Geelong Venom sign Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard ahead of 2025/26 WNBL season

Geelong Venom has unveiled its second signing ahead of this summer’s WNBL season, days after the franchise announced its new name change.

Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard has joined Geelong Venom after five seasons with Perth Lynx. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Geelong Venom has brought in much-needed leadership with new WNBL signing Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard.

The 190cm forward arrives at the Venom after five years with rival Perth Lynx, reuniting her with former Lynx teammate Alex Sharp in Geelong.

The Western Australian native said she was excited to see what United could do in its second year in the league under coach Chris Lucas.

“I loved playing against and watching Geelong last year,” Clinch Hoycard, 26, said. “They play a super exciting and fun brand of basketball, so really excited to be a part of that and to be coached by Chris.”

Geelong United general manager of pathways, Megan Moody welcomed Clinch Hoycard’s signing.

“She’s a high calibre athlete who will add a lot to the team both on scoring and defensively,” Moody said.

Currently averaging 15.14 points, 8.29 rebounds and three assists playing for NBL1 West outfit Warwick Senators, Clinch Hoycard said she’d look to bring leadership and experience to United’s line-up, having been vice-captain last season with Lynx.

She averaged 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.5 minutes for the Lynx last season.

Clinch Hoycard is the second new signing to join Geelong for the 2025/26 season, following Shyla Heal’s arrival last month.

She joins a roster also featuring returning players, Sharp, Jaz Shelley, Gemma Potter, Elissa Brett and Taylor Mole.

Earlier: Geelong strike on new WNBL name

Geelong United has unveiled a new name ahead of its upcoming WNBL season – dropping United in favour of Venom.

The new Geelong Venom logo. Picture: supplied

The rebrand comes as the WNBL enters new ownership under a Robyn Denholm-NBL-led consortium ahead of the 2025-26 season.

“This is a really exciting time for both us, and the WNBL,” Geelong United Basketball chief executive Mark Neeld said.

“When creating our new identity, we wanted to make sure we chose something that fans could really get behind as a strong representation of our region.

“The Geelong Venom rebrand not only matches the new direction of the league itself but will be a driving force in the future of women’s basketball for our city as a brand that young players can aspire to be a part of through our Geelong basketball pathway”.

Gemma Potter is returning for a second WNBL season with Geelong this summer. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

The naming process is understood to have taken eight weeks, with more than 100 names whittled down to 14, before two – Venom and Force – went to a public vote on social media, with the former prevailing.

It’s believed the Supercats name could not be used as its owned by the NBL.

Geelong United retired the Supercats moniker from its NBL1 teams several years ago following a rebranding process after the merger of Basketball Geelong and the Corio Bay Stingrays.

• Geelong Venom kicks off its season with a home game against Sydney Flames on Saturday, October 18.

Originally published as Geelong Venom sign Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard ahead of 2025/26 WNBL season