.com.au.
3. (17 May 2024). "Please join us this Saturday 18th May to Honour our long standing player / volunteer Aaron Edwards, as we pay tribute to his contribution to our great club.". facebook.com/SouthWestSlammers.
4. "MSBL History". SBL.asn.au.
5. "WSBL History". SBL.asn.au.
6. (7 August 2012). "FLASHBACK: The way they were". TheWest.com.au.
7. "2015 SBL Media Guide". SportsTG.com.
8. (25 June 2025). "South West Slammers to celebrate 30th anniversary of first championship against Goldfields Giants on Saturday". South Western Times.
9. (6 September 2023). "From the time capsule: South West State league sport in the 1990s - Part 1". South Western Times.
10. "1995 Results".
11. (18 August 2025). "NBL1 West title proves elusive for Giants". Kalgoorlie Miner.
12. Coleman, Hannah. (2 August 2012). "Slammers set for first finals appearance (Women's quarter finals preview)". SportsTG.com.
13. Coleman, Hannah. (20 August 2012). "Slammers, Flames edge closer to history (Women's Semi-Final Wrap)". SportsTG.com.
14. Coleman, Hannah. (27 August 2012). "Slammers, Flames complete miracle turnaround (Women's semi-final wrap)". SportsTG.com.
15. Coleman, Hannah. (1 September 2012). "Slammers claim first championsihp [sic]". SportsTG.com.
16. Marsh, Melissa. (29 August 2012). "Grand Final feast for local hoops fans". PerthNow.com.au.
17. Coleman, Hannah. (1 September 2012). "South-West Slammers women create history with first title win". PerthNow.com.au.
18. Pike, Chris. (28 August 2015). "Men's SBL Grand Final Preview". SportsTG.com.
19. Woodcock, Mitchell. (28 August 2015). "SBL Grand Final: Slammers go hunting Wolves". The West Australian.
20. Pike, Chris. (28 August 2015). "Chance of fairy tale now a reality for Slammers and Ty". SportsTG.com.
21. Pike, Chris. (30 August 2015). "Wolves too good for Slammers to win third men's SBL championship". SportsTG.com.
22. (30 October 2020). "NBL1 West to tip off in 2021". NBL1.com.au.
23. Garlepp, Josh. (30 October 2020). "State Basketball League to become NBL 1 West as WA clubs agree to unite under national second-tier banner". TheWest.com.au.
24. (28 March 2024). "Recap NBL1 West | Round 1 Thursday". NBL1.com.au.
25. (10 April 2025). "Slammers women talk of the town after breaking drought". authory.com.
26. (5 April 2025). "West Recap {{!}} Round 1 Saturday". nbl1.com.au.